Wednesday, September 23, 2009

When Technology Creatively Bites (The intervention of technology in Creative Writing and Creative Writing classes )

The Internet has developed into a special tool that affects every industry nowadays. Writers tend to engage into free verse markets—publishing their works and eventually interacting with other writers in the web as they continue to grow themselves in their field. In education sector, teachers have now the option to utilize the Internet in order to attract the students to learn with each other and as well as by themselves, creatively.

Online Creative Writing

Online Creative Writing is gaining popularity among online writers today. Infact, there are numerous websites that offer creative writing courses and degrees. There are also websites that hosts your articles for publication. You just have to select what fits to your standards when it comes to reliability in publication.

Apart from the fulfillment of seeing your work read and being reacted by online readers, you can also help readers by inspiring them to write as well. Creative Writing is interesting to readers when you have anything under the sun to tackle making sure you grasp with what they expect from you and possess enough creative tone in what you published.

Creative Writing Classes

On the other hand, Creative Writing classes can be supported through specific use of technology—particularly the Internet. Take for example if students are given an online project, say, they have to read a whole novel and make reactions online via a forum. These students will have the tendency to respond and interact with each other—comparing works and reflecting on the comments they have made.

Because Internet is for public access, students are inspired to do their work critically because they know for a fact that they are connected to the whole world—and interaction among them is a most likely to happen. This is a good advantage for the teachers because the task would be lessen somehow. Apart from the entertainment factor, it challenges students into academic growth.

Finding Creative Writing Scholarship Online

Let's face the fact that the Internet has brought a lot of advantage to almost all areas of human endeavors. As the technology reaches infinite possibility of growth, we are here to eventually take advantage of that opportunity.

As a creative writer, we are faced by the fact that we have less opportunity to stream out and broadcast our talents but because of the technology, we cannot suffer anymore the high cost of hard copy print and wait for weeks or months to publish our works. Internet is a great help. We can now publish our craft anytime of the day and thinking the worldwide audience reading it.

But for my friend, it was a different pursuit because she got a chance of finding a scholarship in Creative Writing abroad through an online connection.

Last week, this good old friend of mine flew immediately to the US to grab the opportunity granted to her by Lanford University in Northern California. She has seek my approval and I said it is really interesting but it's still upon her if she will accept the scholarship. Her relatives there agreed to accommodate her while she is studying.

I am sharing you this because indeed, it is a big opportunity for her to show to the world what a great writer she is. The scholarship granted her two years of study with $25,000 including remission of tuition and fees provided she will show exceptional promise in Creative Writing and have very good class standings.

Just so you know, she discovered it while browsing the Internet a few months ago and she gave it a try. Indeed, after almost 2 months of screening her entries she was granted of the scholarship by Lanford Department of Letters and Languages. We had had an argument of whether she will accept it or not because I thought it was a scam.

Where to Find a Creative Writing Scholarship?

There are a lot of websites in the Internet that is offering this kind of service. If you search for online scholarships, a number of institutions or agencies are willing to spend their money to deserving individuals. Infact, there are online Creative Writing courses offered free by top universities and educational websites mainly in the US and in Europe.

If you are seeking for a challenge and opportunity to develop your gift of writing, the Internet is one good way of finding what you are desperately looking for.

Creatively Here To Write (A writer's blob and why you have to try creative writing online)

I used to think that I am destined to become a scientist. As I enjoyed discovering scientific pursuits, I am completely living by the fact that everything in this world can be explained by science. I am in the bliss of realization that not everyone else can understand what I can, unless I will discover it for the sake of humanity.

Voila! But look where I am now? I am here facing the computer, making articles for the Internet, posting in a blog, and fortunately expressing my self through a keyboard and a computer monitor (a pen and a paper seemed to be obsolete here). Writing for my own sake, and for the humanity's maybe, is a tedious but fulfilling job. And I can still say that I am fortunate because I have gone through all of these.

What's with the writing?

Writers often than not settle for a kind of self-expression that is fulfilling to them. In the first place this what writing is all about—freedom of expression. As for me, I am more comfortable in the method of writing that is more personal, interesting, and creative enough to pull the attention of my readers.

But honestly, let me tell you that am not well-rounded enough of all these stuff and of my style in writing, rather put it; do I have a my own distinct style in writing? You judge by having a comment on this post.

What I meant by the phrase “not well-rounded enough” is that, I am a bit hesitant to try new things because I am usually carried away by disappointments from people. You say enough of this immaturity blah blahs. I agree. By now, old lessons should have been learned. And one final thing though: Creative Writing gets me in to the craft.

Let's get to the point.

As defined by wikipedia, Creative Writing is considered to be any writing, fiction, poetry, or non-fiction, that goes outside the bounds of normal professional, journalistic, academic, and technical forms of literature. Works which fall into this category include novels, epics, short stories, and poems.

Why choose this kind of medium?

With all the political, social, and economic fuss unfolding the whole earth everyday, would you not want to divert your attention into the distinct point of view of J.K.Rowling, J.R.R. Tolkien, or Stephenie Meyer? I know a lot of us has gone mad if not crazy to make this world a peaceful and a happy place to live. You count me in, and I assure you I'd rather float with the air than catch below all the dust that it carries.

To divert our attention means, we are opening new frontiers of our being human and eventually refreshing our minds so that the next time we face the problem we can confront it with a new knowledge and understanding; that we are only humans, hesitant and afraid of our own world but brave enough to overcome it. As Edgar Allan Poe, the most regarded writer in American literature said “all that we see or seem is but a dream within a dream.”

So the next time you are awfully confronted by the world, I recommend you to write your thoughts and ideas, as creatively as you can---you wouldn't know, you might be penning the next classic story ever told. And this will eventually help you overcome your self and teach you lessons that can only be found as you go along with your chosen medium of expression.

Where to write your Creative Writing piece?

The Internet is a good medium to flaunt what a good writer you are. But as you delve into it, you will find a vast source of knowledge and I tell you it will hit you in the face big time. This is otherwise known as information overload. But what if all this information is capsulized and sprinkled with creative contexts and eventually packaged for the readers to feast on? This is interesting.

Now it is really your chance to try the mainstream Internet. There are numerous sites in cyber space that will lead you in posting your articles, write-ups and creative blobs. And by the way, you can earn extra bucks if you're dedicated enough to maintain what you have started.

Perhaps, you can grab the technology and set aside that you are destined to become a scientist, like what I did.


Postscript:
In my future posts, you will find some real "stuff" about creative writing. Best regards! :-)

Wednesday, December 3, 2008

Mid-Crisis Solutions? (I hope so…)

"Things were so chaotic for me these past years, would you want to be part of the chaos, huh?"

I'm just so preoccupied with ALL THESE stuff.
I want something that would lift up my confidence and (damn) spirit--help me deal with these crisis, if so I treated it to be 'a crisis' that needed solutions.



TIPS TO LIVE A HAPPY LIFE
(found over http://rockerzz05.blogspot.com/, Friday, October 17, 2008)


SHARE WITH YOUR FRIENDS


HELP OTHERS


SMILE AS MUCH YOU CAN



BE ALERT TO ESCAPE FROM TROUBLES



BE COOPERATIVE AND UNDERSTANDING




FORGIVE OTHERS, AND WIPE THEIR TEARS




DON'T LOSE HOPE IN CRITICAL SITUATIONS





LIVE TOGETHER



BE CHILDISH SOMETIMES




DON'T THINK OF MONEY ALL THE TIME



DARE TO TAKE RISK




ENJOY IN SPARE TIME




RESPECT THE WEAK






HELP THOSE WHO IN NEED







*I know these adorable animals speaks the message. . .

Sunday, October 19, 2008

Online News vs. Print Media (go with what works for you!)

Newspapers, since the birth of television, have had to compete with news channels. But these did not bring about the end of print media. In the case of online newspapers, it is certain that the impact it brought in modern times gave a real deal among consumers (especially in the business sector).

Now, what does each one have over the other?


One feature that online newspapers have over print is the amount of storage capacity available. In a blink, you can store more on a computer than can be printed on the pages of a newspaper. For one, this makes it easier to find older information or to re-read that article that came previously. So, what would you prefer? Use an online search function or dig through a pile of old newspapers?

Another advantage that online new sources have is color, and as much of it as they want. It can become tiresome looking at a page that is only black and white (more like a grayish color). Would you go with that?

There is interactivity in online news while in traditional print media, little open participatory communication is oftentimes going on. Plus, news for the recent events is always updated over a period of time. Imagine using some of electronic devices like vlogs and the like.

On the other side, Print media tends to be more locally focused which is a major advantage. But then, more and more small and prominent newspapers are going digital and establish their online counterpart.

One positive aspect, hard copy newspapers are still traditionally preferred by most people.


To conclude: ”Both forms of news reach various audiences in multiple ways. Together they reach a greater audience therefore informing more people and making this a more democratic society. They also show readers various viewpoints on a particular subject, this is a major reason why a number of people reads one newspaper and also read news online.”

The bottom end, you just go with what works for you as a reader.



Reference blogs/posts:

http://www.thetechbrief.com/2008/03/31/print-media-vs-online-media-who-will-win/

http://www.epinions.com/content_3321077892

Saturday, October 18, 2008

Are bloggers journalists? (I am a blogger, and a journalist in the making?)



The extent of Internet's intervention towards the world of media and communication has a tremendous effect in the recent years, and apparently in the years to come . Every people with the beat of technology on their hands have access to the cyber world whereby anyone can make interventions through a give-and-take process or what we call open participatory communication.

In the question of whether bloggers are journalists, a question which often debated and confused. One important thing is that, these two worlds could be established in a manner of being open-minded, first and foremost.

Should (or Can) Bloggers be Treated as Journalists?

Journalists who gets into blogging, is a part that should be noted first. Without question, bloggers can be journalists. A blogger can be considered a journalist if he stick to both the journalistic and web ethics equally. Given the matter, a lot of bloggers nowadays fail to cope, especially with reporting to news and industry issues. They stick more to personal issues and accounts that tackles their individuality. They often have a different kind of connection with their readers, and can reach a similar audience in a different way than more traditional journalists can.

Do Bloggers Really Want to be Treated as Journalists?

As what we have observed, every blogger still clings to the things that are quite a bit different--consider personal matters. Many want the perks of being a journalist but they're not after the title of being one. The question revolves to, "would they be willing to take on the responsibilities that go along with that?” That I really doubt--as every blogger has his own personal purpose in delving through the virtual world of Internet. As for me, being a blogger and a journalist is both interchangeable when needed in a certain situation.

Are Bloggers a Threat to Traditional Journalists?

Personally, I consider this a question that signifies the moving pendulum in both worlds of traditional journalism and electronic journalism. As a journalism student (and a journalist in the making?), I have a stand to make and that is to consider the both sides of the idea.

The technology that is brought by modernization should be considered by traditional journalist as anchors that would support and eventually develop their mastery and control on the field of journalism. It should not be considered as a threat in the first place. The collision of blogging and traditional journalism is a cliche that should be be established.

I published this blog and matter-of-factly, I am part of the hopefuls that expected that these two worlds will be able to not only coexist, but help each other and serve as partners in growth.



Anchored on the post by Jennifer Mattern, Bloggers vs Journalists: With Pro Blogger Darren Rowse over www.nakedPR.com

Bifocals 101: The birth, fall, and rebirth


It started as a mean column in a newspaper production during early college years. The feedback from prominent people paved the way for more self-replicating and ponderous actions. So, it was later adapted as an 'online' version in a personal account web log which did not succeed because of bandwidth issues provided by the web host. For the next couple of months, people rarely heard of its existence. Online views seemed to be so little. It shows a sign of hopelessness and eventually, downfall. It was considered to be the most crucial part of its existence.

Then, after months of dreadful silence, it made its rebirth through an online only newspaper. It garnered a positive response particularly from the readers of the youth page. It attempted to reach out and understand the feelings and thoughts of the young people by giving them articles which they could relate most.

Now, this rebirth could be considered as more serious--a driven cause. It aimed at sharing thoughts and experiences, informing online readers with relevant news and information, and understanding the world in the process of searching far deep than what we can fathom. (Whew!)

Bifocals3 is an important milestone in the life of a journalism student.

Likewise, this online publishing is driven by insurmountable efforts-- as required for journalism students.

As described in the Encarta dictionary, bifocal means "lenses with sections that have different focal lengths." It could be attributed to different perspectives, a couple of more understanding, and seeing things in a balanced angle and open to possibilities that are likely to happen in this world of uncertainties.


This is Bifocals for the third time around. This is a lifeblood of a future that is fickle and elusive.