A journey in writing and art (and reptiles).

There are two things that make me feel complete, in regards to the often-asked questions," What do you want to do with your life? What do you want to be when you grow up?" Art and writing (and all the aspects that relate) are what I've always wanted to do "with my life." 

After I graduated from college, it seemed like I would remain stuck at my dead-end retail job, but I got lucky. Someone remembered me from an application two years before for a position they decided not to fill at that time. Instead, two years after my first interview, I was hired as an instructor of digital technology for a handful of classes at a local career institute. 

Thanks to that year as an instructor, others saw me as a knowledgeable designer. I mean, I was teaching the topics, I had to be able to actually do the things I taught, right? And another local business took a chance on me.

I started as a designer and then moved into writing, editing, and producing a county magazine. Finally, I got to combine everything I loved into a job. But was it enough?

No. I needed to flex my creative muscles more. So I began the process of starting a small art business, selling photography and artwork, mostly at local shows and conventions. I wanted to do more writing. For my job, I write only about things that pertain to the area that we live. I wanted - needed- to write about more than that. 

However, I just haven't felt ready to take the leap into additional freelance writing. So I've started taking classes. Classes to improve my writing (especially fiction) and to help my art business. It's always been a dream of mine to one day be able to support myself with my artistic endeavors. And so, I will. 

So follow me on my journey - into art, small business, writing, and maybe even a little reptile keeping. Have I mentioned that I have four snakes?

 

It Was Never a Gift (creativity assignment)

Assignment: Write a story using the phrase, "Pat knew for a long time that a clairvoyant gift was..."Think about the story. Stories have beginnings, middles and endings. Write a story using that phrase as your first line and include a twist at the end. Keep your story to 300 words or less. Write as tight as possible, that is, really select words with care. Trim out the extras. Add dialogue. Remember, keep your writing time to 20 minutes.

Pat knew for a long time that a clairvoyant gift was not really a gift at all. Sure some may have felt that way as they had visions of lost keys and misplaced valuables. That just wasn’t Pat’s luck. Her gift took her too much darker places. Frightening places. Dead places.

As Pat stared ahead, unfocused, towards the deep woods, she heard her husband in the distance. Jim struggled through the layer of underbrush that ran alongside the trail, creating border between the forest and the trail. His voice carried faintly through the air as he said her name.

“Pat?”

Pat didn’t acknowledge his call. She didn’t even hear him. She couldn’t hear his voice, the birds, or the voices of other hikers over her own pounding heartbeat. It throbbed through her petite body and unfocused her eyes.  The images flashing through her mind captured her voice, her thoughts, everything. All she could see was the girl.

The dead girl floated down deep in the black water, her pale skin almost glowing. Her clouded eyes sightless and her body unclothed. A flash of red floated near girl’s body, but Pat couldn’t tell what it was. Maybe a towel.

“Pat!"

Her husband, safely through the thorny underbrush, grabbed her arm and shook her gently.  

“Pat. Come back. Focus,” he instructed her. “It’s okay. Just relax and close your mind.”

His voice finally penetrating the fog that surrounded her, she became aware of the sounds of nature around here. She blinked slowly and took a deep breath to balance herself. She turned towards Jim and said in a voice tinged with despair, “There’s been another one. The Mon River killer is back. This time, I’m going to find him.”

Pat turned around and headed away from the woods and  headed back to their car. 

Physical Anthropology and Cultural Anthropology and Evolution (ANTH100)

Written for "Introduction to Anthropology" class in November. Its about two fields of anthropology and how they would view and study evolution. Honestly, I probably consider this my weakest paper to date. The topics gave me a little trouble.

Retail Shopping, Economics, and Culture (ANTH100)

Written for my "Introduction to Anthropology" class this semester. The premise was to observe a scene for approximately 30 minutes and write notes and observations about the people, the place, behaviors, patterns and cultural concepts.

Women’s Role in Prewar and Postwar America: World War II (HIST112)

This paper was on defining gender roles for the time before and after World War II, for History 112...

What if the Industrial Revolution Had Never Happened? (HIST112)

First paper written for History 112: World Civilizations Since 1650. The topic was if the Industrial Revolution had not actually happened, obviously.....

Origins of the Black Death (HIST111)

Written for History 111. It was the last paper of the class, sadly and only two more weeks left of class. I learned more about the Black Plague then I ever knew before.

The Reign of Caligula (HIST111)

This short essay was written for my "World Civilizations before 1650" history class. A paper about the rule of infamous emperor of Rome, Caligula. This paper does not touch on much of his 'madness' and is instead about the facts of his four years as the ruler of Rome.

“The Premature Burial” – a Narrator’s Journal (LITR220)

A little bit about this essay/project... For our final paper in American Literature before the Civil War we had to take a story that we had read during the semester and either (a) tell from another person's point of view or (b) rewrite as a journal. I chose the journal option, as well as the short story "The Premature Burial" by Edgar Allan Poe. Another of my favorite papers to write.

Analysis of the Short Stories of Edgar Allan Poe (LITR220)

For LIT220 we had to compare two stories by a writer of our choosing from our textbook.

Music and Self Image (SOCI220)

Another paper for American Popular Culture, this time about a social issue and music that discusses it.

Movie Review: A Clockwork Orange (in Relation to Pop Culture Theory) (SOCI22)

Written for my Sociology class about Pop Culture. I had to watch a movie and review critically and compare with theories from our textbook. Let me say that three to five pages is not nearly enough to go into detail about this movie, so many of the discussions are brief and much of it is left out entirely.

The Importance of the Characteristics of American Romanticism (LITR220)

An essay on the four characteristics of Romanticism: emotion, the individual, nature, and the supernatural and their importance. Written for my American Literature before the Civil War class... as always, any feedback, criticisms, and comments are welcome....

Hydraulic Fracturing: Environmental Hazard, Economic Benefit, or Something in Between? (ENGL102)

Another paper for my English 102 class, creating an effective middle ground argument... revisiting the topic of fracking.....

Social Media to Take a ‘Poke’ at Potential and Current Employees (ENGL102)

This argumentative essay is for my English 102 class, using the Rogerian form of argument. Topic: Social media sites and their use in employment decisions....

Accounts of Captivity in Early America: A Comparison (LITR220)

For LITR220: American Literature Before the Civil War.....

Drilling and Hydraulic Fracturing: A Benefit for Struggling Economies (ENGL102)

For my English 102 class... an argument on fracking, following the Toulmin form...

The Right of All Citizens: What Makes an Effective Argument for Women's Rights? (ENGL102)

This essay is a critical evaluation of Susan B. Anthony's "On Women's Right to Vote." This was written for my English 102 class.

Russian Folk Music (RUSS100)

This is my cultural essay for Russian I... I also had to translate it into Russian, but I don't know if I am going to post that part. lol

The Persevering Zombie and its Evolution (ENGL101)

This essay was for my last essay project for English 101. For this essay, we had to write about cause and effect. My cause/effect was how George Romero's Night of the Living Dead would have an efect on every zombie movie that followed.