I have no idea how to “write” for college. I write how I write, from how I feel.

I realize there may be some formats that I will have to follow specifically, but as of this moment none of my instructors has said much besides “double spaced” or “on college ruled paper”.

My first assignement in ENG 111 included the following questions and my answers:

II. Finish the sentences below:

1. My most memorable positive writing experience is … being published. I wrote true life article about a suicide call I received while working the night shift at a drug and alcohol treatment center. The story was a positive story about hope, help and reaching out to those in need. I was proud of the work and the article has been framed.

2. My most memorable negative writing experience is … censorship. While I’m not sure that’s the term I want to use, that’s what it seemed like to me. I had been writing a weekly newsletter for my department for a couple of months, I had not gotten and bad reviews nor had there been any editorial control besides my own. However, one day my boss pulled me into her office to say someone had complained to her boss’s boss about one of the jokes. The truly frustrating thing for me was that person didn’t feel comfortable coming to me directly to talk about the issue, nor to my boss. I was asked to tone down the content of my newsletter and to be more considerate of others. So, for a while there was a censored version of the newsletter and an uncensored one. The uncensored version was sent to those people with a little tougher skin. News quickly spread however; soon people were begging to be added to the un-censored list, and soon the censorship it self just disappeared.

3. A person or place I’ve always wanted to write about is … Superman. I became interested in reading and writing by following the adventures of Superman in comics and television. In my early 20’s I even wrote my own comic for a while. Looking back on that I’d say it was more of an epic story, but at the time I envisioned it as a comic.

4. What do you know about that might be interesting for readers to read about. … Computers. I know a computer inside and out and I know how to make it do exactly what you need it to do with minimal headaches involved. I make working with your computer a fun experience.

5. What life experience, type of work or travel could be important to your writing? I think being a recovered alcoholic/drug addict gives me a unique perspective in what I see and do. I know what it feels like to be hopeless, and I know a path or two to recover from that.

6. What do you read that could inform your writing? Dan Brown’s The Da Vinci Code gave me a feel for capturing the full attention of the reader. Robert Jordan’s Wheel of Time series shows me the importance of details. Reading comics shows me that while a picture may be worth a thousand words, a “POW!” placed strategically can have just as much impact.