Never Loose Hope

Author's Note: " I wrote this piece as an analysis piece. In it, I am analyzing the conflict and resolution of a creative piece that I have recently wrote and how it is similar to the plot of The Notebook."

Surprisingly enough, writing a creative piece is actually a very challenging task. One must describe the setting in vivid detail and explain character personalities and characteristics with clear and precise language. Also, when writing a creative story you need to make sure that your dialogue is interesting otherwise it will bore readers easily. Writing a fictional story also requires your thinking and problem solving as well, you must figure out how you want the plot to twist and turn to keep readers excited and attentive. While writing my latest creative story, "Forever", I had to consider all of this. In my story the conflict and resolution are very clear and the conflict in my story is very similar to that of The Notebook by Nicholas Sparks. 

The conflict and resolution in my story "Forever" are very obvious. Clearly, by reading my piece you can figure out that the conflict is person-verses-person because Sarah must battle against herself and her feelings for Alex. Ultimately she wants to be with Alex but she knows that she must go back with her family to their home back in Virginia. Yet, throughout the short story she is debating and fighting herself and her own emotions on whether to stay or depart. Ultimately she chooses to go back to Virginia with her family, but years later Sarah and Alex meet again and they fall love and live happily ever after. Basically, the conflict is that she has to leave Alex and the resolution is that they meet again and things go back to the way they once were. I chose the conflict of her leaving in the story because I have a friend that is going to move soon and I thought that since I could relate to this that it would be easier to write. Also, I chose the resolution of them meeting again because I wanted the moral of the story to be to never loose hope. Even though Sarah had to leave Alex, they never lost hope that they would one day be reunited. In my story, the conflict and resolution are very apparent and the reasoning behind both of them and very sentimental to me.

Clearly, the conflict in the story that I wrote is that the girl must make a decision based on what she wants which is just one of the many examples of similarities between my piece and The Notebook. Also, Sarah, similar to Allie in The Notebook, is a very strong-willed young teenager who loves to have fun and enjoy everything that life has to offer. Another example of the similarities between both pieces is that the plots in both of the stories are pretty much identical: the girl has to make a choice and leaves the boy and then in the end they end up together and everything works out. In fact, when I was writing “Forever” I somewhat based the plot off of events that took place in The Notebook. Not only are the girl characters between the two medias similar, but the male leads are too: both Alex and Noah are the strong and quiet type, and also both boys are not afraid to show how they feel. They are both very in-touch with their emotions. The novel The Notebook written by bestselling author Nicholas Sparks, and my piece, “Forever”, are extremely alike and share a similar plot and the character’s characteristics and qualities.

In the short story, “Forever”, the conflict and resolution are very apparent and also the plot and characters are a lot like that of The Notebook. What I want people to take away from “Forever” when reading it and The Notebook is too never loose hope, because if hope is lost, you have nothing: absolutely nothing.   Everything will work out in the end just how it’s supposed to and everything happens for a reason.

Ribbons

Author's Note: "This is my response to the short story "Ribbons." Enjoy!"

 The shoes represent their culture and tradition and resistance to change. People in China think that if you have really small feet that means that you are beautiful so people used to and still do bind their feet to make themselves appear beautiful. As a result of the binding of the feet the women’s feet would still grow and become deformed from all the binding. The reason that the grandmother got so upset when she saw the girl’s mom handing her the slippers is because she thought that the mother was making the girl bind her feet. All in all to me the shoes symbolize tradition and I think they are also a little misleading.

 In today’s society, especially here in the U.S. beauty is everything. In fact, beauty almost gives you power. Think about it, all our Hollywood star actors and actresses and people in the tabloids are skinny and have what’s known as “the perfect figure”. Very few are an exception to this. Is that really who parents want their kids to look up to? Skinny girls in tight dresses? It almost makes overweight or bigger people seem like outcasts and that they have little importance, or at least that’s what I think. But really, what is beauty these days? Is it true beauty that lies inside or is it superficial and all about what’s on the outside? In the U.S. beauty is everything.

Can You Guess Who?

Author's Note: "My assignment in class was to write as if you were someone famous or well-known and see how many of your classmates could guess who you were. This piece is by Taryn and I. Can you guess who?"

 I live in a prickly fruit. My limbs, although thin, carry my box like body through the deep waters of the ocean. A figure unexplainable. My curves and pores add much dimension to my build. I would consider myself a total catch. I am the definition of perfection. I am giddy, happy, and forever part of the goofy goober club. My hobbies vary with range. I prefer blowing bubbles but I also enjoy jelly fishing.

 My hobbies are fun but they wouldn’t be nearly as gratifying without my best friends. My neighbors/friends differ in contrast; happy, grumpy, strong, and greedy. They are very diverse in color and shape, quite like myself. I also am a proud owner of the oh so wonderfully glorious snail. He is quite loyal and never responds rudely to my commands. Only with a subtle “Meow”.

 Employee of the month every month. A motto used to describe my fry cook ethic. My technique would be nothing without my beloved spatula. Flipping patties is the highlight of my life. Also I take pleasure in working alongside one my closest best friends forever, a squid. My boss on the other hand is very avaricious. He cuts pay often. Most of the time money is short at my residence, but I will never give hope for a better life.

 Any who, my shoes are always squeaky clean and my tie is so darn beautiful I get complements everywhere I go. All in all I am a beautifully wonderful glorious sponge. I am Squarepants, Spongbob Squarepants, and I am proud.

Book and Movie Comparison

Author's Note: "My goal was to write a piece comparing a novel to a movie so I chose one of my favorite books: My Sister's Keeper. I hope you like it... comments are very appreciated!"

 My Sister’s Keeper is known as one of the most heartfelt books of the 21st century. Pulling your heartstrings at every page turn, this book really grabs your attention very quickly on. From the first page to the last you just cannot stop reading or put the book down: you have to know how it ends. In fact the book, written by Jodi Picoult, was so successful that an aspiring director came along and offered a movie deal for the novel. Since then the movie and the book are still beloved by many but some things that are in the book change in the movie, and the lighting and music that are used in the movie create emotion and drama.

 The biggest change from the original novel My Sister’s Keeper was the ending. In the book Anna, the daughter fighting to have rights over her own body, dies tragically in a brutal car accident and is declared as brain dead and her kidney and other organs are donated to her sister Kate. As a result of Anna’s organs being donated to Kate she gets to live a healthy normal life. However the movie doesn’t stay true to the books ending. Instead in the movie version Kate explains to her family that she is ready to die, and after time soaks in a little they accept her decision and ultimately at the end of the book Kate passes away. I feel like the writers and directors of the movie decided to change the original ending because I feel like even though there is still death it’s less sad. I feel like the movie ending is a more appropriate ending for the movie because I feel like it sets off a better message: that is you want something and work for it that one day it can come true. All in all a lot of the movie stays true to the book but one of the most drastic changes from the movie to the novel is the ending.

 Another thing that enhanced the screenplay and made the book differ from the movie was the lighting and music used in the movie. Obviously there was no lighting or music in the book but I feel like when the book became a movie the lighting and music played a big part in adding drama and suspense throughout the story. For example, the lighting in Kate’s hospital room varied, on her good days it was always very bright and made you feel happy but on her bad days the lighting was very dark and glum. I think the director made the decision to do this because then you really get to experience the emotions that the characters feel. Another lighting change I noticed in the movie that I thought was important was that when Kate died it was raining and the lights were dark but during her funeral the sun was shining all throughout the sky. Lastly the music during scenes like Kate’s death, the courtroom scene, and the fights Anna had with her family was all very suspenseful and added a lot of drama. All of these are very relevant observations and examples of how the movie’s lighting and music made the film much more appealing. I feel like the lighting and music in the movie version of My Sister’s Keeper enhanced the entire movie and added a lot more dimension and depth. 

Throughout the movie and book My Sister’s Keeper the music and lighting add much variations and drama and some of the storyline is altered. All in all I think My Sister’s Keeper was both successful on screen and off. The book and the movie both teach life lessons that both kids, teenagers, adults, and seniors can all relate to and learn from.