Wednesday, January 28, 2009

What makes a person valuable?

One thing I really enjoy about Woolf's writing is that we know exactly what is on her mind at all times. It is also interesting to see how she doesn't think the same way as everyone else; she doesn't follow the trend of how others view women. Woolf even seems to question society's thoughts, especially men's thoughts of women. From the bottom of page 39 to the top of page 40, she mentions, "how much harder it is now than it must have been even a century ago to say which of these employments is the higher, the more necessary." She realizes that there is no way to put value on a person and asks, "Is the charwoman who has brought up eight children of less value to the world than the barrister who has made a hundred thousand pounds?" She wonders how one can possibly put a worth on someone. Why can't the mother have as much impact on the world than the worker? Does how much money a person makes determine their value in society? What about the accomplishments outside of the workforce?

Knowing that all these ideas and questions are running through Woolf's mind, how do you think someone would respond to her if she shared her thoughts? Would a man's opinion be different than a woman's?

Thursday, January 22, 2009

Writing is like...

Writing is like finding the perfect outfit. When I am going out with a group of friends for the night I end up with a large pile of discarded clothing strewn about on the floor and on the back of chairs before I decide what I will wear. Writing is similar. In order to find exactly what I want to say I "try on" different words to see how they fit together. The unused words go in "the pile."
There are many word variations of the way something can be said. Same with finding an outfit, there is no fixed way I must look. I don't have to wear this shirt with those pants, but finding the main part of my outfit can take time. I start by laying out the clothes I think I will wear (I write my outline). Then, after I have tried it on, I decide that's not really what I want. So I try on other things (find other words to use, points to make), and end up with something I like.
Then come the accessories (ways to bulk up and make your writing more interesting). I put a pair of earrings on but they are too flashy (this addition to my story is too much and takes away from what I want to say). Then I find this great necklace that would match perfectly with these other earrings so I try them on. Finally, I have found an outfit that works well together and has created the look I want.
Even after all those changes and editing of my outfit (story), I ask my friends what they think (ask them to look over my paper). If they tell me something doesn't work and to change it I will start the process over again until I end up with something both of us can agree on is my best look (best possible writing). And I have my final look/final writing.