Students, no matter what discipline you’re coming from, I truly encourage you to be on the look out for WCBN’s Writer to Writer podcast featuring Dr. Howard Markel. And I’m saying this not simply because I liked the talk but because I feel responsible to get more people to listen to what he had to say. Why?

I’m an insecure, struggling writer. I have a hard time articulating my thoughts into well-phrased, concise, comprehensive, and convincing parcels of words. Yes, sentences and paragraphs.  I’m putting myself out there but I’m pretty sure other people share some form of this concern. Listening to Dr. Markel talk about his experiences as a writer demystified “writing” for me.

Here is a curated student writing FAQ list with simplified answers from Dr. Markel’s talk:

I think I like writing but I’m not good in it. What do I do?

During the talk, Dr. Markel talked about how he initially wanted to be a playwright but felt that he kept writing “bland plays.” At the time it was frustrating but looking back, he knew he ended up combining his love for writing with his career in medicine by writing medical history books. In history books, “the plot,” he noted, “is already written for you.” So it worked out well for him because the problem he found in one form of writing didn’t exist in another.

So the main takeaway? Go with the flow and you’ll find your niche.

How do I improve my writing?

a) By making writing a habit. Start with 100-200 words of free writing a day, then step it up to 500 words.

b) By reading. By finding out what works for you as a reader (style, structure, etc.), you understand what to do as a writer.

c) Revise constantly but smartly. Take some time off from your writing between each revision to clear your mind and freshen your perspective.

What’s a simple way of knowing whether my writing sucks if I am not having it peer reviewed?

If you can explain what you’re writing about to a person and he/she understands perfectly, you’re doing great. If you can’t, it means you have to rewrite it.

I have writer’s block. What do I do?

Read a lot. You will only be able to have ideas if you’re constantly inspired.

Should I write something that seems obvious or has been written about before?

Be confident. If you think you can say it/write it better, then it’s worth writing about it.

Why do I need to know about all of this if I’m never going to write anything substantial after my first year/upper level writing class?

When Dr. Markel said that he understood things better when he wrote them out or that he felt the need to rewrite something if he couldn’t explain what he wrote to someone else, he articulated feelings that I had but never really acknowledged. I then understood that writing isn’t exclusive to any field– it can be a form of therapy, a way to solve a personal problem, a tool to achieve better understanding. There you go.

 

 

I cried five times while watching Lady Bird, which would be exceptionally significant if not coming from the girl who cried so hard she nearly busted a blood vessel in her eye after watching Madagascar 2. Regardless, Lady Bird was the perfect way for me to wash out the ol’ tear ducts. To whomever may be reading this review: if you’re looking for a quirky indie movie with a convincing cast… WATCH LADY BIRD.

While at first coming across as a typical coming-of-age story centering around a eccentric-yet-lovable protagonist armed with an average stockpile of romantic escapades, best friend drama, and parent troubles, Lady Bird delivers more of a punch. Yes, the movie does contain these elements, but casts another layer onto them. Catherine aka. “Lady Bird,” our heroine, immediately captivates the audience with her snarky dialogue and subtly pink hair. However, there is an element of vulnerability in her character that becomes nearly instantly evident and endearing. I couldn’t help but feel affection towards this spunky high school senior who isn’t afraid of standing out but is not unquestionably defiant of authority– in fact, she has a passion for theater and fosters a sort of friendship with one of the nuns at her Catholic school, setting her apart from previous, “i-hate-everyone-why-am-i-so-different-and-quirky” protagonist archetypes of similar indie movies. Nearly every character was endearing in their own special ways.

Lady Bird is a movie about growing up, but it is also one about mother-daughter relationships. The relationship between Lady Bird and her mother is so so real and beautifully crafted. One could see the obvious love that undercut the tension between them. There was one scene in particular at the end that hit home particularly hard- the woman sitting next to me was probably getting fed up with my periodic crying-noises of anguish.

And yet, there are precious moments of humor that made the entire theater shout with laughter. The humor in this film is smart and dry, cutting through moments of heavy emotion with its quick-wittedness.

Lady Bird perfectly captures teen-girl longing, frustration, restlessness, and nostalgia in a way that is not corny or unrealistic: because there were elements of realism in each area of Lady Bird’s journey. There is no ‘fairy-tale ending’ for any of the characters. The ending of the movie, while I am not going to spoil it, cuts off almost ominously, allowing one to wonder about the fate of Lady Bird and her loved ones.

If you didn’t get a chance to experience Lady Bird yet, don’t fret. Michigan Theater has showtimes until November 30th. Tickets are $8 with student ID.

Featured image credits: Merie Wallace, courtesy of A24