ROWAN UNIVERSITY DEPARTMENT OF WRITING ARTS
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        • Writing the Young Adult Novel
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        • Writing Comedy
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        • What You Think You Know About Technical and Professional Writing is Wrong
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        • An Interview with a Publisher
        • Excellence in Writing Arts Medallion Winner: Sara Skipp
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        • Rowan Alum, Marissa Cohen, On Self Publishing and Advocacy
      • Fall 2017 >
        • Upcoming Classes in the Writing Arts Department
        • The Writer's Journey Blog by Earl Garcia
        • Rewriting The Department's Social Media Platforms
        • Rowan University Writing Arts Club Reinvents Mission
        • Glassworks Launches Issue Fifteen
        • For Futuristic Consideration: An Exploration of Careers in Writing
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                   The Writer's Journey Blog
                                                                by
                                                         Earl Garcia

When you’re someone who’s taking up Writing Arts, you are essentially putting yourself and your thoughts to be displayed in written text in front of potentially millions of strangers across the entire world. That’s what it means to write, however. Ultimately, we write because we want someone or some people to read or listen to what we have to say. In getting my feet wet in the world of writing, I decided to propose an idea of running a blog revolving around my thoughts and feelings around a book I’m reading throughout the semester called The Writer’s Journey. A succinct summary of the content inside is about taking the reader through a journey of teaching them concepts like character archetypes, how a hero’s journey typically goes, and how the former two are applied in various media and literature. 
Picture
On a weekly basis, I post a blog about my journey through this particular book. The reason why I picked up this book in the first place to blog about is because on a day when I was suffering from the infamous, nefarious writer’s block when it came to my own, original writing project. So, I will be going over the entire process of how I write the blogs the way I do that would later be published on the site.

The first step is to, obviously, read. I read up to a certain part that I think would be good for making a blog topic about. For instance, in my third blog, I write about the section of the book that went over the archetypes of any story. I then take physical or mental notes on some of the important points that are made in the section that I handpicked for writing a blog about. After the reading and notetaking is finished, I focus on making connections to cement my understanding of the subject. In this case for my third blog topic, the archetypes, I started to make connections as I read. I then took notes on said connections, then I pick the best connection to write about. In this case, I made note of the fact that Volger said how he learned that characters can fulfill an archetype’s role and then branch out to becoming a truly unique character in their own respective. 
Then, from media that I consumed in the past, I make that connection. In this case, I made note about how the long running video game RPG (Role-Playing Game) series Fire Emblem has its own slew of archetypes, and then I hand-picked one, explained it, and then explained an example of how it does something with the archetype before branching off to be truly unique characters.
Picture
From my own blog, I talk about the Cain-and-Able archetype that is unique to that series. I say, “The original Cain was defined as passionate, determined to serve, hot-headed, and was clad in red armor on a valiant steed. Abel was known to be the calmer and more levelheaded of the two, and donned green armor while also on a steed.” Later, I go over how the archetype would be used as a starting point for certain characters before becoming unique in their own sense. I used two characters from Fire Emblem Echoes: Shadows of Valentia as an example. “Lukas, one of the two main characters, was the calmer and smarter knight despite wearing the red armor while Forsyth, the other main character,  wore the green armor, was overzealous and always eager to prove his mettle on the battlefield. This is virtually the opposite of how the Cain-and-Abel archetype is performed in terms of personality.” All of this is one example of how I make the connection to what story I read and consumed in the past in order to show how I understand what I was reading from the book.
The second step is writing the first draft. I make sure that the word count is reasonable in correspondence to how much I read and took notes on. If I didn’t read a high amount of pages, I would write perhaps, no more than 500 words. If I did read, say, 100 pages or so, I would write perhaps 1500 words or more. Then, I would send it to one of my fellow interns to inspect and read, and suggest ways of how to improve the quality of the reading experience, which is very important to me. To me, if a reader fails to find any sort of satisfaction in my writing, then I have failed in an area or two.
Picture
For the third step, it would be looking over the suggestions made on how to improve and then strengthening the reading experience from the feedback that was presented. If there was a suggestion I thought we’d be at odds in, I’d ask to meet up with the intern who reviewed it and talk about a common solution that can be agreed upon. After adding or removing content to strengthen the post, the intern who reviewed it would take one final look to see if there was no typos or errors I overlooked and then finally publish it on the Writing Arts Weebly page, and then post a link to the blog post on the Rowan Writing Arts Facebook page.
With all this, the process of doing and maintaining a blog series throughout a period of time can be difficult, especially in a semester that’s full of twists, turns, and sudden surprises. However, I do my very best to make sure that I keep my word on maintaining progress on the blog. All of the steps I listed above are easier said than done. I do hope that with this, a better understanding of the process of how I get my blog series published is accomplished.
All of this has been highly educational for me. On a personal level, it has helped me construct my own characters and how I can move forward on constructing a plot that’s driven from said characters and their personalities. From one Writing Arts student to another, what it is to be a writer is a constant struggle to improve and find your own craft. But it’s also a huge, collaborative process where everyone critiques another to help bring out the best in each other’s writing. This, including the Writing Arts classes I’ve taken, has made me learned that writing isn’t a one-and-done process. It is a continuous submission of drafts, hearing feedback, and then starting the process of improving on the next drafts of the writing you make in the future. 
The Writer's Journey blog
With that being said, if you are someone looking to become a Writing Arts student or are already one, the last thing I have to say for you is to always remember to have fun with writing, no matter what you’re doing. Good luck!
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  • Home
  • Programs
    • Creative Writing Minor
    • WA Major
    • Minors >
      • Publishing and Writing for the Public
      • New Media Minor
      • Technical & Professional Writing Minor
      • Writing Arts Minor
    • Certificates of Undergraduate Study >
      • CUGS in Creative Writing
      • CUGS in Publishing and Writing for the Public
      • CUGS in Technical and Professional Writing
      • CUGS in Writing Studies for Educators
      • CUGS in Professional Communication
      • CUGS in Writing for the Environment
    • 4+1 (B.A.+M.A.) Program
    • Degree in 3
    • Graduate Programs
  • Advising
  • WA Major
    • Writing Arts Journey
    • Required Courses >
      • General Education >
        • Science and Mathematics
        • Social and Behavioral Sciences
        • Literature, History, Humanities, and Language
      • Introduction to Writing Arts >
        • History & Materiality of Writing
        • Issues in Writing
        • Technologies & the Future of Writing
      • Methods Choice >
        • Communication Theory
        • How Writers Read
        • Tutoring Writing
      • Creative Choice >
        • Creative Writing I
        • Writing Children's Stories
      • The Writer's Mind
      • Writing, Research & Technology
      • Literacy Studies >
        • Situating Writing
        • Writing With Technologies
      • Senior Seminar: Methods of Analysis and Evaluation of Writing
      • Portfolio Seminar
      • Free Electives
    • Elements of Language >
      • American English Grammar
      • Editing for Publication
      • Introduction to Anthropological Linguistics
      • Linguistics
      • Rhetorics of Style
      • Semantics
    • Concentrations >
      • Creative Writing >
        • Creative Writing I
        • Creative Writing II
        • Film Scenario Writing
        • Fundamentals of Playwriting
        • Magazine Article Writing
        • Professions in Writing Arts
        • The Publishing Industry
        • Screenwriting I: Writing the Short
        • Screenwriting II: Writing the Feature
        • Tutoring Writing
        • Teaching the Writer's Workshop >
          • Publishing & Writing for the Public >
            • Applied Media Aesthetics: Sight, Sound and Story
            • Editing the Literary Journal
            • Environmental Writing & Rhetoric
            • Fiction to Film
            • Introduction to New Media
            • Media Law
            • Online Journalism I
            • Participatory Media
            • The Publishing Industry
            • Publication Layout & Design
            • Photojournalism
            • Professions in Writing Arts
            • Rhetorical Theory
            • Self Publishing
            • Writing for Popular Culture
            • Writing for the Workplace
            • Internship
            • Research Practicum
        • Writing Children's Stories
        • Writing Comedy
        • Writing Creative Nonfiction
        • Writing Fiction
        • Writing Genre Fiction
        • Writing Poetry
        • Writing the Young Adult Novel
        • Internship
        • Research Practicum
      • Technical & Professional Writing >
        • Developing Health and Scientific Literacy
        • Introduction to Technical Writing
        • Medical Writing and Rhetoric
        • Professions in Writing Arts
        • The Publishing Industry
        • Scientific Writing and Rhetoric
        • Tutoring Writing
        • Writing to Bear Witness
        • Writing for Nonprofits
        • Writing for the Workplace
        • Internship
        • Research Practicum
    • WA Learning Community >
      • Publishers
  • Internships
    • Internal Internships
    • External Internships
  • Careers
  • Faculty
    • Faculty Resources >
      • Best Practices in Online Learning
      • Syllabus Requirements
      • HyFlex/Remote Learning
      • Canvas Support >
        • Writing Comedy
      • Accessibility in Online Courses
      • Racial Equity Online
      • Supporting Developmental Writers Remotely
      • Building an Online Classroom Community
    • Acknowledgements
  • Blogs
    • Writer's Insider Blog >
      • Spring 2022 >
        • Writing Diverse Characters
      • Fall 2021
      • Spring 2021
      • Fall 2020
      • Spring 2020
      • Fall 2019
      • Spring 2019 >
        • An Interview with Devon James & Rachel Barton
        • Confession Travel Writer
        • Self-Publishing: A Change in Perspective
        • CCCA Career Fair: Having Your Future in Mind
        • Alumni Success: Entering the Working World
        • Behind the Scenes of Rowan's Hiring Process
        • Writing Comedy
      • Fall 2018 >
        • Singularity Press: Rowan's New Start Up
        • Writing Arts Club
        • How Can We Evaluate Creative Writing?
        • More Inclusive Events for Technical Writers
        • Guest Speaker Manuela Soares
        • Glassworks Reading
        • Spotlight: Taylor Henry, Recently Published Rowan Alum
      • Spring 2018 >
        • Publishing and Writing for the Public: A Reconstructed Concentration
        • What You Think You Know About Technical and Professional Writing is Wrong
        • The Toni Libro Medallion Award Winner: Myriah Stubee
        • An Interview with a Publisher
        • Excellence in Writing Arts Medallion Winner: Sara Skipp
        • The College of Communcation and Creative Arts 6th Annual Student Awards and Showcase Ceremony
        • Rowan Alum, Marissa Cohen, On Self Publishing and Advocacy
      • Fall 2017 >
        • Upcoming Classes in the Writing Arts Department
        • The Writer's Journey Blog by Earl Garcia
        • Rewriting The Department's Social Media Platforms
        • Rowan University Writing Arts Club Reinvents Mission
        • Glassworks Launches Issue Fifteen
        • For Futuristic Consideration: An Exploration of Careers in Writing
      • Spring 2017 >
        • Technical Communication: An Overview
        • A More Inclusive Future for Technical Writers
        • Easing the Tension: Breaking Down Technical and Professional Writing
        • Growing the Technical and Professional Writing Concentration
      • Fall 2016
      • Spring 2016
      • Winter 2015
      • Fall 2015 >
        • 2014 and Prior >
          • Archive
    • The Bulletin Board
    • RU Writing? Podcast
  • Creative Writing
    • CW Faculty Publications
    • CW Course Offerings
  • Writing Center
  • Alumni
    • Undergraduate
    • Graduate
  • Awards
    • 2022 Emerging Writers Scholarship
    • Denise Gess Literary Awards
    • Excellence in Writing Arts Medallion Award
    • AnToinette Libro Graduate Medallion Award
    • Past Awards >
      • 2008 Hollybush Writing Competition
      • Write Rowan, Right Now! Contest
  • Student Groups
    • Writing Arts Club
    • Avant Literary Magazine
    • The Whit Newspaper
    • Her Campus Rowan
    • Odyssey at Rowan
    • Singularity Press
  • Events
  • ECCCA
    • RU Deptartment of Writing Arts - Home
    • News & Announcements
    • Rowan University - Home
    • Ric Edelman College of Communication & Creative Arts at Rowan University - Home
    • Student Groups
  • About Us
    • Our Vision and Mission
    • Land Acknowledgement
    • Our Call to Action