Brittany Mascio's Weblog

I’ve had my wordpress account for a solid two years now. I’ve blogged for class and that’s about it. I wrote blogging off as an electronic diary – an evolving Xanga. I’ve never really thought much into blogging on my own; however, after this experience I feel I’m up for it.

Although subject matter may be a challenge at times and understanding blogs are not merely a reflection piece from your diary (although, some are) can be a difficult concept for some,  blogging can serve a great purpose for aspiring writers. As we set to graduate, this small device will be the saving grace of our skills. Through blogging, we will have a commitment to ourselves and our readers to keep up with our work with the writing we are capable of doing. It will keep us fresh and we can continue to hone in our skills and develop our own conventions and create our voice.

As we read about an American little boy and Mr. Rogers, John McCann and surgery, and a violinist and soldier, we focused on style and creating a character. We used these articles to help us find our voice. We learned about synthesizing reporting and story telling. Through reading these articles and reflecting, I challenged myself to think beyond the story itself and look into the technique – the layering of scenes, the tone of voice, the sentence structures. By looking deeper at these conventions, I hoped to gain some perspective on how I could incorporate these tactics in my own writing.

I took some risks – started strong and hit a wall. When I took bigger risks than those I was used to, it was uncomfortable.  I wanted to stretch myself to try new techniques, paint more elaborate pictures and stand out. When I failed, it was a blow. It became difficult for me to emulate not only the writers we had studied but even emulating my normal writing. It became a struggle for me to get back to square one. At times, I felt I had lost my groove. I was looking for a muse. I learned to challenge myself but more importantly I learned that when you get kicked off a horse, don’t just lay on the ground. I learned to push through being discouraged. If it can’t be perfect, try harder. Look at it from another angle. Or simply start over. It’s no walk in the park and I know I questioned my ability, but you have to keep trying, keep working on your craft.

That’s where  blogs come into play. There are limitless topics – and you have the freedom to express your opinion. You can work on your risks and challenge yourself. You’ll become a better writer simply because you tried something. And, when you’re ready to show the world what you’ve got, you already can. Your blog can serve as your portfolio. Just like Angela created Lofty Living, take what you know and show the world. A blog can be more than simply another from of social media – it can be a compilation of developing talents.

P.S. For a comparative analysis of growth of a writer, feel free to enjoy my Xanga. Not only will you see proof of my love for Creighton Basketball but you will also be able to see how much I have grown as a writer since I was 15.