Improvements Feedback

Honestly, I think that even if I had a planning week to develop a plan, I would not stick to it. I found myself just relying on the Canvas deadlines anyway, even though that was not my original plan. Of course, this is just me. It could be useful for other students. I was maybe just dancing through life this semester. However, I do like the review weeks. I feel they are nice break and a way to recenter and refocus.

I did not use the story planning option very often, but I did use it some and found it helpful. I used it when I did not have time to write a complete story and also when a complete idea for a story had not come to me yet. I definitely think it is a great option to have.

I am not a fan of listening to stories be read because I won't focus, so audio recordings are not a necessity for me. Again though, it could be helpful to add more audio recordings for those who enjoy to listen to the stories be read. I feel the same way about the writing tutorials. I don't think I would use them, but they would be helpful to those struggling with specific writing issues.

I love your idea to create thematic units! I don't really have any specific suggestions for themes, but I think it would be a lot of fun!

Learning Challenge: Gratitude

In my creative therapies class this semester we watched a video that basically changed my perspective on life. The video is called GRATITUDE by Louie Schwartzberg. It highlights the important things in life. I believe a big part of being happy is actually realizing what all there is to be happy about in your life. The list is always longer than you think, and it is not something that you really think about on a daily basis. It is so important that we be grateful for the great things in our lives! Once we realize how extremely blessed we are, it is impossible to be anything but happy! I encourage you all to take the time to watch this video. It really might be just what you need!

GRATITUDE

Image Info: Gratitude, online source

Reading Notes: Russian Folktales, Part B

Gah, some of these stories are just so morbid and gruesome! I just don’t enjoy reading stories like that. Give me rainbows and unicorns… Lol. That is a joke, of course, but a woman’s daughter ending up being the witch of Death and getting her arm cut off and having to be drowned? That is just too much for me. Could we somehow purify the little girl so she didn’t have to die? I thought it made for a very interesting story how the man discovered who the witch was, but the circumstances were very sad. Perhaps he could find out who the witch was a different way or perhaps get her to go away altogether somehow. Now, the story about the headless princess was a great one! It did have some scary details, but I love that the boy stuck to his faith and was able to overcome evil! That is what I’m walking about! That is another one of my favorite aspects of some of these stories- good overcoming evil! The religious themes in these stories are something I really enjoy, and I wasn’t really expecting them. I know that the reason the third daughter-in-law lived in the Warlock story was because she was cunning, but of course, she was cunning in that she would not remove her cross. These stories make me think of the devilish horror movies they make. They are pretty captivating, but I am a baby apparently, meaning I only enjoy them when good things happen in the end. Multiple stories used the phrase “Glory be to Thee, O Lord!” I would like to use this in my story as well because I want to incorporate the religious themes in my story while enforcing good character over evil actions. I can try to include some morbid details in my story since it is out my comfort zone, but I will continue to give happy endings to my stories.

Rosary, online source

Bibliography: Russian Fairy Tales: A Choice Collection of Muscovite Folk-lore by W. R. S. Ralston, link to online source

Reading Notes: Russion Folktales, Part A

I really liked the idea that the dead mother came back to care for the baby and comfort the baby, but why did the baby have to die? How morbid! I would love to write a story where there is a happier ending because the original ending was way too sad and abrupt for me. The story was almost too short because it lacked details that could have made it better. I am so glad that the pope got what he deserved in that story, but I wished I could know what happened with the poor man. I could write a story where he ends up with riches and success some other way and remains rewarded for his good nature. I enjoyed the story about the orphan. It read so easily and was so captivating that I was finished with it sooner than  I thought I would be. My favorite aspects of these stories is that a good character will bring you reward, but a bad one will bring you punishment. No matter what story I decide to write, I will definitely keep this aspect of the Russian stories alive. I still don’t know how I feel about the water snake story. There were aspects that I liked and aspects that I didn’t. If I were to retell it, I would either make her mother killing the snake an act of rescue because the daughter would not actually enjoy her life with him or I would have him turn into a human so he could come live with them on land and they have a nice life together. I like happy endings too much, I guess. I just have the opinion that if you are getting to control what happens in the story, why not make it something good? There are too many unhappy endings in the real world. I figure I might as well make happy endings if I have control over it!

The Water Snake, online source

Bibliography: Russian Fairy Tales: A Choice Collection of Muscovite Folk-lore by W. R. S. Ralston, link to online source

Storytelling: The Legacy of Robin Hood Lives On

"ROBIN!" Maid Marian thrust the door open to the room her love was being held captive, but she was already too late. Robin lay there, looking weak for the first time in his life. It was a sight for which no one was prepared, including the merry men who followed Maid Marian closely after. Robin was their fearless leader, and they did not know what to do when they saw him in that sad state. He was too weak to even speak, but he could hear every word Maid Marian spoke into his ear. "Oh Robin. I can't believe this is the end. I love you, my dear, with all my heart, and I will never belong to another." Robin lifted his hand for her to grab. "There is something you need to know, Robin. I am with child." Tears began to roll down Robin's cheek as she placed his hand on her belly. Then, in an instant, the light fled from his eyes, and he was gone.

Robin ran through the forest, shooting his bow for practice. He had a sack of gold coins tied to his belt, and he was laughing and running as fast as he could. Soon after, the sheriff came running after him. He was new to the job, and, quite frankly, not very good at it. He stumbled on the rocks and vines on the ground as he tried to catch up to his enemy. Eventually, he could no longer see even a trace of Robin, so he gave up, trying to catch his breath. This is not my thing, the sheriff thought to himself. Father is going to be so disappointed in me.

Robin Hood, link to online source

"Mom!" Robin yelled as he returned home from his day in the forest.

"Oh, Robin! Where have you been? It is late! I sent Little John out to look for you."

"I'm sorry, Mom. I decided to give the new sheriff an opportunity to get his heart racing. Boy, he sure is terrible."

"Now Robin, why was the sheriff chasing you?" Robin tossed the sack of gold coins onto the table in front of him.

"Thank you, bishop," he said with an ornery smile.

"Oh, you are just like your father, aren't you?" Robin's smile grew wider at the mention of his father. He loved hearing stories about his dad, and he wanted to be just like him. He began to daydream about his father racing through the woods, a smile on his face as the sheriff and his men chased after him, unable to catch him, but his mother soon interrupted his dream. "Robin. What did we talk about just this morning?"

"Umm... I'm not sure I remember..." Robin answered, although he knew exactly to what his mother was referring.

"I admire your dedication to your father's plight, Robin. However, if you are going to engage in such risky activities, I would like Little John or any of the other merry men to accompany you." Robin fought the urge to roll his eyes, but he understood his mother's reasons for being worried. After all, he had never met his on father due to his risky tendencies.

"Yes ma'am," Robin replied reluctantly.

The next day, Robin headed into the woods to practice shooting his bow. He planned on taking heed to his mother's words, but things changed when he ran into the sheriff.

"I have caught you now, Robin!" The new sheriff exclaimed. Robin did a true eye roll now.

"Sheriff, I have done nothing wrong. I have committed no crime. So, if you will excuse me, I will be on my way."

"Stop right there, Robin. I know that you stole those gold coins from the bishop. I saw that sack around your waist yesterday."

"Number one, sheriff, you have not the slightest idea as to what was in my sack yesterday. Number two, if it had been gold coins, who is to say that they were not mine? Now, if you will excuse me," Robin said as he walked past the sheriff.

"You won't get away with this!" The sheriff yelled, simply because it is something he had heard his father say many times. Honestly, he did not feel that those words sounded right coming out of his mouth.

Robin stopped mid-step and turned around. "Get away with what exactly, sheriff? Charitable acts? You know just as well as I do that the bishop deserved what he got. You know where those gold coins ended up? In the hands of a family so poor that they had not eaten in days. If you ask me, I think they needed those coins whole lot more that they bishop ever has in his life. The rich don't care about anyone but themselves. I'm sure you know this. I can see you are trying to walk in your father's footsteps, but wake up, sheriff. I am not the problem here. I think you know what is the true crime." Before the sheriff could reply, Robin was gone. The sheriff sat there pondering what he had just heard. Robin was right. He had always had that same thought in the back of his head, but he had suppressed it so as not to let his father down. He would not compromise his morals any longer.

The sheriff left a note for his father, explaining everything.

Dear Father,
I write this note to inform you that I resign from my position as sheriff. I do not agree with the actions of the nobility, and I will work for them no longer. I am sorry to disappoint you, but I have to do what is right. That is why I am joining Robin Hood and the merry men. I believe in justice, and the poor deserve it just as much as the rich. I hope one day you may see the flaw in your perspective. 
Much Love, 
Son

Bibliography: Ballads of Robin Hood from The English and Scottish Popular Ballads by Francis James Child, link to online source

Author's Note: Robin Hood is an extremely ornery character who carries himself with extreme confidence and what seems like arrogance at times. Despite this though, he is an extremely likable character who is generous and kind. His many adventures create this illusion that he is truly invincible, so when I read the story about him dying, I could hardly accept it. Of course, Robin Hood was a real person, so it had to happen eventually. I would like to see his legacy live on though in some way other than through the stories. This is why I wanted to write a story about the offspring of Robin Hood who continue his wild yet admirable antics. I also chose to have the new sheriff join Robin because I wanted there to be some unity between the two rivals. I thought it would be nice to have the two characters on the same moral compass.

Reading Notes: Brothers Grimm (LibriVox), Part B

I appreciate that these stories show the justice of the characters who make good decisions are the ones who reap the benefits in the end. I know it was better for the brothers to awaken from their stone form, but I think they got off a little too easy, especially since they got to marry the other two sisters. I think it is very important that stories have justice for both the characters who make good decisions and for those who make bad ones, even if it is only slight and subtle. The story about the twelve huntsmen had a weird premise to me. I thought it was odd that her fiancé did not recognize her nor did he realize the huntsman were in fact women. The whole premise of the stepping on peas thing was odd, too. I was fond of the ending though since the two lovers were reunited. I thought the onomatopoeias in the Jorinda and Jorindel story were weird. There were several things I found in this story that were odd to me when I think about it. I liked the story about the horse and the lion, but I felt sorry for the lion. I would like to write my own version of the story where everyone gets what they deserve basically. The man should let the horse stay in his stable, and the lion should get to have a happy ending, too. Or possibly, I could get rid of the lion completely, and the man could have some other motivation behind making the decision to let the horse stay. I think it was a bit morbid that the men in the story of the twelve princesses got beheaded for not being able to figure out where the princesses went. It seems the classic fairy tales are all a bit more morbid than we like in this day and age. 

The Horse and the Lion, online source

Bibliography: Fairy Tales by the Brothers Grimm, link to online source

Reading Notes: Brothers Grimm (LibriVox), Part A

The Frog Prince, online source

I love the classic fairy tale storytelling style of these stories. They take me back to childhood. These stories just had that “child sitting in bed listening to their parents read a story” vibe. I hope that I am able to emulate that in my story. There have been so many retellings of these classic stories that I am reluctant to try to make another version of my own, but I am going to do my best.  The Frog Prince story was a bit repetitive, but I think that is helpful as a children’s story. I found myself becoming impatient and wanting the girl to just help him out already. Also, I really wished that she had actually kissed the frog. I will definitely add this detail to my story.  I did like the rhyme that was repeated throughout the story though, and of course I liked the happy ending. I would have liked it better, however, had the princess wanted to help the frog on her own volition. I want to have the princess kiss the frog simply because she feels sorry for him and wants to help him out. It could maybe be better even if the princess was not a princess at all but a poor little girl. This would emphasize the lesson that being caring and helpful can help you reap great reward. I would like to add more description to my story, too. Vivid descriptions are so important, especially for children’s stories. This set of stories did have some great descriptions, but I want to add some that are even more exciting, focusing on all of the senses. I could even reverse the gender roles making the frog a princess and have a little boy help her out! This is something that I do not think I have ever seen done before with this story, but I think it would be great since reversing gender roles is so popular these days. 

Bibliography: The Frog Prince from Fairy Tales by the Brothers Grimm, link to online source

Story Planning: The Adventures of Robin Hood Live On

Source Notes: Robin Hood is an extremely ornery character who carries himself with extreme confidence and what seems like arrogance at times. Despite this though, he is an extremely likable character who is generous and kind. His many adventures create this illusion that he is truly invincible, so when I read the story about him dying, I could hardly accept it. Of course, Robin Hood was a real person, so it had to happen eventually. I would like to see his legacy live on though in some way other than through the stories. This is why I want to write a story about offspring of Robin Hood who continue his wild yet admirable antics.

I could not find anything online about Robin Hood ever having a child after doing a little research. He did, of course, have a love interest named Maid Marian. She was rather on the rebellious side as well, and I think it would be great if the two of them had a child together.

Robin Hood and Maid Marian, online source

I want to write a story where Robin Hood’s legacy lives on through his offspring. I could give it a tragic beginning where Maid Marian finds Robin Hood on his death bed and tells him she is with child. Then, Maid Marian can join the merry men, and they can help her raise her son. He will, of course, be a prodigy and can butt heads with the new sheriff of Nottingham who can incidentally be the old sheriff’s son. That way, the rivalry could live on through the sons. My story could be the first meeting between the two.

Characters:

Robin Hood’s son: He is just as cocky and ornery as his father, but he is also dedicated to his father’s values.

Sheriff of Nottingham: He is only sheriff because he is trying to live up to his father’s expectations, but he is not as adamant about stopping the outlaw as his father was. He actually agrees with the outlaw in some ways, but he is conflicted because he does not want to disappoint his father.  

Bibliography: Ballads of Robin Hood from The English and Scottish Popular Ballads by Francis James Child, link to online source

Reading Notes: Ballads of Robin Hood, Part B

Robin Hood: Men in Tights, online source

(Although this movie is a parody, it is a great one. I highly recommend.) 

I thought the story about the bishop of Hereford was a fun one to read. It was nice that the story led you to believe Robin Hood and his merry men were going to kill the Bishop but instead Robin Hood brought the Bishop back to participate in merry things with them. The Robin Hood character is very likable, and I think he will be a fun one to write. I can’t help but wonder if Little John likes his sidekick gig or if he would rather be in charge of the group. I could maybe explore a story about conflict between Little John and Robin Hood, like changing the Little John begging story to have Little John argue with Robin Hood about him telling him to go begging. I really like how all of the stories start, telling everyone to come ‘round to hear the story of Robin Hood. I was confused at first because the rich Robin Hood is stealing from seem to all be people of the church, which seemed wrong to me until I considered corruption. This was a little hard for me to get used to at first though. I did like that the story about the priests finally came outright and explicitly stated the theme of giving to the poor. I had said in my previous reading notes that I would enjoy a story about Robin Hood fighting a woman and meeting his match, which I actually got with the story of Maid Marian. I loved this one too because it included a love story component. I really enjoyed the story of the golden arrow because it was familiar to me, but I don’t think familiar stories are the best ones to alter sometimes because people are too comfortable with how they go. It was very sad to read about Robin Hood dying because he seems so invincible. Perhaps I could write a story about him actually being invincible. In some way, I need to see Robin Hood live on-maybe through offspring that is just like him? That would be more realistic, of course. I did not like the second story about Robin Hood dying, but I did appreciate the detail that Robin Hood would never hurt a woman. Although he is a cocky and arrogant character, he is noble, and that is admirable and what makes him so likable. 

Bibliography: Ballads of Robin Hood from The English and Scottish Popular Ballads by Francis James Child, link to online source

Reading Notes: Ballads of Robin Hood, Part A

I was not expecting the Robin Hood stories to rhyme, so that was a nice surprise! The dialect was a bit difficult to read at times but not too bad. I thought it was kind of sad that the forresters died, but I did enjoy Robin Hood’s arrogant attitude. He is a fun character to read about; that’s for sure. I love how he seems to be good at anything he tries, and he just knows that he will be. I wonder what Robin Hood would be like in modern day. That could be a fun story to write- Robin Hood in high school. I loved the story of Little John. I think it is great that they could fight and be men about it, and it is great that Little John joins them. The fact that two men can fight and then be friends afterward is a fun element to me. I like how the sentence structure is switched around sometimes to make the rhymes work. I have played with that a bit in my nursery rhyme storybook, but these stories really sow the value of it. I like how Robin Hood encounters all these men and fights with them, but I think it would be fun to see Robin Hood fight a girl who can hold her own. I always related Robin Hood with the whole “steals from the rich, gives to the poor idea,” which I hope to see more of in the second set of stories. I do love how Robin Hood doesn’t know a stranger; he interacts with others as if he has met them before or even known them for a while. I liked that there was a love story incorporated into all the fighting stories with Robin and Allan a Dale. I also loved Robin saving the three squires because that showed his helpful side. I am excited to read the next set of stories!

Robin Hood, online source

Bibliography: Ballads of Robin Hood from The English and Scottish Popular Ballads by Francis James Child, link to online source

Storytelling: The Woman Who Fostered the Bear

There once was a childless woman who longed for a baby to care for. The people in the village up above always brought her meat and blubber, but this day was different. The wife of one of the hunters approached the woman and asked her if she would like to foster a bear cub. The woman could not have been more delighted. She went out to get the bear cub and brought him into her home to help him get warm. She fed the bear cub and loved him as her own child, even letting him sleep with her at night. As the bear got older, his body grew bigger, but his mind grew too. Since he had had so much human interaction with the woman, he had developed a human-like mind, being able to communicate with his foster mother.

                                             Polar Bear Cub, online source

                

The village children would play with the bear, and he would be as gentle as he could. Eventually though, he got too big to play with the children, so the adults would play with him. Everyone in the village loved the bear. Unfortunately, the bear soon grew too big for even the grown men to play with him. They did not want the bear to feel left out, so they began inviting the bear on their hunting outings. He helped the men find seal and kept them well-fed. The foster mother even made him a necklace of sinew to distinguish him from the other bears, so he would not be hunted himself.

Polar Bear, online source

The bear’s foster mother had always told him to never harm a human unless that human wished to harm him. So, when the bear returned late one night with the dead body of a man, his mother knew that her bear had only been protecting himself. The body turned out to belong to a man from another village who had heard of the bear that should not be killed, and people had heard him vow to kill him if he saw it. The bear’s foster mother knew that her baby could not stay with her any longer though. He would be killed if he did.

Sad Polar Bear, online source

So one day, early in the morning before the sun came up, the mother prepared to send her baby off into the world. She told him that there were others bears like him who would take him in, but she really had no clue if this was the case. The two held each other and wept; they were both heartbroken. The old woman finally decided that it was time, and she sent the bear off to find a family of his own. The bear searched for what seemed like forever until he finally found them. Other bears. Just like him. He approached them timidly, but they welcomed him as if they had known him his whole life. Mother was right. The bears recognized him, and they had known his bear mother who was killed by hunters. He told them of his life with the woman and the villagers, and they were all in awe. He lived with them and was happy, but he missed his foster mother terribly.

Polar Bears, online source

His foster mother missed him too. So, one day, she asked to join the hunters on their outing with hopes that she could catch a glimpse of her baby. The hunters from her village no longer hunted bears, but they did come across them from time to time. A couple of hours into the outing, the foster mother began to lose hope. But then, she saw him. Her baby! She knew it was him because he was still wearing his sinew necklace. He showed his foster mother his new family. He now had cubs of his own! The visit did not last long, but the woman left satisfied and filled with happiness for her baby, and the bear was so excited to have gotten to see his foster mother again.

Polar Bear and Cubs, online source

Here ends this story.

Bibliography: The Woman Who Had a Bear as a Foster-Son from Eskimo Folk Tales by Knud Rasmussen, link to online source

Author’s Note: I did not change the original story much. I really liked the original and thought it was a sweet story. The original story gave more detail in the beginning of the story, but I wrote my version differently for fear of copying too much of the original story. However, I did make some changes to the end of the story. In the original story, the bear leaves, and the two never see each other again.  This was too sad an ending for me. Also, the original story never tells us if the bear found a bear family after leaving his foster mother. So, I decided to give the characters a happy ending and give the readers some closure. I also chose to include the detail of the hunters in that village no longer hunting for bears because it didn’t make sense to me that they could have such a familial relationship with a bear but still kill others of his kind. I thought it was important to include the reunion because the original story left me with so many questions, and I really wanted to know if the two would ever see each other again and if the bear would be happy out there since he had grown up with humans. My first and last lines were modeled after the Inuit stories as well.

Storytelling: The Fox-Woman and the Hunter

There once was a hunter who lived alone in a cabin in the woods. He was a very kind man who longed for a companion. Sadly he had been victim of a childhood accident that left him an orphan and with his face badly deformed. No woman had ever taken the time to look past his physical appearance and get to know the man inside.

There once was a fox who was also a woman, or a woman who was also a fox, rather. She had been cursed by a jealous witch, forcing her to spend some time each day in fox form. She was really a very beautiful woman with bright eyes and a an alluring smile. Although she was very beautiful, she had a lingering musky odor due to the part of her life she spent as a fox. Because of this, she spent her life alone, choosing her fox form more often than her human form. Men could not stand her musky smell. She longed for love as well, and one day, she came across a lonely hunter which changed both their lives forever.

The fox woman had observed the poor hunter, leaving his house in the mornings to hunt and coming back home to an empty house. She felt bad for the man because she knew what loneliness was like. She thought she could make this man happy, and he could be the companion for which she was looking. She decided to give him a chance. She watched him leave his house one morning, and then she sneaked in and shed her fox-skin. She began tidying the house and washing the man's clothes and cooking him a meal. By the time the hunter came home she had turned his house into a warm, welcoming place- something he never thought possible. He was struck by her beauty instantly. She flashed him a smile when he crossed the threshold, confused by the situation but not scared. He saw her fox-skin hanging on a line in the washroom. "Is this yours?" the hunter asked.

The Fox-Woman in her Fox Form, online source

Looking ashamed, the fox woman simply answered, "Yes." She explained her story as the man listened intently. The fox-woman was worried he would send her away, but he only grabbed her hand and began explaining his own life story. She gave him the same amount of attention as she listened to him explain. When he finished, she flashed him that breathtaking smile that he had fallen in love with just hours before. She got up to serve him the meal she had made him, and the two ate dinner together, something that neither of them had done in years. The joy they both found in each other's company was beautiful. Once their meal was over, the fox-woman washed the dishes while her husband watched her, admiringly.

Once night fell, the fox-woman began to look worried. Her new man asked her what was bothering her, and she explained that she had to put her fox-skin on for three hours. She told him she would love if he would prefer, but he would not have this. The fox-woman put on her fox-skin and the two cuddled on the couch by the fire until she could return to her human form. The two retired to bed and lived happily ever after.

Bibliography: Fox-Woman from Tales of the North American Indians by Stith Thompson, link to online source

Author's Note: The original story tells of a hunter who comes home after an outing to his house being taken care of as if he had a wife, but he does not have one. So, he goes off on a fake outing to determine who it was who did it. He watches a fox enter and thinks it is just looking for food, but when he goes in to check, he sees a beautiful woman and a fox-skin hanging. So, they live together for a while, but the man can't stand her musky smell, so she leaves an never returns. I didn't like this sad ending, nor did I like the fact that the man was so shallow that he did not appreciate her efforts. So, I decided to make my story all about what matters on the inside. This is why I added the detail about the man having a deformity and gave them a happy ending.

Reading Notes: Eskimo Folk Tales, Part B

I don’t like the gory stories. Killing and blood don’t interest me as far as stories go. The names are still distracting for me, but I do recognize that this is only a cultural thing. I try not to let it interfere with my impression of the story. I did like the justice found in some stories like the one that ends with the fact that the man who kills is punished in the end. I am very fond of justice, but I don’t necessarily want to read about people killing other people just to find justice in the end. Again, I see the value in teaching about not killing nor lying, but I hate that the woman who lied got killed for her punishment. Why kill someone in the story as a punishment if killing is in fact something we are trying to teach is bad? I still sometimes get uncomfortable with the idea of animals marrying humans. I get that it is for the sake of teaching a lesson or entertainment, but it does not make for a great story in my opinion. I definitely want to emulate these stories in that I want my stories to also teach valuable lessons, but I want to leave out the gory details. I also don’t like the way women are portrayed in these stories. They are portrayed as weak almost and needing a man’s help for their rescue. I do not get the vibe that they are being revered in these stories, which of course, I would prefer they were. These stories seemed to be darker than the ones before. I like more positive, happy stories! Perhaps I can rewrite one of these in a more positive light! I liked that the stories included lots of family interactions such as father/son and brother/sister. I think family stories are great because most people can relate to them on some level.

Inuit Family, online source

Bibliography: Eskimo Folk Tales by Knud Rasmussen, link to online source

Reading Notes: Eskimo Folk Tales, Part A

Some of the stories were told in very simple terms, which I admire sometimes, but I think I prefer the stories with a bit more detail. It helps immerse me in the setting better.  This would make them more believable to me if that is the goal. I like the stories that ended with hopeful endings the best. It is always better to leave on a positive note than a negative, in my opinion anyway. Some of the stories were just too weird for me. I must not have been ready for the supernatural stories. Animals communicating with humans is sometimes as fantastic as I want to get. I guess it is more about how those stories thrust the reader into the fantast world. I suppose this phenomenon would not be the same for someone a part of that culture, but it made the stories more confusing for me. I would have appreciated more background information to establish the setting. The names were too confusing to me, but of course, that is just a culture issue. I didn't like the stories where there were too many characters of which to keep track, and I also had a problem when there were too many things to follow within the story. I like one main story with a couple characters to get to know.

                                                                    Polar Bear, online source

I absolutely loved the story about the bear and the woman! It was such a fun idea that the bear ended up having a human like mind because the woman spoke to him in "human speech." It honestly gave me a Paddington vibe but in a much more "realistic" way. I did think it was cute that the bear played with the children, but it made me sad that soon everyone was too scared to play with him. It was a great story, but the ending was just so sad! I want to write a reunion story for the old woman and the bear. Or maybe just have the bear find a bear family in which to belong! Many of the stories ended with “And here ends this story,’ which I would like to include in my own. A few stories began with “There once was a wifeless man,” and one story even mentions that’s how “all” stories start. I think it would be fun to start my story with “There once was a childless woman,” because she fosters the bear. I liked that the stories promoted good values like honesty and loyalty, and I would like to give my bear story a theme of love, inclusion, and compassion.

Bibliography: Eskimo Folk Tales by Knud Rasmussen, link to online source

Story Planning: Fox-Woman

Source Story: The original story of the fox-woman tells of a hunter who comes home after an outing to his house being taken care of as if he has a wife, but he is completely alone. So, he goes off on a fake outing to determine who it was who did this. He watches a fox enter, who he think is looking for food, but when he goes into his house to check it out, he sees a beautiful woman and a fox skin hanging. It turns out that she was the one who had been doing these things for him, So they live together for a while, but the man realizes he doesn't like her smell. She tells him that she will leave if he doesn't like it, so she does, vowing to never visit a man again.

Bibliography: Fox-Woman from Tales of the North American Indians by Stith Thompson, link to online source

Fox-Woman in Fox Form, online source

Ideas for New Story: I do not like how the original story ends with a bad ending. It makes me sad that the poor fox-woman who works really hard to be a good wife for the hunter has to leave because he doesn't like her smell. I think that her new husband should be grateful for his new wife since she is doing things for him that she doesn't have to. I would like the idea of my story to be that it is what is on the inside that counts, and I want there to be a happy ending for the love story of the hunter and the fox-woman.

Characters:

Hunter- He is a lonely man who longs for someone to love him, but his face is deformed. No woman will take the time to look past his physical appearance and get to know him for the person he is inside.

Fox-woman- She is lonely as well, also longing for love. It is difficult for her because she really is a beautiful woman, but she has an odd odor due to her also being a fox.

Reading Notes: Native American Marriage Tales, Part A

                                                          Red Fox, link to online source

These stories were unlike any others I have read. They were very strange, but their strange nature kept me reading more. I really do enjoy the "Once..." stories. They are so simple and classic. Perfect for children.  I like the idea of the animals and humans interacting, but I was slightly weirded out by the idea of animals and humans having romantic sort relationships, as well as the story where the girl married the rock. Sounds weird, huh? It was interesting that all natural things were interacting in some way though, even trees and rocks. I think this is a good testament to how we are all connected. These stories had very odd things happening, but they were explained as if they were commonplace, which gave them more intrigue. Some of the descriptions in the stories were a bit too gruesome for me, and some were just too plain weird honestly. I enjoyed the twists and turns in the stories and, of course, the happy endings were my favorite. The tales did contain justice in the end, even if the ending wasn't all that happy. I enjoyed the short stories better than the longer ones. The long ones seemed to have multiple stories within them, which actually made them a little hard to follow. I hated that the poor fox-woman couldn't be the man's husband simply for her smell. I would like to alter that story. I would like to give her more justice somehow because all the other stories seemed to give justice to those who deserved it. I could incorporate nature into that story as well because it only talks about animals and humans interacting. I would love the fox-woman and man to live happily ever after because the original ending was very sad to me. I want the husband to be grateful for his new wife.

Bibliography: Tales of the North American Indians by Stith Thompson, link to online source

Growth Mindset

I am usually pretty good at pushing myself to go farther. If I feel overwhelmed though, I will resort to only doing the minimum. This remains true across the board. If I am really enthusiastic about something, I am more inclined to push myself.               

I definitely do not look for praise or reward. I am very self-motivated. I used to be too hard on myself, but I have gotten better about it. Of course, it is encouraging to get outside praise and/or reward though.

I am very bad about wanting to stay in my comfort zone. I am not completely opposed to try new things, but I need the right kind of motivation to do so. The motivation must come from the right person and the right place in order to be effective in leading me to branch out. I am one to play it safe as opposed to making risks more often than not though. I used to hate change, but I have become more open to it lately. Parenting teaches you to roll with the flow.

Inspiration, online source

I focus on both my grades and my learning, but I hate to say that I focus more on my grades. This is different if I am taking a course which I am actually interested in though.

I am good at seeing both the short and long-term perspective. This is another thing that becomes difficult when I am overwhelmed though.

I do not like others to make my decisions for me. I will sometimes let it happen if I feel too shy and won’t speak up, but I am very good at setting my own goals and, more importantly, sticking to them. My bashfulness and social anxiety keeps me from asking some questions that I have and causing me to rely on sticking to what I know, but motherhood is helping me get past this issue. I am less scared to ask questions now.

I usually have a good idea of when I am good at something and when I am not, but I don’t let that knowledge get me down. I will keep trying to get better, unless it is something that is not important. I don’t usually feel bored or frustrated unless I am tired. I have a pretty enthusiastic attitude toward life in general.

Of course, I am more likely to choose what is easy as opposed to what is hard, but I can also see what will be “easy” in the long run. I will not make the “easy” decision if it means a more difficult future. I tend to want things to go “right” the first time, but I have no problem working on something if need be.

Motivational Baby, online source

I was a never a procrastinator until I became a mom. Now, I am the queen of procrastination. I have really been struggling with that this semester, and I keep telling myself that if I can only make it to spring break, I will do better for the remainder of the semester.

In all honesty, I am not good at taking constructive criticism. It is a weakness of mine, and I tend to be defensive when I get it. I am trying really hard to get better at it though. I used to be a perfectionist, but I am a fairly eager learner. I will take others’ advice into consideration to improve my work; I just may not take it well in my head at first. Although I get defensive, I will always use my mistakes to improve in the future. I don’t usually compare myself to others, but I do learn from others’ successes and mistakes.

                For the remainder of the semester, I am going to do my best to resist the temptation to only do the minimum when things get overwhelming. I will push myself to continue to give my best effort. I need to branch out and try new and different writing styles with my stories to help me get better at branching out from my comfort zone. I need to do better about sticking to the schedule I set for myself to get things done. I am good at setting a schedule… I just need to get better at following it! I will continue to work on not taking criticism personally and use it to improve my work.

Week 8 Reflections

Reading:

I think I have done a pretty good job with my reading selections so far. I have found something interesting in every collection of stories I have read. There have been some stories throughout the collections that I was really tempted to just skip over, but there was always a great story or multiple to make it worth it. The reading I have enjoyed most was the Arabian Nights reading. The whole story inception thing really captivated me. I need to do better about setting aside a time to do my reading though because I have been bad about doing them at the last minute which makes it less enjoyable.

My reading notes are extremely helpful each week. I usually already have my story planned out after I write my reading notes post. I think I am doing very well with reading like a writer. I have all kinds of ideas about my own stories flowing through my head as I read.

The Cherokee readings sound intriguing for weeks nine and ten. Almost all of the stories for weeks eleven and twelve sound enticing! That is going to be a hard decision! The same goes for week thirteen and fourteen. We are ending strong for sure!

Writing:

I am happy with the stories I have written this semester. I have learned that I am very fond of dialogue and need to get better at adding descriptive details. I usually ask my mom for help with my writing because she was an English teacher for many years and has her masters. I trust her advice completely.

I am very excited about my Storybook! I have it planned out very well, and my first story was such fun to write!

I would like to try writing a story in a script format. I saw that in a storybook, and it made me remember doing a script in a creative writing class in high school. It was a lot of fun, and I would like to try it again. Like I mentioned earlier, I need to get better about adding descriptive details and imagery to my stories. I think one of the best ways to develop my writing skills is simply to practice, read others’ stories, and get feedback- all things we do in this class! 

Connecting:

I usually admire the novel ideas that others have of which I would have never thought. I have noticed a lot of grammar issues, mainly run-ons and comma issues that I really hope to avoid in my writing. I think I have gotten better at feedback as the semester has progressed. I want to start reading others’ stories a bit more critically because I am usually a bit too complimentary, which isn’t always that helpful, although it is nice to hear.

Image Info:

Books, online source

Pen and Paper, online source

Connections, online source

Storytelling: The Enchanted Lake

There is an enchanted lake in my hometown that no one really knows about. Why, you ask? I should rephrase. No one has ever lived to tell about it. Men, women, and children alike have visited the lake to never return again. Fisherman, kayakers, picnickers. All disappeared to never be found. The lake has no type nor no mercy. Why do people keep visiting such a place? Skepticism. Curiosity. Stupidity, even. Whatever the reason may be, the impending danger of eminent death has not been an effective deterrent for all. Including myself. My reason for embarking on this journey are a mixture of all three. I need to know what happened to all those people. I don't believe that people can just disappear.  And I have never been the sharpest tool in the shed. So, to the lake I go with foolish hopes of a different outcome than my predecessors.

Day 1:

I am nervous and fearful. This will not stop me though. I woke up early to prepare myself for the trip. For weeks, I have been getting my affairs in order in case I really do disappear without a trace. I'm not afraid of death. Only pain. I am hopeful that those before me suffered no pain before their disappearances. One can dream, right? I'm not actually going to reach the lake today. I will only be making observations around it. Of course, no one really knows where the border lies between enchantment and our normal world, so I will be keeping a safe distance. For now.

I see nothing unusual. I am an experienced camper, and nothing about this campsite seems scary or even out of the ordinary. Flora. Fauna. Your typical wilderness. I hear animals in the distance which poses a question. Can animals venture to the lake and leave as they please? There is a relatively close water source not too far from here, but one would think the animal population would be affected by this phenomenon. Something scientists should look into. I'll remember that if I ever come back to tell them.

Enchanted Lake, online source

Day 2: I am excited to see what this day will bring. I have accepted that it may not be a fate that I will like, but at least I will go down in history. I copied my day one entry and left it at the campsite, just in case that's the only one they find. I have made it about 200 yards from the lake's edge with no sign of anything weird. I am slightly panicking because I saw a large splash and a burst of light coming from the lake. I'm not ready to die. I creep toward the water anyway. My heart keeps beating faster and faster as I slowly make my way. My palms are sweaty. Knees weak. Arms are heavy... No time for jokes. I see a figure start to appear under the water. It looks like a giant fish. Of course, the enchanted lake would have giant fish. Wait! That is a human! A human who looks like a fish... a mermaid. I am seeing a mermaid right before my eyes! I can't believe it! And neither should you.

I am a coward. I always have been, and I thought being the first man to make it out alive from the enchanted lake would make me happy. More importantly, I thought it would make me special. The days leading up to this terrifying excursion led me to do a lot of thinking, and I realized that I really am special. We are all special, and I don't need to risk my life to prove it. So, I never made it past day one. I never made it past my campsite a mile away from the lake. I thought about faking an entire crazy story and have it published, but then I realized that there would be no fulfillment from writing a crazy story just to claim it as fact.  There really is an enchanted lake in my hometown, but I don't believe anyone will ever know about it. People will know about me though. I am going to make sure of it. In the right way.

Bibliography: Laos Folk-Lore of Farther India by Katherine Neville Fleeson, link to online source

Author's Note: The original story of the enchanted lake was interesting to me because it told of this special, enchanted place but explained that it was only enchanted to those inside it. The enchantment did not exist to the outside world, which is the inspiration I used for the setting of my story.

Reading Notes: Folklore of Laos, Part A

The interesting thing about this collection of stories is that ita only shows humans in a negative light. It shows the greed of humans, as well as their selfishness and heartlessness. For example, one stort tells of a woman gping to live with the beasts in the jungle because she does not want to live with man anymore. I understand this sentiment, and I do appreciate that she finally found some good in the people, but ultimately she chose to go back to living with yhe beaats. Another story told of young girls being disowned and taken in again, just to find out the "kind" woman who had tamen them in was a cannibal! It would be refreshing tk have a story where good men prevail. I did not like the stories that showed the negative side of man because I like to believe that there is good in all people. These stories though did not encourage that belief of mine. In reality, the love stories are where the goodness of mankind really presented itself. This was interesting to me because it shows the power of love. A very enchanting story to me was the one of the enchanted lake, ironically enough. I found it interesting that there was no proof of the wonderful place because the enchantment only existed there; it was nonexistent outside of the realm of its enchantment. I was thinking while reading the story how interesting it would be if once man found it, they could not leave. Of course, it is a utopian place, so that would not necessarily be a bad thing. Because I would like to see a story focusing on the positive aspects of human beings, I think it would be nice to see humans rewarded for good behavior. Perhaps only the good people could make their way into the enchanted place, living in paradise for the rest of their days in a place where bad people could not even gain access to.

Enchanted Lake, online source

Bibliography: Laos Folk-Lore of Farther India by Katherine Neville Fleeson, link to online source

Week 6 Storytelling: Why the North Star Lives in the Sky

There once was a star who shone brighter than any other, but she did not know this. See,there was one problem; she was living down on the ground with the people. Don't get me wrong; she loved the people! They would always come to her when they needed her bright light, and they made her feel special. They would compliment her and thank her, but no matter how hard they tried to make her feel like she belonged, she knew this was just not the case. She would look up into the night sky and see the other stars up above, knowing that's where she truly belonged. She just could not bring herself to leave the people who needed her. She felt she owed it to them to remain on the ground for them.

Well, one day some of the villagers were planning a long journey. The journey was going to last several days, and they knew that it would be best if they could travel at night as well as during the day to make the trip faster. However, there was a problem. During the day, directions were easy. They could use the sun's position in the sky to guide their way. The Sun was the Great star; the Ground star admired her so greatly. At night though, there was no such star. There were many stars that illuminated the sky but none bright enough nor consistent enough for them to count on to guide their way. That's when the Ground star had a brilliant idea. She could be like the Sun. She could not only help the villagers but all of mankind each night, as the Sun does each day.

"I will guide you!" She told the villagers, excitedly. "Come nightfall, look for me in the sky. I will shine brighter than any other. When you see me up above, I will be in the north, always there to guide you." The Ground star was not completely sure if her plan would work, but she had to try. She knew there was something special about her, so she decided to follow her instincts. The villagers were sad to see her go but grateful for her offer. Just before nightfall, the ground star ascended toward the sky, excited about what this new life had for her. She passed many stars on her way to her post, and they all complimented her on how bright she was and how they'd been waiting for her to come join them so they could meet her. They had been admiring her from the sky! They immediately treated her like family, and finally, she belonged.

The North Star, online source

When darkness settled, the villagers looked for their star friend, afraid that they would not be able to point her out from all the others. Once they saw her though, there was no mistaking which one she was. They all smiled as they saw her shining down brightly on them. "The North Star," one of the villagers proudly proclaimed, and they set off on their journey.

Bibliography: Why the Sun and the Moon Live in the Sky from Folk Stories from Southern Nigeria, West Africa by Elphinstone Dayrell, link to online source

Author's Note: The original story is an origin story explaining why the sun and the moon live in the sky. This particular collection of stories had many origin stories, but most of them were explaining things about animals. I liked the personification of the moon and sun more, though, especially because the sun and moon were husband and wife in the original story. The waters kept getting higher and higher, eventually forcing the sun and moon out of their own home and into the sky. I liked the idea of them having feelings, which is why I gave the North star feelings and emotions, but one thing I did not like about these origin stories were that they mostly had a negative undertone. Let's face it; getting forced out of one's home isn't exactly a happy ending. I wanted the North star to be happy about her outcome in life, which is why I wrote the story the way that I did.

Reading Notes: Nigerian Folk Stories, Part A

I really love stories about animals that give an explanation for why they are the way they are. They have always fascinated me, and these did not disappoint. These stories make the explanation seem so straightforward and simple. The earthworm story, for example, was very short, which I think helped add to the appeal. Since the world is so complex, it is refreshing to have a simple explanation for why something is the way it is. One of the only things that I did not like about these explanation stories was that they were somewhat negative. Looking at the earthworms again, for example, they were forced to live underground and be blind, but the stories behind these things are not due to the earthworm's choice, which is what does not settle with me. If I were to write an explanation story, I would let the animals have some say in why they are the way they are. After all, they are just stories. Why not make them a little more positive? I was not a fan pf the story of why the hawk eats the chicken either. It was so morbid that the king made the decision to let the hawk eat the chicken children since they could not repay the dowry. I did like how the story was very straightforward again. Its short length and simplicity were still appealing, but I can't get passed the negativity. I did think that the story about the sun and moon was very cute. It was interesting because if I were to give those two things genders, I would have seen the sun as a female and the moon as a male, so it was cool to see the opposite. Although, the sun and moon were driven out of their home to the sky, they got to remain together, and there was something sort of romantic about it.

Sun and Moon, online source

Folk Stories from Southern Nigeria, West Africa by Elphinstone Dayrell, link to online source

                                            

Storytelling: Happiness

Once upon a time, there was a man who lived by himself. One day, he was walking along the sidewalk when he heard the little girl next door exclaim, "I'm so happy!" The man had never known happiness. He grew up in the orphanage all his life where all the children teased him. He was a smart boy, and he grew up to be an esteemed mathematician. This brought him public recognition and wealth, but these things did not bring him happiness as he had expected. His life goal was to find happiness, but he did not even know where to start.

                                                         Happy Little Girl, online source

He called to the little girl, "Little girl?"

"Yes?" She responded sweetly.

"What does that feel like?" He asked.

"What does what feel like?" She responded, confused.

"Happiness," he replied.

"Oh! Well, it's when you feel... happy!" She stated proudly before bouncing back into her home.

It was at this moment that the man realized he would not put off his quest anymore. He would find happiness. He had heard people finding great beauty in watching the sunset on the beach. So, he headed to the beach. He found a secluded area where he could enjoy the sunset by himself. He watched the beautiful colors as they spread across the sky. There was no denying that the sunset was magnificent, but when night finally fell and darkness filled the sky, the man still felt empty inside. No happiness.

As he sat on the beach disappointed, he heard a loud engine behind him. Parking next to his car was an old man in a fancy sports car, a Lamborghini. "Excuse me?" The man said to the older man as he approached the beach.

"Yes?" He replied.

"Are you happy?"

The old man looked confused, but he replied. "Well, yes. I am. Did you see that car I stepped out of? How could I not be happy?"

"Oh yes, of course," the man said, pondering what he had just heard. Well, maybe I should get a Lamborghini. It made him happy. The man thought to himself. So, the next day, he visited a car dealership. He bought a Lamborghini with excitement. Maybe he would finally find happiness. As he drove off, he came to a sad realization. This fancy car had not brought him happiness.

He drove to the park where he spent many afternoons longing for this happiness. As he was sitting on the bench, a little boy ran up to him. He looked frightened. "I lost my mommy!" He cried. The man put his hand on the little boy's shoulder and assured him that they would find her.

"What is your mommy wearing?" The man asked the little boy.

"I don't know!" He cried again, this time with a little more panic behind his voice.


"It's okay, it's okay!" The man assured him again. While he was comforting the little boy, he heard a woman yelling.

"Jackson! Jackson!" She was yelling as she frantically searched.

"Mommy!" The little boy exclaimed as the two reunited. The two embraced before the woman addressed the man.

"Thank you so much!" The woman said to the man, relieved and with true appreciation.

                                             Little Boy Hugging His Mom, online source

The man watched the two reuniting and was touched. A smile spread across his face as he watched the two together. Then it hit him. Happiness. I am happy. This makes me happy.

Bibliography: Fourty-four Turkish Fairy Tales, link to online source

Author's Note: The original story is a boy's search for fear. The typical things that would scare people do not scare him, but he ends up being scared when a bird flies out of pot that he thought was filled with soup. His fear was found unexpectedly as the man's happiness was in my story. I liked the idea of a search for an emotion because when I thought about describing emotions, I realized that it was nearly impossible. One must experience the emotion to truly understand it. I chose happiness because I think this is something for which all people search.

Reading Notes: Turkish Fairy Tales, Part A

I was so captivated by the first story in this group of fairy tales. The main theme of the story was so unique and interesting. The story made me consider something I had never considered before. What if one did not know what fear was? How could someone describe it to that person? This story had me thinking about how feelings really are difficult to describe. For a person to truly understand a feeling, they have to experience it for themselves. Of course, not everyone reacts to certain situations in the same way. There were many things that happened to the boy in the story that would have scared me, but he was not phased. I loved the fact that the thing that scared him in the end was really quite trivial compared to the other things that scared him, but it was the element of such quick surprise, I believe, that did him in. I think it would be interesting to explore this concept with different emotions and feelings; happiness would be a fun one. One of my favorite aspects of these stories were that they were very easy to read. This is, of course, important for fairy tales, which are meant for children, but as a young adult, I still appreciate the simplicity behind them. It is part of what makes the story so entertaining, and it keeps me reading. When the language is difficult, it deters me from wanting to read more. Another fun thing about these stories I that although they are fairy tales, the characters are still relatable. They don't seem like people in a faraway land, but I feel like I can identify with them on a certain level. This is another very important aspect of stories for me because I find myself much more interested in what I'm reading if I can relate to the characters.

                                     The boy watching his coffin be made, online source

Forty-four Turkish Fairy Tales, link to online source

Feedback Focus

I liked the copy and delete technique the most, followed by the reading aloud technique and then the timer technique. I think that combining the first two- copy and delete and reading aloud- is the best strategy for me. I already practice the reading aloud strategy, but the copy and delete strategy was surprisingly helpful. I thought the timer strategy would work better then it actually did. The best part about the reading aloud strategy is that it helps you notice more details, but it is more time consuming than just reading in your head. The copy and delete strategy allows you to catch more information for notes, but it can also be time consuming. The timer strategy ensures that you don't spend too much time on a story, but you also don't get as much information or details for notes. 

Focus, Online Source