Evaluate Plz...

Cannery Row represents a world apart in which the two major forces embodied by Doc and Mac and his boys search for the same contentment using their relationship with each other through very different means. Through their choices and motivations, one finds satisfaction, while the other searches in yearning.

Does this answer the "so what" question?

thesis...take two.

In Rudolfo Anaya's Bless Me, Ultima, Aunt Ultima selects Antonio as her prodigy due to the innocence and potential found within him that the other siblings do not obtain due to the pressure promoted by the Marez and Luna families.

This is still in the works but I am not sure if I should scratch the other siblings and zoom in on Antonio and what components make up his potential?

Do you think this passes the "so what" factor?

How should I expand more (ex. Anaya's rhetoric, influence of magical realism, components Ultima offers)?

Thesis

Through his use of a separate "chorus" narrarator, rather than narrarating through the character or an omnipotent viewer, detachment between the protagonist's feelings and social norms, and the emotional separation between Eddie & his wife (despite the closeness with his niece) Arthur Miller's "A View from the Bridge" draws from ancient & classic literature to form a modern trajedy about the separation and betrayal in the contemporary society in which he lived.

The Thesis Test

Tonight, take a look at your peer-edit group's thesis statements. Give the thesis test, and then give your feedback. Even if you haven't read their books, you can ask questions that might help guide the process.

The Thesis Test

1. Have I taken a position that others might challenge or oppose?

2. Is my thesis statement specific enough?

3. Does my thesis pass the “so what?” test?

4. Does my thesis pass the “how and why?” test?

Thesis

This is also a huge work in progress. I haven't given it a lot of thought yet because I'm still deciding exactly what I want to address in my paper, but heres one of my ideas.


Thesis->

The Color Purple, by Alice Walker, has been criticized for its racist and stereotypical controversies against the African-American society, causing it to be banned and censored throughout the nation. However, these racist and stereotypical remarks and ideas that occur add to the meaning of the book as a whole and become an important part of the underlying message that the story portrays.

thesis...

work in progress- 

In Anaya's novel Bless Me, Ultima, Antonio's spiritual growth develops through the guidance of Aunt Ultima, who ultimately teaches him the value of faith through symbolism, dreams, use of magic, and foreshadowing of the future, therefore aiding Antonio in the significant growth of conscience.

Also, very much a work in progress. I don't even know if this answers a "So what" question...or if I want to follow this route. Anyways,

Edna is reborn through the discovery of her newfound sexuality, individuality, and artistic interests, thus creating a new independent self that society is incapable of handling—leading Edna to take her own life rather than submit herself to someone else’s desires.

Preliminary Thesis

--This is also a work in progess...

In the book The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne, Hester Prynne must wear a scarlet letter ‘A’ permanently for her sin of committing adultery. Arthur Dimmesdale, the minister who she had the affair with, has hid his sin from the Puritan society. However, it is this weight, secret, and guilt, which not only cause him to become extremely lonesome, but ultimately, cause his demise.

Preliminary Thesis

CAUTION: WORK IN PROGRESS! :)

Neglected by her mother, abused and raped by her father, discriminated by society because of her color, Pecola Breedlove is forced to believe that she will be accepted when she reaches the white standard of beauty, defined by white skin and blue eyes, and is eventually driven to insanity because of constant discrimination due to her dark skin color.

The Sis

through use of the sentence structure throughout the book, as well as the repeated motifs and pictures used, and the character of Kilgore Trout, Vonnegut contrasts with many of the idiosyncrasies of the American ideal.

Preliminary Thesis

The purpose of my paper is to discuss/describe/illustrate

1. Shug's affection and devoted passion to help Celie
2. The impact Nettie's letters
3. Sofia's confidence and assertiveness

in order to show how they impact Celie and encourage her to expresses her feelings and thoughts and discover her independence.


Through Shug’s devoted passion to help and protect Celie, Nettie’s letters and Sofia’s assertiveness, Celie is able to overcome her life of male dominance and transform into an independent, black women, reflecting the theme of the novel.

Does my thesis answer the So What question?

Preliminary Thesis

By using a semi-autobiographical character to demonstrate America’s attraction to wealth, the country’s rejection at financial dependence, and the way in which Americans exhaust themselves by giving to others, Fitzgerald demonstrates the decline of American society during the Depression with the slow deterioration of Dick Diver.

A little wordy, I know.

Preliminary Thesis.....A Farewell to Arms

The purpose of my paper is to discuss/describe/illistrate:
1. the developments of the relationship between Henry and Catherine
2. foreshadowing in the dialogue of Catherine
3. the importance of the innocent appearance of Catherine

in order to show.....
That through the contrast of Catherine Barkley's innocent appearance and realistic outlook on life she causes Henry to awaken from his emotional detachment from the world, allowing him to see the evils of people which drive him to find an escape through desertion and blind love.

Preliminary Thesis

Here goes...

Rabbit's intense internal desire for self-contentment pitted against society's dogmatic views of what is morally right creates a conflict in which the harder he is restrained, the harder he fights back; this ultimately leads to the devastation of his own life as well as the lives of those around him.

Feedback would be appreciated. Thanks...

Preliminary Thesis

Thesis in Beta

In The Sound and the Fury, William Faulkner's use of the stream-of-conscious style coupled with the degeneration of language and disordered time frame all consider the internal struggles of each character. Human morality and idealism is contrasted with the corruption of the American South as the human heart conflicts against itself.

The purpose: to pretty much say that Faulkner's style of writing lends itself to one of the major themes within the book.

The need: the entire thing just seems so inelegant and blunt (in a very bad and boring way); it doesn't really flow well. The big points are gotten across (I think?!?), but it still has to be streamlined as well as smothered in literary make-up. Suggestions involving word usage and sentence structure would be most appreciated!

Preliminary Thesis/Thesis in Progress

Throughout Ernest Hemingway's "The Old Man and the Sea" Hemingway uses the young apprentice Manolin to represent the lost youth of the old man Santiago as well as contrast the human bond relationship with Santiago's love for the sea. During Santiago's battle with the great marlin the audience is able see both Santiago's contempt and respect for the sea that provides a living for him. We are also allowed a look at how Manolin represents the lost youth of the old man, although Santiago continues to have vivd dreams of the lions of africa on the shores of the beach. The purpose of the young lions are used to represent the eternal youth and motivation for the old man. To examine the main characters relationships Hemingway uses the ocean and Manolin to compare and contrast Santiago's relationship with humans and his relationship with the world around him.

The purpose is to...

1. Compare and contrast Santiago's personal relationships with his relationship to the ocean that he both loves and hates.
2. To show how the old man's various dreams of lions and his apprentice Manolin represent both his eternal strive and his lost youth at the same time.

Please...
Comment:
A lot of this sounds awkward because I'm not entirely sure how to phrase it properly.
What could I change and how to address the "So What" factor?

The characters in John Steinbeck's Cannery Row though vastly different in persona and mannerism all deal with the issue of contentment. The Depression Era in Monterey, California isn't much different than anywhere else in the US, yet you see how different characters take the most of life. Mack and the boys live off borrowed land, and on the outskirts of societal and cultural values, yet are always satisfied, while Doc, the richest and most cultured in Monterey passes day by day wasting his life away depressed, and yearning for more. It is this dynamic of contentment that gives life to these characters somewhat disillusioned stories.

The purpose of my paper is to discuss/illustrate the

1. Contrast between Doc and the boys in what they live life for.
2. Contrast between the satisfaction felt by Doc and other characters around him.
3. Reasons for these contrasts

in order to show-
How these contrast impact the overarching meaning of a book about finding the best in life through unlikely people, and how Monterey symbolizes society as a whole.

Sin is one of the major themes in The Scarlet Letter written by Nathaniel Hawthorne, and as a product of sin, Pearl symbolizes and represents evil that exists within society.

I believe Pearl symbolizes evil for a few different reasons 1. the relationships she has with others 2. Hawthorne's use of symbolism throughout the novel 3. The diction Hawthorne uses when talking about Pearl 4. the actions and words that Pearl uses

I also think that because of the situation Pearl lived and grew up with in a puritan society has led her to take on her role of "the product of sin" and pushed her to represent evil rather than the innocence of a child.

Is there anyway I can incorporate some of this into my thesis? I'm terrible at putting a lot of information into 1 tiny sentence.

One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest

My primary source is…One Flew over the Cuckoo’s Nest
The purpose of my paper is to discuss the…
1. Symbolism( fog, time, ect.)
2. The characters and their in depth stories
3. Setting(ward)
Of… my book during the 60’s
In order to show…why Kesey took a non-conformist stand when writing about these things in respect to the time period and how it relates to him life.
THESIS___
With the use of symbols, in depth characters, and a descriptive setting Ken Kesey takes a non-conformist approach to a 60's novel in a mental institution.

Thesis for "On the Road" by Jack Kerouac

In "On the Road," Kerouac uses changing syntax and the moral downfall of Dean Moriarty to show that there was a negative side to the "beat" generation that he is credited with representing positively.

Preliminary Thesis: The Sun Also Rises by Ernest Hemingway

Though the deaths of love and morals portray the lost generation left in the wake of the Great War, Ernest Hemingway's The Sun Also Rises seeks to prove that these "deaths" were, in fact, temporary, and that life would subsist, gradually bringing direction back to the world.

What improvements should be made?
Did I lose you anywhere?

The purpose of my paper is to discuss/describe/illustrate the:

1) death of love and morals within the book
2)describe the situation of the lost generation left in the wake of a Great War (World War I)
3)show what Hemingway was trying to depict through the "aimlessness of the lost generation"

of Ernest Hemingway's The Sun Also Rises

in order to show that theses "deaths" were temporary, and that life would be able to subsist, and bring the lost generation back into the true realities of the world.

Working Thesis

In Edith Wharton’s The Age of Innocence, Wharton includes Newland Archer’s conflicting heart and social conscience, the role of family and tradition in the character’s lives, and the symbolism of the novel’s title and its subtle implications of irony to criticize an old-fashioned New York society.

Reply to Poll

I read it, I get it, ya...

Question: Are the forms for the Harper writing competitions on their website?
And, what do you recommend we do if our criticism is over 100 pages in one of the research books? We cannot check them out and I don't have a thousand dimes...

for the writing contest for 3rd quarter, are we restricted to the Harper Writing Contest?------->

Research Paper Information

1. Don’t panic.
   


2. Recognize that this process can be overwhelming -- perhaps especially at the beginning when you don’t know WHAT to look for or what this paper is all about. Tomorrow, I’ll bring in some final (10-13 page) literary research essays so you have an idea of what’s in store. Realize that you won’t know your thesis immediately. By the end of next week, you’re going to establish a preliminary thesis; you’re going to narrow your search so that you can really explore specific criticism. To get there, you need to reflect, reread, and refocus. Like you did with your reading of “Popular Mechanics,” think about WHAT you want to focus your research on. YOU need to know YOUR reading and then find criticism that speaks to your reading.
   


3. Skim your three books tonight. If something intrigues you, keep the book and check out the book. Start thinking about HOW you want to focus your research. Jot down ideas. You can explore multiple options before settling. If you start to feel overwhelmed, go back to step #1.
   


4. Look over the types of literary criticism under ‘important sites.’ This may help you narrow your focus.
   


5. Bring change with you to class so that you can make copies. For every source you find, I’m going to want you to make a copy. At this point, do NOT start making note cards. Just gather. Read. Annotate. Question. The one thing you CAN –and should—start to make are bib cards (see packet) for potential sources. I will go over this in class tomorrow.
   


6. For Monday’s pass-into-class, you’re going to turn in one bib card, correctly cited, for one source. You’re also going to fix – if necessary—your reading notes. I hope to return these to you tomorrow.
   


7. Look to the right for upcoming due dates. When you are done, repeat step #1.
   


8. Know that I plan to discuss and introduce each new step when the prior step is completed. Tomorrow, I will go over bib cards; on Monday, I’ll talk about your preliminary thesis. If you’re a big picture person, feel free to read the whole packet and example papers.
   


9. Note that we will NOT be in the media center every day. We will be doing in-class activities, too. (Tuesday, for instance, we’re doing a writing assessment. Whoo-hoo.) You will need to put in your time outside of class. This process moves quickly. Late work will receive NO CREDIT but still MUST BE COMPLETED. You don’t want to be that guy/gal to unnecessarily lose points, right?
   


10. Ask me questions. You can email, visit me before school, after school, during school –find out what you need to know as soon as you can. No question is stupid. (At least at this point. That may change. ) Please POST your questions on the blog, too. You may not be alone in your wondering.
    
    
11. Show me that you read this. Take the poll and check off the selection that best fits you.

For now, if you have any immediate questions, post them on the blog (as comments) or send me an email. Hopefully this clarifies the process for you somewhat. Remember, you KNOW what you're doing here. You're ready for this. Promise.

Writer's week

My reaction to writer's week was...Damn it! I missed both fridays because of a doctor appointment and a fluke sickness, and it just was not the same as it has been. I was introduced to many different experiences this time around however, and I think that those new experiences really broadened myself.(By the way, if I'm falling asleep tomorrow, its because I procrastinated until 2:30 in the morning to do everything- but it's cool)
My week started with Billy Lombardo, who I saw for the 4th time in three years (yep, back to back english classes last year). So no offense to him or anything, but it kind of was a little repetitive. But at least he didnt read the same piece he had been reading the last 2 years! But for cerial, he's a good writer. It seemed like he'd gotten slightly more melancholy since the last time I saw him (that's an understatement, how do you go from a story about little league baseball to child abuse the next year). But he's always been very good, and he's one of those guys who you could just tell is a really nice guy (I feel like I know him after three consecutive years). haha.
Next up came Scott Woldman & Co. (or as I like to call them "the perverted playwright and his sexually obsessed sidekicks"- I think I like that name), haha but seriously- they were definitely my favorite performance at writer's week (Besides me/Lauren of course). I really liked when all the girls in the play were singing about what they want in a guy, and they guys all sang back their only desires, "will you, will you, will you, will you sleep with me?!". Priceless. I do have to say, I was let down with the performances from the teachers- what a poor representation of our high school! They just seemed uptight the whole time- but overall the entire thing was hilarious.
Then came Thursday, ahhh good old thursday. What could go wrong that day? (In case you were wondering; everything. Worked on my piece the night before until 3; then started feeling sick. Which of course carried through the night and I missed the first 2 periods. Then, I did almost all of my edits in math class- yeah a full hour before I was speaking- but I nobly pushed through). When I got up on stage, I started feel better a little bit actually; but that wasn't saying much. Anywho, I'd have probably been nervous if I hadn't felt so sick soooo...blessing in disguise? Yeah, so I went up to read mine and was greeted to a chorus of "ROSEY"'s from my friends. Schweetness. I read mine almost flawlessly (not really) but it went by decently. Whatevs. Then Lauren went, and she was reallly good. Theeeeen some other students went, who shall remain nameless, but for our dicussion purposes, I'll refer to him/her as Mathan Humway..and theirs was awesome (I didnt actually listen, but it lulled me into a peaceful sleep; I was grateful). Anyways, after that I went to the nurses office and had a 100 degree temperature, so I missed my physics test. The day just kept getting better!
Later that day, We went to go see Daphne Willis, who graduated with my bro. She was pretty good, but kind of felt a little repetitive (by a little, I mean a lot). I was glad just to listen to music for a whole period though, but I had a feeling that Justin "The Grouch" Park (for all those interested, here's a picture: http://images.wikia.com/muppet/images/c/c9/OG-p0002-ST.jpg) did not feel the same way. Whenever I turned to talk to him during the show, he'd turn away from me, and make an annoying grunting noise. After the show, I asked him what was wrong and he responded with: I HATE THIS MUSIC!...talk about a negative nancy.

(P.S. this wasn't meant to rip JP apart in any sense, it's just that I thought his actions could describe the faults in the performance better than I could.)

Then friday came and went with me staying in my rightful place (my bed). Then when I woke up, I spent my time being very depressed about writer's week (between commercial breaks on TV of course. Of course I was watching HBO -daytime TV sucks- sooo....)

I think I just gave my 2008 writer's week experience a good description, so I'll stop there (so I don't dig myself into a deeper hole than I already just did).

Writers' Week

My response to writers' week at the moment is...I wish that it wasn't over! I don't wish that it wasn't over merely because we get out of English class and a few other ones here and there for a whole week, but rather I think that the concept of WW is such an enriching way to inspire people to write and get exposed to different outlets of writing. In previous years of WW I have really only seen writers of novels and poems, so this year I appreciated a change in being able to see a variety of writers who didn't limit themselves to traditional ideas of writing. For example, I liked hearing about the process of getting a screen play published and getting your name out there from Bill Kelly, how you don't have to limit yourself to mere poetry but can add music to create songs from Daphne Willis, or even create your own musical in community theatre and actually get people to perform it from Mark Wolmon. I took away learning that it doesn't really matter where your passion lays, there is always a way to incorporate writing.

When I found out that the writer of Enchanted was going to be at WW the first thing that came to my mind was that he must have met Patrick Dempsey, not really considering what else went into screen writing other than being famous. I was surprised when he said that in the industry writers are "pond scum" and don't even get invited to the big award shows. My assumption was that they were highly respected seeing that they were the ones that came up with all the ideas for movies and TV shows in the first place. Despite this fact of a lack of recognition and the whole writers' strike Mr. Kelly was a very down to earth and nice guy. He even asked my question of whether Patrick Dempsey is as hot in real life as he is on screen enthusiaticly with a "he's smokin'" even though I'm sure he has been asked this question a million times. I also found it intereseting that he is from the surrounding area which I thought brought some hope to people in the audience who may have a dream of becoming a screen writer in Hollywood. Even though he had nothing prepared I still found his segment to be entertaining with his sacrcastic remarks and "hiya's."

The one person who I got the feeling of anyone can write about anything they want to was Billy Lombardo. He confessed to being a truly happy guy, but in contrast all of his stories were very depressing and dark. The piece that I was most moved by was "My First Punch." The way he captured the emotions of a young boy and his want to deny that his father punched him and his attempt to keep his father from remembering what he did really impressed me. I opened up the idea that I don't actually have to write from experience for a piece to be good, but just get in the mind of the character you create. I also thought it was intersting when he talked about how he tried to try writing in 2nd person rather than 1st person like most of his pieces. This encouraged me to try new things with my own writing.

The most entertaining of all the days was definitely Mark Wolmon's production of Speed Dating the Musical. I found it especially interesting that he is actually an English teacher at a local junior high, and was amazed that he could find the time to write an entire musical. I found his use of speed dating as his subject as satirizing how pitiful and desperate people can be to find love, especially in today's soceity with more older singles and the surplus of online dating services. It was humourus how he used stereotypical types of characters just as the egotistical male, the sex kitten woman, the guy who still can't talk to girls, the fat girl who wants to find someone the accept her as she is, and then the one sane and normal woman who thinks the whole thing is ridiculous. My favorite part of the whole performance was the overy horny woman singing to Mr. Shaeffer. I loved how she stayed in character even though as they said at the end that most of them were the exact opposites of their characters in real life. So not only did you get exposure to a writing aspect but acutally the performing a writing as well.

Then the sad day had to come for Mark Smith to close Writers' Week. I don't think they could have picked anyone to close with though. I was amazed that he had memorized over 200 poems both his own and the works of others, and not only did he have them memorized to recite but to put action to them as well. I loved how he took the approach of bringing life to poetry instead of just the same heartfelt reading behind a podium, although I was a little afraid for him when he decided to climb on the railings. The things that stuck with me the most from his performance was his emphasis on "sharing the stage" and "welcoming 1st timers." The fact the he admitted to being a normally shy person but then was able to put all his fear behind him for his love to perform was really inspiring. I took away from that to not let obstacles hold you back in life. I have to say though, that even though he meant well to allow those two students to come on stage to read their work, I was a little bummed that they were taking up his time to perform more poems. I guess that is just part of his good nature that radiates off him and can light up a room.

I came away from WW inspired to write and try new things. Hopefully next year I'll get up the guts to read myself. I'm really impressed by the people in our own class that read because I'm sure that they were all amazing!

Writer's Week Response

So writer's week was pretty cool...Yeah let's just dive right into this thing. Ok so on the first Friday, Mary Fons read, and I thought it was pretty amazing. I mean, the whole typing to Beethoven's symphony on the big screen intro thing kinda threw me off, because there was a giant fig/fichus/spruce/plastic tree in my way. Anyways, I loved the "And I'm So Young" poem, I heard it freshman year and I was hoping she would perform it again, and I got my wish. Probably one of my favorite poems, like, ever. I also remember her saying (who am I kidding, I wrote it down, ok) "Our best laid plans are there for God's amusement." That hit me really hard, and I can't even put my finger on exacatly why. But I guess I'll know soon enough.
Moving right along, when Billy Lombardo spoke on Monday, I thought he was hilarious. He was extremely redundant, and I know this upcomming quote isn't a prime example, but here goes: "I never add egg to your meatballs, even though your meatballs are kinda dry." He definately used the word "meatballs" twice within the same sentence, and I recall him using the word "keys" literally 20 or more times during a different poem. I still thought it was great writing though, and overall, I enjoyed his performance.
Wednsday's performance was made awsome by Mr. Brewner. The guy's a genius, what can I say? The only problem was, I was too engrossed in his insanely creative writing that by the time he finished, I realized I hand't written anything down. So no quote from him, unfortunately. Later that day, I encountered a quote I would remember even without writing it down, from the musical "Speed Dating." It's not very relevant though, so we'll just toss that one aside.
On Thursday, I don't even remember who said it (which is a little sad, because I had met them the previous day) but one girl said "somewhere a baby cries for a father she'll never know." That quote struck me as something that could be slapped on an anti-war poster. It bears the cold hard truth, and I'll admit, that quote will probably stick with me for many a good year.
Friday was a complete powerhouse, with Beth Ann Fenelly and Marc Smith reading. Talk about good writing; what I heard was unbelievable. Beth Anne Fenelly said something that was pretty life changing; "only when we think clearly can we speak clearly, and only when we speak clearly can we change the world." (That one, I did memorize...It's that good of a quote.) And then Marc Smith shared even more wisdom in saying "If you feel there's something inside of you that you have to do, you're not making it up." I can't even bring to light exactly how those quotes hit me, because I don't even think I'll ever know. But let there be no question- both of those phrases will change my life at one point or another. In ending, I'll just say that I absolutely loved this writer's week, and that writing those thank you letters (which I normally hate with a passion) was a breeze, simply because of the authenticity and pure genius of this week's performances.

Writers Week

This year's Writers Week was thoroughly enjoyable - I enjoyed every performer I saw. I love the concept of Writers Week because as a high school student in the suburbs, I rarely get an opportunity to see performances of this caliber. Really, the only exposure I get to the writing world is when I attend the Palatine Poetry Slams. For this reason, Marc Smith was my favorite performance. His is the epitome of the Writers Week spirit, so it was fitting that he ended the festivities. I had never seen him before this year but had heard great things, and my expectations were exceeded. Not only did he walk on the banisters, but his act was fantastic. His poems were unlike many I've heard before because they were unpretentious, funny, and honest without sounding whiny. I particularly like his Socialist poem. Even though I myself am a Democrat, I was surprised he could formulate such an engaging poem out of his Socialist views. (the "money makes the world go 'round" song was especially funny). I was most impressed by Smith because of his huge reservoir of poems. To memorize that many lines and rhymes and be able to recite them in a manner that makes it seem as if he is making the poems up on the spot is an incredible talent. My favorite poem of his was the menagerie poem because he involved the audience and really make the poem into a show.

Another funny guest at Writers Week was Scott Woldman. Although I don't think I heard him say more than a sentence, his actors spoke volumes for his sense of humor. "Speed Dating: The Musical" was a highly enjoyable and hysterical play. The "sleep with me" song, the line about having a "fat condition," and the title "Dr. Nasty Pants M.D." were a few of my favorite quotes from the play. My favorite character was definitely the older female sexual predator; her song to Mr. Schaeffer was one of the funnier things I had seen in a while. All of the actors were very talented, and I liked seeing the play in its rehearsal stages. I was shocked at how good they were, considering how little time they had had with the script. I also liked learning about the casting and practice process.

The third comical performer I saw was Regie Gibson. A talented poet, Regie used satire to poke fun at his wife, George Bush, and his former neighbor. While some of his more serious poems were really insightful, my favorites were the satirical poems. I love his mock State of the Union address, and his George Bush impersonation was harsh but still funny. He also involved the audience by asking us to repeat "amen, hallelujah, boom-shaka-laka-laka-laka-laka-BOOM" after his "dedication prayers." He ended the hour with a great musical poem sccompinied by a solo on the bongo drums.

I also loved the student performances I saw at Writers Week. Although I didn't submit an application this year, I'm definitely going to find something to read next year. I don't want to miss the opportunity to be a part of something like Writers Week, and I have only one more year to present!

WWXII Reactions

Writers week this year was truly out of control! It was so awesome to not only see all the performers, but to be one of them. I'd like to start out with my own experience of being on the stage because I had an amazing time! I only started to get nervous 3 or 4 days before I read, but those days were rough. On that day I didn't know what to wear, was late for 1st period, and I couldn't find my art class.(I didn't know they were in the auditorium for Writers Week!Oops!) This all happened before 5th period which was my time to read. I thought I was doomed, and on top of it, all my friends told me they were coming. You're not allowed to get called out of class...right? Well, my loyal/crazy friends found a way to come and watch me. Once I got up to the stage I sat on the couch and was asked if I was okay several times by teachers during passing periods because I looked like I was going to pass out or something. Thank god for Rosey is all I have to say. He tried calming me down by making me laugh even though he was going before me!

As soon as Rachel, the reader before me) called my name I heard my very own fan section cry out my name. I knew I'd be okay. The feelings awesome, by the way. I suggest that everyone do something like this before they leave Fremd! This was my FIRST time speaking into a microphone ever! Yet, I found comfort in my friends and with the audience. I knew everyone was so supportive of the other authors so I felt fine. I mean, yeah, I'm sure there were people bashing me the whole time but whatever. The way I see it is I had enough guts to get up there and do it! I wouldn't hear what they said, and what you don't know won't hurt you. When I started talking I even tried to get out of running during soccer...who was I turning into?!? Ahhh, I'm going to be allover WW next year because it was just THAT awesome this year!

Speaking of awesome, Billy Lombardo mesmerizing. The way he talks and tells his stories make you want to get a tape recording of him reading his own book! He's so funny, and the fact that he has son and always writes about him is cool. I love how he gets so into the stories. For example, his First Time You are Punched piece was so good because he really played the role of the son and the dad. My favorite part of that piece was the "So I tried to make a deal with the wall", the little boy butterfly kissed the wall. Plus, the fact that he had a dream and turned it into a story is really neat. When he went of to those 'rants' it was so interesting. He never got boring, my attention was on him at all times. The funny part was that I actually enjoyed taking notes on Billy Lombardo, because he was so interesting! And I hate taking notes!

Here's what really shocked me: 1)People thinking Bill Kelly was boring, 2)The raunchiness of the speed Dating: The Musical, and 3) MARC SMITH (In general). I thought Bill Kelly was really cool for taking all those questions. I mean, yeah, he might not have come with a speech of whatever, but we(the audience) had a chance to ask him anything! He wrote 3 movies!!!! He wrote 3 movies that I have seen, in theaters and at my house!!! Why didn't more people think that that was the most amazing thing ever?! How many times in your life can you really say that you met someone who wrote a movie?(My sharable Draft is totally doing to be about him!)

The Scott Woldman & Co. performance was great! We got to see a play in the making before the paying audience does!! I'm going to be honest though, I wasn't expecting that level of raunchiness!(haha). I loved it! The teacher they pulled up made it for me, and the rest of the audience I'm sure.

Finally, Marc Smith. Oh, Marc, where to begin? He never fails to amuse and surprise me. Talk about an amazing performer! The best part is that in real life he's shy! He's such a big inspiration to me because someday I'm going to be like him, just go up there and have fun. I Lover Writers Week!!!!!

Writer Week 08

This years writers week was definitely better than last years. In all honesty, I dozed off during a couple of last years performances, along with the rest of my classmate and the teacher. As Bill Kelly wisely stated " Noone wants to hear about old men fishing on a pond" (ironically a subject of a story I unfortunately had to sit through last year) and this year performances were far from it. I think they saved the best for last, including saving the best for the last periods as well. Writer's week started off a little weakly, with "Hoya" Bill Kelly. Although he was unprepared, I find his career and the movie business very interesting, so I'm sure it wasn't as boring for me as I'm sure it might have been for other students. I did find him to share some inspirational insights about his job and how he reached it, whether he was "pond scum" or not. "It doesn't matter who you are or where your from, if you really want it and work hard for it, you can do it." I also found it cool that he comes from the same area we do and managed to do what he does, helping to produce famous movies that we pay to go see in theaters. I will admit that the next movie he is writing seems pretty lame, but I guess I will have to wait and see how it turns out. I went up to talk to him after, because we have some family friends in the movie business as well, and found him to be a nice guy. Even though he was unprepared, he managed to pull it off because people had enough questions to ask him. I was reieved to know that "Patrick Dempsey is smokin' " in real life as well.

I had seen Billy Lombardo last year, and thought he did an even better job this year with his descriptive and realistic stories about memorable events with families. I wish we couldv'e heard some happier stories or events that actually happened to him, but as he said " There's no violence in my life and I love violent movies and mafia." I thought this comment was ironic, because as violent as his stories are, he states " Shut up is so bad, you never hear it at my house." As depressing as his stories were, he proved to not be a depressing person, with his funny and random comments in between stories, like telling us about his dream where his "son imitated a pretty good American accent." I also found some parts of his "That's How I Know You Were Mad At Me" story to be humorous. Overall, I think he did a good job and shared with us some well written stories.

When I first heard we were seeing Scott Woldman, I expected it to be a boring period with him just talking about writing plays, similar to what we had already seen with Bill Kelly. I was proved wrong after finding out we were actually going to watch scenes from the play. I found the musical hilarious and enjoyable. It had some great catchy tunes, such as the opening song after everyone meets at the speed dating. The musical had a lot of comic relief, especially from Vicky, the dental hygienist in real life, who scared me and made me laugh with her lines. I liked the comparison of "men being like cucumbers" and the "key to happily ever after...frequent trips to the farmers market." I thought that although they hadn't had much practice yet, they had a great performance. I will hopefully be able to see the musical when it opens March 29th- June 21st!

Daphne Willis and Co. was also better than last years band by a mile, or more. I loved their unique sound, compared to the same pop music everyone hears on the radio today. They also had a relaxed attitude that showed in their music. I loved the guitarists little dance during the song "Yellow Dress." When listening closely to the songs, there lyrics were meaningful and real, something I look for in music and was happy to see here. I am also impressed that she is a Fremd graduate, since it is hard to believe that anyone from around ehre can become successful in the music industry, since it is hard to get into. I think that if her and her band continue to be who they are, they have the potential to become successful in the future. It is obvious that Daphne's influences affect the sound of her music, including Sara Bareilles and Jack Johnson, both of whom I like. I hope their band makes it in the industry while maintaining the unique sound that sets them apart and made me enjoy them.

I also believe the best was save for last, ending with Marc Smith. I didn't have the chance to see him last year, and am glad I got to this year. I was surprised to hear that he used to be shy, saying that he was "so shy, I couldn't even talk to the pizza guy on the telephone." It is comforting to hear that, because I am the exact same way. This inspired because it shows me that if I try I can do big things when I get older as well, like how he created poetry slams. I found him to be very interactive and lively with audience which made for a fun and interesting period. I can't believe he climbed the railing at his age! I wouldn't even do it now, especially since he had just "had a little accident" the period before. I loved watching his bowlegged rainbow poem and "Richard Cory". I was also assigned to reinact this play in Mrs. Gilkey's class (I was actually in Jennifer's group) and enjoyed recognizing a poem I thought I'd never hear again. I also like that he believes, as I do, that "More than I like poets, I like poems". I also believe this is crucial in music, and that quality and meaning is more important than how famous the person who wrote it is. This made him and his enthusiasm in his performances more believable and real to me. It is amazing that he has memorized 350+ poems and can perform any of them, and perform them well. He is truly an inspiration to any aspiring writer. This year's writer week was by far better than the last two I'd been to. I loved the different variety of subjects and people we got to see. It will be hard, but I'm looking forward to seeing if next year's writer week can top this one.

Writer's Week Response

Writers Week was phenomenal as always. It has never let me down yet. The funniest piece I’ve seen this past week was the Speed Dating by Scott Waldman. There were lines in there such as when the girls sang “So many questions I have to ask, give me the right answer if you want to last.” They wanted to know about the guys on a deeper level, while the boys simply sang out, “Will you sleep with me?” This was hilarious because it has truth behind it, and it was said so bluntly.
The most inspirational thing I heard was when Daphne Willis and Company sang her heart out. She had come from Fremd High School, which proves to me that people we know can follow their dreams if they set their mind to it. Her voice was soothing, yet upbeat, and I thought it was adorable when the guitarists swayed back and forth followed by a spin during the “Yellow Dress.” After hearing this music, I couldn’t resist. I had to buy her CD. After listening to it multiple times through, not only did I like the rhythm and beat, but her lyrics spoke the truth. One of the songs I listened to that wasn’t at writers week, had a line in it that said, “The one thing you don’t need to fear is fear.” Her music was the greatest thing I heard this week.
Another inspirational speaker was Marc Smiths. He is definitely someone I won’t forget. He made such a mark in the art history by creating the poetry slam. He may be a bit on the older side, but he still has so much spunk in him and he even walked up a wall! As a healthy young teenager, I wouldn’t even do that. So it shows me that he has guts and that poetry not only speaks to him, but he finds a way to make it speak to us. This wasn’t a poem Smiths read, but while he was simply telling us about himself, he said “If you feel there’s a destiny inside of you, you know what? There is!” After hearing him speak, I was motivated to talk to him afterward. He told me and a few others standing near me that if you ever feel motivated to do something, go for it. It’s not just our imaginations, but there really is a destiny out there made just for us. All in all, this writers week was one of a kind, that makes Fremd a unique school for the effort it puts in to making this happen for all of us.

After attending numerous performances throughtout this year's Writers Week, I must admit, this year, by far, contained the most memborable speakers.

Billy Lombardo had to be my most favorite because I had already seen him the previous year. However, instead of reading some of his old pieces, or even anything reminiscent of them, he read some really creatively different yet enjoying pieces. I really enjoyed "The First Time You Were Punched" because it was one of the short stories that fell into that "completely innovative" category. Rather than speaking in the first person, Mr. Lombardo wrote it in the second person, directly addressing his audience as "you." But what I found more interesting was how even with the use of "you," he made the story sound as if it were about him and his own experiences. In addition to his innovative pieces, I enjoyed specific lines he shared with the audience. Before reading "How to Remember a Day With Your Son," Mr. Lombardo mentioned how he "thinks it's funny naming your cat 'sad,'" which happens to be depressing in the real world. But what was even more funny was when he admitted that his "favorite friends are really smart and don't write" and "really smart and don't read." In both cases, Mr. Lombardo told the audience that these particular friends made writing much easier because they would always give him a story, yet little had to be modified because he knew that they wouldn't write their own stories, and some may not even read these stories (giving him permission to not change the names).

Two performances that were completely new to me from the Fremd auditorium were the two musical performances: Scott Woldman and the cast of Speed Dating and Daphne Willis and Co. Both had different approaches in that one was humorous while the other had better music. After watching a couple scenes from Speed Dating, my abdomins were aching from laughing so hard. The highlight of the show had to be the sexually charged woman. While a little inappropriate for our G-rated high school, it was absolutely hilarious watching the woman purr out "feisty" and sexually harass Fremd's very own Mr. Schaefer. But what was more interesting was how Scott Woldman, the screen player writer, was also funny stating that his inspiration for writing this musical was because he had "a lot of unhappy single friends." On the flip side, I also enjoyed watching a completely different musical approach performed by Daphne Willis and Co. Instead of being the cast members of a musical, Daphne Willis and Co. was an actual band. Although it was unfortunate to hear that they weren't signed, I was really glad they were able to make it to Fremd's Writers Week. Daphne Willis had a Norah Jones-esque voice that was raspy yet relaxing, perfect for any type of weather and any type of emotion. Moreover, I was surprised when I saw the drummer playing three instruments (top hat, snare, tambourine) at one time during the song "What's It Gonna Be." That being said, my ultimate conclusion of this band is how immensely talented they are. I'm hoping them the best of luck so that they may be more widely exposed to the entire country.

This year, I believe Fremd kept the best for last. Marc Smith was the last performer to perform, but he was definitely one of the most memorable. He not only got the audience to participate but also made us believe in the characters he was performing. It was incredible to see the range of characters he could perform and mimic their voices. I don't remember the poem title, but I loved his raspy voice when he said, "The coat used to fit him well, it fits me now." All I could imagine was a Sin City-esque scene in which Bruce Willis was sporting a long tailored coat, something one would see in a suspensful mystery movie. But I grew really excited when he stard reciting "Richard Cory." My freshman year of high school, I remember Mrs. Gilkey assigning us to read certain poems aloud. My group was assigned "Richard Cory" but never did I thought I would read, or see it again, performed so well that it was rightfully commemorating the author of the poem.

Despite the overall plethora of excellent performances, I was disappointed in Bill Kelly's speech, which happened to be anything but one. Instead of sharing his experiences, he forced the audience to create questions for him to answer. While it may be beneficial in the fact that we are only listening to information that we want, I still felt as if Mr. Kelly could've added something to his performance that would have made it extraordinary, rather than satisfactory. Although I was kind of hyped to see, in person, the screen pley writer of Enchanted and Blast From the Past, two excellent films that I have enjoyed watching, he reminded me of Terrence Coli's performance last year: boring. My mistake was getting overexcited for a famous writer rather than researching a writer that is new and less successful in the writing community. While Bill Kelly had some interesting and humorous things to say, such as, "hi-yah!" and "take the exalted writer and inverse it into pond scum, that's what I am," I feel that I could've learned so much more from such a successful writer.

But ultimately, despite the criticism, I loved Writers Week, especially the free food that was provided to the performers. The speakers Fremd invited were all so talented and many of the student speakers were also suprisingly very good. For these reasons, I am glad I am a junior so that I may relive this experience once again as a senior.
:D

My Writer's Week Experience

This year's writers week left me with mixed feelings. Watching such inspired minds come together in one place gave me hope for my own writing ability. Proof that people of any background can make impactful writing. From revolutionary writers such as Marc Smith to down to earth, independent songwriters such as Daphne Willis & Company.
The first performance I experienced proved to be not much of a performance at all. Bill Kelley, a "famous" Hollywood screenwriter admitted to being completely unprepared, and personally I was suprised that he could fill up all the time through a simple question and answer. Yet his message to us, though a bit cliche (like most of his movie ideas) was clear, do what you love and what your good at, even when people try to bring you down. I liked his dry, monotoned answers to the questions about his movies, which he obviously recognized are a bit lame. His sense of humour which comes through in his scripts also came through in his conversation as he took abuse by several students, and even a teacher, who asked him "how it felt to take on the role of a teenage girl." Instead of becoming akward he admitted that the writing process is not glorious and most often takes a long soak in the bathtub. He also admitted to being a fan of corny popcorn flicks like Matrix, among others. This is clear in his movies that actually got produced as well, such as Premonition, and Enchanted. The best part of his Q&A was his insight into the world of movie production, and his full recognition of the fact that his career makes him "pond scum." The fact that he takes all the abuses of being a writer with generally dumb ideas who has no power at all, yet still does it for the love of the industry and creative liberty is inspiring if nothing else.
After hearing that rant about the generalities of being unsuccessful, anything would be a pump up in my mind...except Billy Lombardo. Right off the bat I knew his ideals and my own did not exactly coincide. His first poem about a baseball game, proved uninteresting to me, though his writing style was admirable. His bland delivery didn't help the matter, and later on as he got to his stories about emotional relationships, between father and son got a bit too mushy for my taste. It didn't end there though, the theme of baseball and father/son protruded throughout the next half and hour. To top it all off, they weren't even true stories, or inspired by truth, he just wrote depressing stories for the heck of it, and that got on my nerves. Stories about hitting his kids, and of adultery, and losing keys. I just saw it as a bummer, and then I'd remember its all happening at some random baseball field and that was a bummer too, cause I don't like baseball. I guess the stories were honest, and serious but not at all captivating or interesting.
On the third day I wasn't expecting much, as I had been pretty clearly disappointed the last two, but I was in for a welcome surprise, as the cast and crew of Speeddating the Musical performed. Though performing about a subject probably none of the students had any experience with, you could instantly tell everyone was interested. To see written word put to such comical use was a relief from the past experiences. The way that the performance aspect adds an entire other layer to the already complicated process of writing, and one that can be at times much more captivating than the words themselves really interested me. Another welcome surprise was the fact that this particular theater group consisted of regular people not actors. Accountants, dentists, lawyers all brought together by a love of the stage, and trained to be naturals in front of a crowd. It really provided evidence of writing put to action.
Perhaps my favorite performance of the week came with Marc Smith, the creator of Poetry Slams. I felt like I was in the room with some one who really made a difference in the writing world. Proof that individuals can revolutionize a field even as isolated as poetry. His performace again added to the power of the pieces, as they weren't bland and drawling but quick, highpaced, and he was always moving to add effect. I knew I was in a room with a master of the art. The parts of his life that he shared with us were also interesting as you got to see that he came from humble roots, and that he wasn't always inclined to write, but found it to be his calling. His innovation, and passion made him inspiring, and easy to watch. If I ever had doubts about whether poetry could exist in our generation, my questions with answered quickly.
Though I enjoyed some speakers more than others, I admired their ability to go in front of a crowd of strangers, and share pieces of themselves, their ideas on paper. I could see that all of these people were empowered by creativity, and that writing is as much an expression of one self as anything.

Writer's Week

Writer’s Week this year was overall an amazing experience. I was able to learn and enjoy the performances of a diverse group of talented writers, including novelists, poets, screenwriters, playwriters, songwriters and student writers. This year I was able to view the performances of Regie Gibson, Bill Kelly, Billy Lombardo, Scott Woldman & Company, Laura Van Prooyen, Daphne Willis & Company, Marc Smith and some of our very own Fremd students. Each writer brought something unique to the stage and was entertaining.

I really enjoyed the poetry of Marc Smith. While I never found the opportunity to see him perform during the past years he appeared at Fremd, I was delighted to be able to see him perform this year. For a man of his age, I admire his courage to be able to walk up the wall, while concentrating on his poetry as well. The fact that he also has about 350 poems memorized as of now and that his goal is to memorize about 1000 poems before he dies, astonishes me. It is hard to see him as a shy person, because on stage his outgoing personality radiates. I also thought the way in which he got his audience involved in the poems, such as the El Train Poem, in which he has audience members act on stage and make sound effects, made his poem more interesting. I learned more about the poetry slam itself. For instance, I learned that if a poet makes a sexist comment, that gender hisses at the poet. Marc Smith performed with attitude and enthusiasm, in which you could tell he was enjoying what he was doing.

I also enjoyed the performances by Scott Woldman & Company and Daphne Willis & Company. They were both interesting and enjoyable to watch. I thought that Scott Woldman’s play was hilarious, yet realistic. The song I found the most hilarious, was the song in which all the women were asking important questions about the future and the men asked only one question-Will you sleep with me? All nine actors were both musically talented and talented actors. I think that their three and a half hour rehearsals and practices five days a week really showed on the stage. Each performer played their character well and kept the performance lively. Daphne Willis and Company was also musically talented. Each member of the band brought the best in the band. I find it very hard to be able to compose music and lyrics. It always astonishes me how people can produce such good lyrics and be able to share it with the world. Both of these performances kept me interested.

I was glad that Bill Kelly was able to come to Writer’s Week. I have seen both Enchanted and Premonition and thought they were fantastic movies. Kelly stated, “ It doesn’t matter who you are or where you are from, try what you want to do even if it seems impossible.” I agree with this statement. I believe that if you want to do something, you should at least try to achieve it. Bill Kelly said that it wasn’t about how many people watched the move or the money he receives, but the fact that he wrote it and enjoyed writing it. I think this is great. He has a job which he loves to do. I found it interesting to learn about screenplay, since it was a topic I knew little about. I learned how they must sell copyrights of their movie and how a writer can be hired to rewrite other writer’s stories. Bill Kelly was enjoyable to listen to, especially with his constant “Hiya” when responding to a question.

While some students take advantage of Writer’s Week as a week of not having to attend English classes, I find that there is much more to Writer’s Week. We have a great opportunity here at Fremd to experience the writing of many talented writers. Not only did I enjoy their performances, but was astonished by their commitment to writing and fascinated by what inspired them to write what they wrote and pursue a career in it. Writer’s Week this year was phenomenal and truly a great experience.

Writers Week XII

I love Writer’s Week. Although I didn’t get to go as many times as I would have wished this year, I still went at least twice a day and witnessed some very memorable performances, from Marc Smith climbing on the banisters to an enthusiastic young girl run up to Patrick Kennedy and ask him to sign her shirt.

My Writer’s Week began with the 8^th period performance of Hollywood screenwriter Bill Kelly. In most cases one would think that I would dislike Kelly—due to his unprepared-ness, standard question and answer format, and unenthusiastic, dry, performance. However, I thought his subject matter was captivating and I actually enjoyed his bland sarcasm. I thought his personality was very ironic because he reminded me of a television or movie character that would be purposely written as over-the-top subdued and apathetic. I loved how he showed indifference when people asked questions concerning his obviously awful screenplay for “Premonition,” as if he already knows how bad the movie is and doesn’t really care. When asked why he loves his job, his honesty struck me as amusing when he described his love for the “God complex.” My sister and entire extended family lives and works in Hollywood and Kelly often reminded me of my uncle and stories he tells me about his dorky screenwriters. I know not everyone may have enjoyed his performance, I don’t even know if he was really technically that good, but I liked hearing about another side of writing careers.

I also liked listening to Billy Lombardo. His stories were very captivating and honest. I found it interesting how well he wrote stories about conflicts that never happened to him (“The First Time I Got Punched”), yet still managed to make them realistic and entrancing. He seemed to be able to have a very strong grasp on human behavior and emotion and be able to capture that in his writing, especially noticeable in “How I Knew You Were Mad at Me.” Lombardo also inspired me to possibly try writing in 2^nd person, the format two of his stories were in. He suggested when writing in second person to use the second person format to present, “an author that is distancing himself from the situation. Use the second person as a stand in for another, deeper conflict.” I may try out this style on my Writers Week shareable draft.

Seeing Scott Woldman & Co. and Daphne Willis & Co. was very refreshing. I liked seeing performances that strayed from the usual presentation that traditional authors and poets seem to fall into. However, I didn’t necessarily love “Speed Dating: The Musical.” I wasn’t bored and I did find some parts funny, but overall I didn’t think it was that good and I didn’t like the majority of the jokes or actors. I did like seeing Daphne Willis, though. The 50 minute period went by very fast because I felt like I was at a concert. I loved her voice and her perseverance to stick to her musical style even when Hollywood may not be advertising for someone like her right now.

Although I like seeing professional writers discuss their work, my favorite periods are ones when students present. I liked the variety of pieces that were read. I heard things such as college essays, pointless fictional excerpts, musical compositions, emotional poems and everything in between. Hearing the audience’s positive response to each student made me excited and proud of that person, even if I didn’t know them. Sadly, I wasn’t able to see anyone from our class perform, although I heard many good reviews from friends who did see them and made me wish I had gone. I guess this just teaches me to skip gym a few more times next year.

Writer's Week

The main thing that I liked about Writer’s Week was the fact that the speakers really showed that writing does not just mean writing criticisms or novels but could take someone down many different paths. My favorite writer to listen to was Bill Kelly. Although he was admittedly unprepared for the presentation, I believed that he had the most interesting career and expressed to us best how the life of a writer works. I was impressed with the fact that he had the courage to simply pack up on New Year’s Day and leave his home to become a film writer. I was also shocked to learn that he learned to write in his twenties, something that inspires me to practice more now because I know that if I do, I can also become as good as him.
I enjoyed the clips from the play Speed Dating. Although they were not fully rehearsed for the play and still had to use their scripts, I thought that the play was extremely funny and outlined the nuances and stereotypes of the dating world quite well. The first song about all the questions men and women would ask their potential dates was hilarious. I also liked how they selected people from the crowd to join in certain parts of the play, and I wonder if they are planning on doing that for the real play or if there were simply two people missing.
I also enjoyed hearing the poems of Marc Smith. The amount of poetry that he had committed to memory along with his more entertaining way of promoting poetry makes him in my eyes a phenomenal poet. I was surprised when he said that he had long been afraid of speaking in front of people and that inspires me to want to become a better performer. He also showed a deep understanding of what reading poetry for people means when he said that he tries to put on a show rather than focusing only on his one poem.
The work of Billy Lombardo was interesting. The most fascinating part was that he said he writes about the things that he doesn’t have in his life like violence and hatred, and that the part of his story about almost attacking his son was inspired by a dream. His stories seemed to show a darker side of the mind that counters happiness by providing a melancholy view of things, as shown most clearly in his piece about the White Sox victory. The piece The First Time You Were Punched is one of the few that I have seen written in second person, and I found it to be a very creative way of expressing the story taking place.
I also saw the writer and poet Reggie Gibson. He seemed to be extremely experienced with speaking in front of many people, and although he was sometimes hard to understand, his performance poetry was breathtaking, especially the piece exposing the prejudices in today’s society and criticizing politics. The presentation by Daphne Willis & Co. was amazing, but although it was a great musical performance, this presentation did not go deep into what being a writer means. I was impressed that someone from Fremd High School went on to become a successful musician with people she had met at open microphones and through other friends.
In my opinion, all the examples highlight the diversity of the writing world and the fact that, no matter where you are, you will probably have to write in some way. Writer’s Week was inspirational in that it caused me to realize that writing can be a crucial instrument of success. I really enjoyed seeing all the writers and I thank all the people that contributed to the event.

Writers Week XIV: Going for an A?

Writers Week XIV was truly one of the greatest in school experiences that I have ever had. Previously, I rarely had the opportunity to attend the full writers week schedule in my english classes, and never looked forward much to the writers that were to come. I found myself getting lost in the words coming out of the speaker's mouths, but this year everything changed with a new perspective that I had in mind. With returning writers week legends such as Billy Lombardo and Marc Kelly, I knew we had something special in store during the great week. The first day of writers week--friday wasn't what i call spectacular. Upon looking at the writers week pamphlet, i expected to see Bill Kelly present to us a movie script in progress, or even read to us a piece from enchanted (since some us had not seen it). I was disappointed with the presentation this hollywood movie script writer gave us. With the writer of "premonition," "blast from the past," and "enchanted" in front of me just conducting a Q and A session, I dozed off to the "hiya" he gave with each raised hand. I will admit that it was an honor to have the writer of an acclaimed movie in front of me, someone who grew up in Elk Grove Village, Illinois. He also gave off quite a few memorable zingers or answers to the various questions. For example, "Yes, Patrick Dempsey is as sexy as they say he is in person." This quote gave quite a few laughs. Also, he gave us an inspiration message. "IT doesnt matter who you are, where youre from, you can do anything if you want to make it happen....Dont wait for permission...JUST DO IT" He made his dream happen, and thats what inspired me.

Monday was another great day for me as Billy Lombardo was to appear in front of us. His poems included a myriad of deep thoughts, enough to make a person come to tears, and remain awestruck by the true meaning behind the text. The poems involved a variety of everyday life situations, and it made me wonder how a person who claimed, "I love violent movies, but i find no sadness in my life" would have the ability to come up with the successful pieces that he had written. The first couple stories such as "The logic of a rose," "my first punch", and "how to remember a day with your son" was extremely sad and touching. The lines i remember from "my first punch" is "you will feel the blackness....and as you wonder how long it takes for a black eye to go away...shed a tear." The story held a cold, but deep meaning as it introduced the idea that such events can happen, and do happen, even to the children. Continuing on with the child related pieces, I found "how to remember a day with your son" very lifelike and enjoyable. The scene i remember most from this piece was the child standing in front of the father about to come to tears after the father rose a fist to almost punch the child after he had lost the father's keys. That scene really stuck to me. THe white sox excerpt was just as great, as a lighter mood was created. I believe that Billy Lombardo has the amazing skills of both writing and reading, as he never made me doze off or daydream.

Definitely one of the best performances of the week in my opinions was "Speed Dating" the musical presented by Mr.Scott Woldman and Co. I simply could not stop laughing, and was in a frenzy to get down the memorable quotes. I noticed that they were continuing on from where they left of from period 7, which was just as hilarious. Through the depiction of a speed dating scenario, with the highly trained metropolis actors taking up a character that anyone could fall in love with, a wonderful play was made. From the scared-of-girls guy, sci-fi girl, insecure guy, overconfident jerk, "fat problem," comic guy" and the teacher, each depicted their character oh too well. "oh my...thats an aqkward question to ask Eric...I like it in the butt!!!!" Definitely the highlight of the play. Some more zingers i recall included "will you will you will you will you sleep with me??" and "I have red licorice.....oh be still my heart!" I hope that Mr. Woldman returns next year with another amazing musical.

Daphne Willis and Co. was another great part of the week. Through her band's musical talent and catchy songs such as "pull tight," I thought it was a memorable experience. Although personally the style of music isnt what i would typically listen to, i could see without a doubt that the group had talent and was capable of hitting it big. The fact that Daphne Willis came out of Fremd and followed her dream was inspirational. I will always welcome them for future writer's weeks. "We keep it light and friendly"

Last but not least, the incredible Marc Smith gave his classic and legendary performance to conclude Writer's Week. I looked forward to him like none other as i recalled him walking up the banister, singing "money makes the world go round", memorizing over 350 poems, founding Poetry Slam, and going from shy man to incredible entertainer. He told us that "performing is just a craft" and that"if you feel like there is destiny within you...there is." I did not think that he was the shy boy he said he used to be, but then again, he is Marc Smith. Pretty much everything he said was an inspiration to me, and i cannot help but to look up at him as a great person. I recall him saying in a poem, "I wear my fathers coat...and it seems to me this is how we make our acquaintances." Although i didnt clearly understand this quotation, i think that it only makes him greater to see that he can memorize poems we have never really seen. "Im a socialist!" Upon going up to him afterwords, I was met with a smile and a "hello young man, what is your name?" When i asked him for an autograph and a message, he wrote this, "Here's a message for you Justin...So What???"

In conclusion, this years Writer's Week was incredible. Although i didnt have the courage to read in front of the congregation this year, I feel a growing courage to present my writings in the future. I wasnt able to see anyone from my classes, but just hearing their appraisals made me feel happy for them. I am really glad that fremd high school offers such a great week, and I cant wait for next years.

Writers Week!!!

Writers Week is my favorite week of the school year. We are so privileged to learn from other writer's insightful voices. I am glad I had the opportunity to share my piece at writers week (although I was incredibly nervous). 

I really enjoyed the Speed Dating musical performed by Scott Woldman & Co. Mr. Woldman was my 8th grade English teacher and I really enjoyed the humor in his writing then and still now.  This segment was from a different category than any of the other writers. Rather than hear about some one else's life stories, it was fun to see a theatrical entertainment piece. I know that there was a lot of exaggeration but truth was evident in that piece as well and that made it truly hilarious.

Daphne Willis & Co. developed a music style unique in it's own melody. I love the way they seemed to step out of the basic box the music industry hands out. I am currently learning how to play guitar so it was inspiring to know that she taught herself guitar as well and became successful in her efforts. Students thrive for music and I am really glad that this segment was at writers week to meet the tastes of most teenagers. 

Marc Smith also was one of my favorites. I learned that a poem doesn't have to hold a deep meaning of love, hope, and failure but can be fun just to describe an idea.  I loved the energy her brought to the stage and I hope that one day I will be able to express myself with the confidence he has. 

I saw Lauren and Rosie perform and they both did an excellent job. Lauren slid quite a few laughs into her pocket throughout the piece. Rosie captured everyone's attention and heart with his moving piece.

I am already looking forward to listening to the encouraging, insightful, and hilarious words next year's writers week will hold.

Writers Week XIV

Another year at Fremd and another Writers Week. While I personally feel that this year was really just more of the same, the pleasure of attending such an even has certainly not been diminished. One guest that I've had the good luck of seeing every year so far is Marc Smith. To me, he doesn't just represent writers as a whole, but a role model; a source of real human genius and emotion. His often humorous poems almost always include some sort of underlying message that makes you think long after you've attended his performance. One good example would be the poem with the "money makes the world go 'round" song. As I fervent capitalist, I cannot agree with his political views, but it does bring to light the evils of such a system; one where people will do close to anything for material gains. But even if his poems meant nothing to me, I will try to remember his words, "Now is all there ever was and all there ever will be."

One other individual that has made me reconsider my views was Scott Woldman of Scott Woldman and Co. While he himself didn't talk very much (I think the director took all the questions), his story for Speed Dating: The Musical has made me rethink the way I approach new music and moreover, musical theater. The appeal of this specific piece was the way he decided to approach one of the all important questions of all of our lives: what is love? While we weren't given an answer in our session, I don't doubt that the audience members will have dazzling revelations during the premier. Just because of the nature of certain popular musicals that were in circulation (particularly RENT and Wicked), I didn't pay much attention to them. But after sitting through what I thought was going to be a boring musical (something silly based upon a silly concept could only mean more silly-ness) turned out to be quite entertaining, though I don't think singing, "Will you will you will you will you sleep with me?" is gonna get me any closer to a girlfriend.

Finally, the most exciting part of Writers Week (for me anyway): the student writers! While I wasn't able to make any of the performances of my classmates (sincere apologies, guys) I was able to catch a few good friends and cheer them on. Wednesday heard the struggle in Sarah Glazer's short story and saw Steph Tham's interesting relationship with college as well as Greggy-T's lament of bygone days and Rita Pello's hyperactive, winking dog. Thursday was an even better treat with Sheades and Mealy. It seems like every year our own writers get better and better and maybe one day, I'll have the courage to stand up there with them, complaining about my dead-end job, speaking my heart, or making light of a disastrous situation. Writers Week forever!

Writer's Week 2008

Writer's Week 2008 I thought was a truly great experience. And I'm not just saying that either. I look forward to Writer's Week and this year was a great example of why. With amazing people like Billy Lombardo, and Marc Smith, how could Writer's Week be something one would not enjoy? Starting off with Bill Kelly, the screenplay writer of movies such as "Enchanted" and "Premonition", Writer's Week kept getting better and better. Although Bill Kelly just answered questions, I still found it amazing that I was there in the room and listening to the author of a movie which is up for academy awards! I also thought that his story was quite interesting-the fact that he lived in Elk Grove and had this dream of becoming a screenplay writer--then moved to LA and made it happen is absolutely astonishing and quite amazing. I found his own story to be inspiring; he showed that if you have a dream, you can't let anyone stand in your way and you don't need permission from anyone to achieve that dream.

Another person whom I admired was Billy Lombardo. I thought his poems were really sad, but extremely good as well. His poems were so descriptive and described really interesting situations. I thought the one happy poem his said, about the Sox winning the world series, and him sharing that moment with his son was really touching. From that, his piece, "First Time you are Punched", although extremely sad, it shows the audience the realization that this actually does happen to some kids. The title of the poem is very literal, however the poem has a much deeper meaning. The line that I thought was especially touching, was when he was describing the boy in the corner with his black eye, and his parents fighting in the background, and he is trying to "butterfly kiss the wall...to make the black eye go away." His other piece, "How to Remember a Day with your Son" was also sad but I thought that it was very powerful at the same time. I think the way he reads the poems also add to the effect, because he can read it in the way that he planned it to be read. His final piece, "How I Knew you were Mad at Me" also had some sad parts, but also had some funny parts as well, such as "I knew you were mad at me when...you set the wipers too slow." Overall, Billy Lombardo was very powerful author that I extremely admire.

Moving from the sadder pieces, Scott Woldman's "Speed Dating- the Musical" was absolutely hilarious! Depicting the situations many people go through, this musical seems like it would be extremely entertaining to go see! I thought the song where the boys sang "will you sleep with me" over and over, with the girls singing "boys suck" was so funny! The one girl that sang was also hilarious. I will definitely remember them! As for Daphne Willis and Company, their talent was amazing. I thought her singing was really, really good...I actually did look her up on iTunes!

Finally, but definitely not least, was Marc Smith, perhaps the most memorable of all. I remembered him from last year because he was my favorite, and of coarse, he walked up the banisters. I admire him so much, having memorized over 200 songs, along with being the founder of slam poetry and a great entertainer, he is really someone to remember. I was surprised to find out that he was really shy when he was younger, but I think he would be an inspiration to those who are really shy. One thing he said to the audience that stuck with me was he said, "If you feel there is a destiny in you, there is." I found this line to be inspirational personally. As for the poems he performed, they can't be beat. The one poem about the rainbow and it being a person who is bowlegged, with one foot in the heart of a woman, and one in the heart of a man was one of my favorites. I thought that all the poems he performed were really powerful and I would have to say Marc is definitely my favorite person who came to writer's week. The poem that I remembered him saying last year, and I always will remember him performing is the poem where he walks around the whole auditorium, saying there is a different animal "in him."

Overall, Writer's Week 2008 was an extremely inspirational, entertaining, and memorable experience. It makes me sad that I could not see anyone that was in our class, but I'm sure all of them did an awesome job. All the people who came to Writer's Week were so talented and I really enjoyed seeing them all. I feel so privledged to be a Fremd student that is able to have this experience. Let's just say that Writer's Week 2008 will be hard to beat!

Writers Week Blog

And thus, My junior year's writer's week is over.

Callous as it may seem, I felt writers week began poorly (although it ended on a high note) with Screenwriter Bill Kelly's somewhat dry humor and basic Q&A. His relatively bleak visions of Hollywood, his reasoning for being a movie writer (as opposed to a television writer, which he wished to be), his depictions of a writer's place in Hollywood, and his general attitude seemed almost misplaced in a week made to celebrate the successes and greatness of writing, rather than it's shortcomings. His saving grace, however, came as he explained that the reason he, or any other writer, stays in Hollywood is devotion to his (or their) work, rather than money. This sentiment stood in stark contrast to the schema of his responses.

The end of the weekend, though, saw a dramatic turn for writers week, as we saw Billy Lombardo speak about a fictional bakery fire in "The Pilgrim Virgin" where a supposed "punk" saved not only his life, but his family's lives, or his "First Punch" at the hands of his own father in the midst of terrible family issues. Very moving. Scott Woldman's "Speed Dating: The musical" in turn turned the mood of writer's week upside down again with incredible, often inappropriate humor. Chorus quotes such as "Will you will you will you will you sleep with me" will be remembered for years to come, not to mention his impecible style and awesome timing in showing portions of different conversations summing up with "Thats an unusual question. I suppose I would take it in the butt." Truly Hilarious.

Daphne Willis just rocked. Not much more to say. A Fremd Graduate with a semi-successful band living independantly the way they want to. Nothing more respectable. And, of course, Marc Smith, my ~60 year old socialist slammin' poetry hero. Climbing the banister twice while yelling "bankers lend it, women spend it" introducing himself as "the guy who drops the F-Bomb" and myriad other out-of-bounds-yet-creatively-relevant poems, in addition to the more acceptable "My father's coat" poem. And, of course, talking to him after he finished showed how deep he really was, and how encouraging he tries to be to aspiring writers.

PS: He liked my hat. Take that, you nay-sayers!

Writer's Week XIV

Writer's week is so awesome. Many of the writers that attended this years event were just great. Mary Fons is and has always been my personal favorite since freshmen year. I really enjoy listening to hear poems because they are just so real. There was one instance in one of her pieces where she said, " Prisoners die for things they won't admit" that really got me. I will also admit that i really do not understand what she meant by this but all I know is that this line kept on repeating itself in my head for the rest of the day. By the way if anyone wants to comment of their ideas of what this passage might have meant or what it means to you, then please post a comment on this post. I must say though that Bill Kelly was more or less pathetic. I think that others in our class will back me up on this because the guy did not really do anything. Besides the fact that all he did was answer questions he really didn't present us with anything. I was really looking forward to him possibly reading a piece from his script that is in progress or something to that effect. On anther note, Billy Lombardo is amazing! I was flattened by how dark and dismal his pieces were because he mentioned multiple times that his life was very happy and nothing like this. I really wanted to know where he got his inspiration from. I know that someone asked him and he said that it was because he doesn't have to deal with this stuff in real life so he writes about it but for some reason I don't believe him. To inspire a person to write such dark and depressing stories, one would think that something happened to them earlier on in life that they have since carried with them. In the story about the boy who lost his father's keys he said, " If a dad could choose which memory a boy could keep''. This made me think a lot about how even though many of us have a good stock of happy memories with which we can keep our minds occupied, our thought seem to still dwell on the bad memories of something that may not be so significant, but the fact of the matter i that those small moments in time seem to always linger in our thoughts. I had the pleasure to see Mr. Tony Romano also. He's just great, although I haven't had the opportunity to read his book yet, the second i get some free time I plan on picking up a copy. Seeing as Tennis season has just started I seriously doubt that I will get a chance until summer vacation to read a good book on my own free time. Last but certainly not least Marc Smith, the greatest of them all. Right off the bat he said something that inspired me. " Don't wait until you are old, if you feel something inside of you that you have to do, your not making it up". This quote really impacted me because basically I feel that Marc is saying if you want something and it is in your heart, even if in your mind you doubt yourself, it is what you truly want and your not simply cheating your mind to make you think that you want it. Marc's presentation this year was by far the most intriguing and involving of the bunch. There were many memorable quotes such as "I am for the little guy" and others that I have yet to contemplate in my mind. Overall writer's week is great and at the same time we juniors face a very dismal prospect of only having one W.W. left to go. Great now I'm becoming depressed, time to go work on other homework. Anyway these guys that present their stuff to us and pour out their inner selves, I just can't fathom what it must be like. I am already looking forward to next year, let us hope that Writer's Week of 2009 will blow all of the others out of the water!!!