For the essay, I decided to write it in Microsoft Word, because it is easier to format/print out four copies. I'm not going to lie, it scared me. The blank format of a 1200 word essay, scared me out of my bowels. I am so glad it's over. Seriously...
There is just something about Microsoft Word that suppresses all literary talent. I had a great idea for my essay, and was super excited to write about it, thinking it would be easy. Just a long blog post, right?
WRONG.
Microsoft Word decided to make my life harder. I started my essay, and everything went wrong. My opening felt terribly forced, the body ached, and the conclusion was weak. The content was lackluster, and the syntax just didn't feel right. Eventually I just gave in and threw up on my paper, and printed off 4 copies (20 pieces of paper). Thats what editing groups are for, right?
Back to Word. As a student, we write all our papers, reports, and research projects on Word (or some other equivalent...I'm talking to you, poor Pages user...Oh, and don't even get me started on WordPerfect). Our brain is accustomed to thinking and worrying when we see the Word screen. In the blogger screen, we can relax. This writing isn't published, printed, or revised. Our blog posts are just online, for everyone in the world to see...
That reminds me, Try Googling your blog name/ URL. It should pop up. Doesn't it feel good to have something pop up on Google? Yes. It sure does.
Back to Word. I also found myself checking the word count almost every paragraph. Maybe it's just because I am a journalist, and am always scraping to get down a big word count. It was distracting nonetheless. It caused my paper to seem incomplete and unbalanced.
Aww man, I think my writing depression is spreading onto my blog. Damn Word!
So, I stated the problem, now I will state possible solutions.
1) Don't ever use Word. EVER!!!!!! Simply write in a familiar place, such as the blogger editor, email composition, or God forbid; notepad. Then copy and paste into Word, format, and then print. Problem solved.
2)Struggle through it. It will probably be more convenient this way, but much more annoying.
3) Maybe the above isn't a problem. Maybe the composition environment helps to set a desired tone. In blogger, I tend to be more conversational and affective. In Word, I tend to be more formal and distant. I guess I do read some packets...
4)Right now, I am just rambling. I really am mad about how my writing experience turned out this week. I hope it gets better. At least I have a group to help me through it.
Side note: In two days I have another 4 page paper due. I haven't started. I will probably use Word because it is supposed to be a semi-formal paper.
Why does it always seem that teachers scheme together? Tests always seem to fall on the same damn Thursday, and papers always seems to be due the same damn week.
This constitutes the Sunday Night Ramblings, so don't blame me.
Just livin my life.
The above pic orginiated at http://mygadgets.my/img/Word_Logo.jpg "Word Logo" I made a few changes. I take no ownership.
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