Tupperware Lunches

When I was younger and my parents asked me to clean my room

I’d stick a plastic spoon in my mouth

and shove everything—

crumbled up pieces of unfinished poetry,

dried up markers with lost lids,

garments of clothes I refused to clean,

Tupperware of school lunches I refused to eat—

under my bed.

A lover of instant gratification.

I have a bad habit of befriending bad habits.

Of building homes within them,

and feeling foreign without them.

Always cold, always tired, always hungry.

These, I etched into my DNA:

            brown eyes,

            straight hair,

            and chronically starving

            pretty.

But I am older now,

and there are other things to clean.

I am older now, and I realize there are other things to be:

intelligent,

loving,

            to myself, especially,

curious.

I am older now, and how good it feels to be alive and warm,

and fed.

Written by Gayle Badrina

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Love in Doing and in Being

Love in doing and in being

Little words with great, big meanings

Swimming, laughing, running, breathing

Understanding, loving, seeing

Quiet seconds hold everything

The greatest pleasure, harshest sting

If you knew what your purpose brings

You could accomplish anything

Yes, formed from dust but filled with light

A glorious and humbling sight

A unique, precious life to live

Enough without the additives

So, don’t buy the things to fill the void

Don’t unearth the things that you destroyed

In simple things, the here, the now

Is where your happiness be found

You’ll find it, love, I promise you

When you realize this simple truth

The little things seem much less fleeting

Love in doing and in being

Written by Gracie

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The Dead: All Emotions Accounted For

One of the most beautiful parts of reading literature lies in the empathetic reaction readers experience with the emotions of the characters; it causes readers to feel seen and understood. However, strong feelings lurch inside us and make us uncomfortable. We struggle to deal with and process emotions sometimes. In James Joyce’s short story “The Dead,” readers experience the narrative through the protagonist’s view: his thoughts, his worries, his desires, and how he interacts with the outside world. Joyce crafts a work illuminated with a theme of wistful reflection, causing readers to empathize with the protagonist and his progression of deep emotions.

For the intrigued readers, Joyce’s narrative follows a young man as he attends an annual party amongst friends and family in Ireland during the early 1900s. Joyce pulls readers into the personal air of this party, the storyline focusing on this night only. His writing style lends itself to the human inner monologue, especially when one finds himself or herself at a social event. I find myself comforted and seen by Joyce’s excellent depiction of nerves-and perhaps even anxiety. Gabriel ruminates on his speech leading up to the moment he gives it; he ponders every conversation he participates in, looking for errors or hidden meanings; he often drifts away from reality in fantasy and reflection. Joyce captures the unique quiet after leaving a social event through heavier description earlier on in the story turning to more spacious denotations of the scene with a focus on internal thoughts.

One aspect of this narrative Joyce executes skillfully lays in the truth that human emotion often does not remain consistent. From anxious worries to luscious hopes, loving reflection to dejection and dreary rumination, readers follow Gabriel through a journey of feeling. The author allows the audience to jump right into the tussle of the characters, not spending too much time with unneeded exposition, but rather a reminiscent traversing of story. The narrative may seem dull in the beginning, with no external challenges revealing themselves, but obstacles surrounding mental and emotional dynamics. I enjoyed the progression of these factors, as I felt like both a guest and an integral experiencer of Gabriel’s internal story.

It feels nice to relate with characters who exhibit bravery, passion, resolve, and beauty, but what about jealousy, anxiety, anger, and desire? When readers find themselves resonating with a character who acts impulsively or incorrectly, what does that mean? One fascinating element to gain from pondering these questions surrounds the complexity and nuance of our emotional experiences as humans. Seeing oneself in a work of art makes the work that much more impactful, with lessons also coming from such occurrences. Reading uncomfortable reflections of ourselves in literature may help us understand ourselves from a more objective or third-person perspective. Well-rounded characters possess both positive and negative traits, and readers often extend grace and understanding to those tragically human characters. Why should we not extend the same grace to ourselves then? Just like extending love and compassion to a friend. Why shouldn’t the reader also provide himself or herself with the same support?

Many moments in Joyce’s narrative speak to those who love to capture picturesque moments as scenes in the story of their lives. Gabriel does this near the end of the story when he gazes up at his wife, Gretta, as she stands at the top of a hazy staircase, listening to a distant piano. Gabriel watches her intently, imagining himself a painter, painting the gorgeous scene; he ponders what he names the work, the meaning in each brush stroke, and the diffusion of the colors. Further, Joyce pays attention to the simple gestures and movements of attraction as Gabriel admires his wife and wishes to be alone with her. The author depicts simple touches, loving reflections on memories past, and the warm gazes towards a loved one. He masters the tangible illustration of the gathering: the slight drama, the inner anxiety, the laughter amongst familiar faces, the late nights, the abhorrent weather, the hidden wants, the dynamics of emotions, and dreary feeling of life and lonesomeness in tired reflection. The author crafts a real sense of restful completion through the latter part of the narrative.

James Joyce wrote “The Dead” for those who feel and feel deeply; for those who may wonder why their emotions build and sigh so heavily. As we extend grace to others, may we extend it to ourselves, as well. Joyce’s work speaks the reader through alarmingly real characters and a revolving door of emotions. His reflection of life sits atop my shelf gladly, reminding me of how my emotions enrich my life, a reminder of the moments so precious to me.

Written by Kayla

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My Best Creative Writing Experience—Or Lack Thereof

I have a problem—a big one. Many writers run into this problem. It affects quite a bit of my creative life and keeps me from producing my best work.

I suffer from a severe case of writer’s block.

Okay, so maybe I made it seem more serious than I needed to. However, I know many writers sympathize with me when I say that writer’s block, at times, proves the bane of our existence. I write these words as a second attempt at this blog, in fact.

Judging from the title, you probably assumed this blog would explain my best experiences with creative writing. However, when I sit down to write, most of the time I just stare off into the void, unable to produce anything of value. Plots? I can’t create those; don’t be ridiculous. Character names? Suddenly every name sounds repulsive to me. Descriptions? Opening sentences? Character development? Please.

My apologies for a depressing blog.

While all of this proves incredibly frustrating, my best creative writing experience actually stems from my chronic writer’s block. As a storyteller, the absolute best feeling in the world comes from finally breaking through that mental block and figuring out where you want your work to go. When this moment arrives and everything tumbles into place, words can’t describe the relief and excitement that follows. Well-developed works, characters I love, or sentences I adore rank high up on my list of my favorite personal creative writing experiences. Nothing, however, matches that feeling I get when I watch everything come together and make sense, filling me with excitement for the project ahead.

I guess my purpose behind this blog boils down to this: the creative process proves, at times, difficult. It might even frustrate us at times. Even so, trust that crazy process. The best is yet to come, as they say, so keep at it. You might find the perfect answer to all those questions tossing to and fro in your mind. The best part of my creative endeavors always remains coming up with the perfect plot, structure, or outline. After that, everything falls into place.

So, keep thinking. Keep writing. Keep creating. You might just unearth the perfect idea for your project, and when you do, you can change the world.

Written by Caroline

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Have Patience, Have Patience

As a little girl visiting my grandparents, my grandmother always sang me a song every time I felt impatient. The lyrics said,

“Have patience, have patience, don’t be in such a hurry. If you lack in patience, then all you’ll have is worry.”

Years later, I still remember that little song whenever I feel like rushing myself, others, or even God.

The Bible offers several pieces of good advice regarding patience. In Proverbs, Solomon tells us to tame our tempers with patience. He says, “Hot tempers cause arguments, but patience brings peace” (Proverbs 15:18). When we feel tempted to lash out at others in anger, we must remember that patience serves as the antidote to anger. When we want to settle something rather than argue about it, we must practice patient with those we disagree with.

Patience also helps us persevere. In Romans, Paul tells us that even when things get hard, patience will get us through it. “Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.” (Romans 12:12) Whenever we face difficult times, we know that with sufficient patience, we may persevere. God tells us to have patience because He knows that He will take care of our worries in due time. While we have patience, it encourages us to constantly pray for what we need instead of impatience in trying to provide what we need ourselves.

Lastly, we should always have patience with each other, because God sets that example for us. Paul also says in Romans, “May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had” (Romans 15:5). Just as God asks us to love each other, we must also show patience with each other as Christ embodied patience with us in our sins.

So, whenever we are tempted to rush things or do it all ourselves, let’s take a moment to slow down. Remember that God has everything covered. Practice patience with someone who gets on your nerves, or even sing my grandmother’s little song about patience. God takes care of all of our troubles if we persevere and pray.

Written by Gracie

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The Impetus to Write

Writing exists as a long-held passion of mine. Though others told me my English skills held great potential, I found further writing inspiration through the consumption of others’ work. The wonderful works of journalists, poets, and novelists filled me with the presence of untapped ideas. Thus, writing captivated my desire to expound upon that inspiration. I learned that the consumption of writing propels the author’s heart toward creation.

Involved in art from an early age, various artistic mediums served a comforting purpose for me. Their impact assisted in developing my creative intuition. Upon entering college, my love for writing met my practical need to work. Through my occupation at the Writing Center, growing in the written word comes naturally. I finally began making grammatical progress, giving me the tools to materialize the ideas swimming around my head day and night. These newfound skills help me utilize my imagination effectively.  

Inspiration serves as an important function for creatives, and utilizing that inspiration for action-rather than passive appreciation-defines a proactive approach to writing.

Artists need more than abstract inspiration to fuel their passions. Exemplary works fill the consumer with ideas, demonstrating a new method of prose to grasp onto and attempt in their own work. My appreciation for the craft originates from a love for it as a reader; and later, as an astounded attempter. My current writing style ultimately stems from the books I absorbed growing up. As a kid, I adored a certain fictional series written in the late 18oos which utilized ornamental, obsolete language. Thus, I remain convinced this sparked my love for clever phonetical usage, with such a combination of content shaping how and what I write now. Writers find inspiration from a plethora of sources. From current events to paintings to mythology to their own longings, the list of muses behind captivating works run endlessly.  

Many written assignments in college ask for students’ commentary upon the work of others. I now find these types of assignments enjoyable, like a springboard from which to work upon. With a bit of critical thinking, a captivating thesis emerges. Whatever the prompt, the act of analyzing works inspires and challenges me in the best way. I dive into the layers of insights behind the invention I read. This pushes forth a deeper understanding of the work itself, prompting me to ponder how I might reflect upon it, analyze a particular aspect of it, or even combat it.

Harboring the passion to write and the inspiration from the works of others creates restlessness in an unpracticed writer. Gleaning immaculate insight from the work of others propels the consumer’s creative intuition, filling their writer’s arsenal full of ideas. However, the tools to utilize these elements with proficiency comes from practice. The seemingly endless string of displeasing attempts assuredly creates a troubled writer. Nonetheless, the harmony of knowledge and a bounty of inspiration produces works which slowly begin to feel smoother, clearer, catchier, and like the apple of the writer’s eye. Trudge along fellow writer; ingulf yourself in inspiration and practice to reap a work worth reading and perhaps, worth inspiring.

Written by Kayla

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The Dreaded Term Paper

So your professor finally stuck it on the syllabus: the dreaded term paper. Eight whole pages you need to write on some topic you don’t care about, packed with fluff to make it long enough to reach the page requirement. You saw this day approaching, but you wouldn’t let yourself think about it. A more horrible thought never crossed a mind–but now, here it looms, in your face, because it’s due in seven days. What do you plan to do next? Must you bear to spend hours and hours researching and writing something that you couldn’t care less about?

1. Find a Way to Care About It

As you go through life, you might realize that you care about a lot more than you thought you did. While you may not take interest in the general topic of your paper, you might find that you appreciate an aspect of it. If you need to write a paper on an aspect of Lyndon B. Johnson’s life and leadership, maybe you feel concern for the way that LBJ treated women, so write about that. Your professor assigned a paper on physics? Perhaps you care about sports, so write about the physics involved in sports! Get creative within the bounds of your professor’s requirements and find a way to believe in the assignment. Your professor wants a creative and passionate paper from you; deliver one with this technique.

2. Set Up a Reward System

If you keep getting up from your computer when trying to write your paper, consider setting up a reward system to keep yourself on track. For example, you might eat a small snack for every quote you cite or give yourself a ten-minute break between every three sentences you write. Choose from endless rewards; as long as you give yourself something nice to look forward to while working and you stick to the plan, you will hold a finished paper in no time.

3. Give Yourself an Ultimatum

If all else fails and you keep finding yourself on your phone instead of in front of your blank document, consider giving yourself an ultimatum. Put away your biggest distraction until you complete your goal. For instance, turn off your Wi-Fi until you finish the paper, or lock your phone in a drawer until you fill a certain number of pages on your assignment, or write on a bench outside until your paper is done so you don’t feel tempted to sleep away your problems. While this technique prods the most painfully when you don’t feel like writing, if you draw a metaphorical line in the sand like this, it will eventually force you to write.

Writing a paper when you don’t feel like it hurts. At times it feels impossible, but with these techniques, it passes by with much more ease.

Your professors ask a lot of you, and though it may sometimes seem like you can’t make the cut or that you don’t want to even try, you will realize that doing your best entertains—or, at the very least, motivates—you.

Written by Jessica

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My Writing Process

I check the due date. Next week, I think. I should probably start this paper.

First thing’s first, I guess. I settle in front of my computer and just start from the beginning. I reach my thesis statement and pause to think. In my head, I go over the points I want to make in my essay and craft a thesis that hits all of them while also making grammatical sense. Then, the real work begins.

Writing an essay takes me anywhere from thirty minutes to a few days, depending on how long the professor wants it. If the assignment calls for anything between eight and ten pages, sometimes I like to start by writing an outline. Sometimes I keep the outline completely in my mind; other times, I write it out on a Word document and fill it in as I go. Does this shorten the time it takes to hit the required page count? Nope. Does it make me feel more productive? Absolutely.

I usually leave my works cited page until the very end because who doesn’t? Then, I’ll circle back around and write a title if I haven’t already. In fact, I write most of my essays with “TITLE” written in all caps, because I find the easiest way to think of a title is to write the entire paper first and then go from there. (I definitely have submitted essays with “TITLE” still written on them, but that’s neither here nor there.)

As far as creative writing goes, my process seems either organized and understandable, or so all-over-the-place that no one but I can understand it. It depends on how far long into the writing process I find myself. I spend quite a bit of time staring at a blank page, trying to think of what to write. Sometimes I take a sticky note and pose a question to myself, hoping that my subconscious will answer it for me; another author suggested this technique. I make a lot of lists as well: plot ideas, potential names, genres I might want to dive into. Once I (magically) settle on a plot, I’ll either feel so excited to work that I start right then, or I’ll take my time and outline by chapter. It’s not the best process, but it gets the job done.

How do YOU go about your writing process? What works for you? What doesn’t?

Everyone has his or her own way of producing great work. If you don’t think you have one, ponder this question instead: what can I do to help myself create better work? Remember, we do all things for the glory of God. Find a writing process that helps you achieve that!

Written by Caroline

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Why I Write: Searching for Understanding

In a matter of seconds, after turning in a paper, my emotions swelled. Would my teacher like my writing? Would she be inspired? Would she think I am a fool? My education, like many children’s, included a plethora of written assignments. Persuasive essays, analyses, reflections, you name it. I enjoyed a classical style of instruction when it came to English. From the start of my education, I learned the basic principles of structuring a sound paper. However, I sorely lacked proficiency in one thing: grammar. Though I absorbed my fair share of grammar, the concepts flew over my head and my ability to mentally snapshot patterns from what I read helped me excel in writing without properly understanding the grammatical mechanisms themselves. I loved (and still love) reading and enjoyed the captivating stories I devoured while learning about myself and others. Despite harboring a passion for writing – finding inspiration from my narrative excursions – I fell short in its execution. However, my higher education presented the perfect space for me to pursue that passion and wield it properly.

In college, I am finally taking hold of the concepts notoriously described with fancy academic vernacular; funnily enough, learning languages helped in that endeavor tremendously, from Latin to Spanish. Often, native speakers of a language rely on feelings rather than grammatical principles when writing. Writers read a passage out loud to help distinguish their errors because they possess an intuitiveness for the language. When one learns a language, he or she depends on acquired grammatical structures to determine the correctness of a passage. So, it made sense that my grammatical knowledge leaned on intuitiveness rather than theoretical understanding. Every speaker holds a kinship to his or her native language and for me, writing helps me feel understood. Those who choose to read my work catch a glimpse of my mind. Most of the time, people walk and talk without hours of thought backing every single sentence they speak. Though I often prepare my thoughts before speaking, the practice of writing gleans from a much more intimate and involved form of introspection. Thus, writing holds a magnitude that conversation does not. I peer inside myself and feel the pull to determine how that information potentially relates and transposes to an audience. Writing becomes a reclamation of power because I set forth my own perspective; I make my case. For this reason, writing well brings a sense of importance and validity to that power. I feel accomplished with every sound sentence and flawless transition. Writers experience a sense of attachment and anxiety over their work, as that paper, article, or dissertation, represents an intimate part of themselves. This attachment should serve as motivation to grow as a writer; to expound upon the wonderful ideas swirling amid the writer’s mind. While my grammatical endeavors do not manifest perfectly, I enjoy learning how to better communicate in both speech and written word. The flick of each concise phrase illuminates my love for the craft, while every completed work pushes me further down this brilliant road of learning. I fondly address my newfound keen attention for grammatical detail as an English revolution of sorts. The war for laziness still seethes within me, but the liberation for this grammatical crusade burns stronger. I digress; splendid writing feels like ice-cold water breaking a sweltering summer heat.

Writing offers a unique angle for understanding. Strong communication exists to distinctly divulge the complex thoughts and ideas of the author.

Thus, writing exists to aid in better understanding one another. I aspire to share my love and knowledge for writing so that others may feel the satisfaction which comes from diligent and clear communication.

Amidst the all-too-common linguistic pandemonium surrounding us, I enjoy the simple pleasures good writing provides. Whether fiction or nonfiction, my love for learning leans on the accurate path of a pen.

Written by: Kayla

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Love Is Patient, Love Is…What?

We all know that we should love our neighbor as ourselves. We all know that God is love. We also all know that love is patient, and love is kind. That’s usually where we stop reciting this Scripture. If we believe that loving God and your neighbor are the two most important commandments, we should know how to define love.

What does the Bible define love as? We can get no better answer than 1 Corinthians 13:4-8… the WHOLE thing.

In 1 Corinthians, Paul says “Love is patient; love is kind.” This part feels the most familiar to us. To love someone, we must exercise patience with them and allow them to make mistakes. We need to give them time to process, heal, or figure life out. We must treat them with kindness and gentleness.

Now, we get into the part that we don’t always recite. Paul says next “It (love) does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.” Love does not covet someone’s accomplishments or need to boast about its own. If we love someone, we show humility and desire to build them up.

Love also embodies selflessness. Paul’s next advice about love states that “It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.” If we truly love someone, we must do so completely selflessly. Seek their needs instead of our own. Don’t be so hot tempered that little things make us angry. Notice, however, that God did not say that love doesn’t have a temper. After all, God displays anger with us sometimes. When the people we love wrong us, God allows us righteous anger. However, we shouldn’t let small, unimportant things make us blow up. If someone we love wrongs us, we shouldn’t keep track of it and steep in bitterness. Forgive them, like God would.

We owe the truth to those we love. “Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.” Love loves goodness. Let us encourage those we love in their faith and increase our relationship with honesty. Do the right thing, whether by ourselves or with those we love. Love does the right thing.

So far, we talked about what love does NOT do. God’s description of love ends with what love ALWAYS does: “It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.” If we love someone, we make sure they are safe, believe their word, believe in them, and love them through thick and thin.

Now, we really know why God is love. He loves goodness. He never gives up on us. He is selfless and kind. Using these verses, we can model God’s love every day.

Written by Gracie

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