The End of Nonfiction Class

It's so strange that we're halfway through December. Hell, the year's pretty much over now. So much has happened yet at the same time, it feels like barely any time has elapsed. Its the strangest feeling in the world. Nonfiction for me was very interesting and pretty challenging to write. Never have I done a Travelogue or a memoir before. I have plenty of regrets when it comes towards what I've been doing this semester and with this class. Usually, I'm the kind of writer that just goes with her first natural instinct, mostly because I find that work written by the heart and the initial part of it is usually me at my best. Then, of course, is time for the editing, and sometimes I do keep it the same. Now most of my regrets lie in my doubt and ability to write nonfiction. Fiction writing is  one thing and I've always had a huge imagination, but Nonfiction is basically telling it how it is, yet you've got to pull it out of the database of your mind and show it to the reader, not telling, which is the challenging aspect of it. 


I know I pulled that off quite nicely with my character sketch piece. However, it had taken me days and unsuccessful attempts at going at it. I had written three previous ones and I knew that they weren't going anywhere. It wasn't until the day it was "due" that i finally got the right kind of inspiration when Professor Skinner showed her family pictures did I realize what I should have been writing about the entire time. And yes, I do plan on editing it, adding some more bits after obtaining some research, and I'm going to submit it to the Advanced Nonfiction Workshop next semester. 


I hate having writer's block. It makes me grumpy, dissatisfied, and I act pretty bitchy when I'm frustrated and put too much thought into what I want to work on, but this semester (rather late, though), I realized that you cannot rush creativity and force it onto paper. I wish I could have written a much more efficient and entertaining travelogue rather than the appalling one I spent three hours blankfaced staring at the computer screen, wondering where I have been around Tallahassee. But yes, I learned so much in this class and I believe I'm one more step closer to my crazed ambition of becoming a writing Jack-Of-All-Trades. Thanks everyone! I guess I'll see you all around then.


-Kayla