Goldberg part 2

I liked how Goldberg wrote this chapter in such a chronological way. The step by step guide is a very helpful and enlightening way of how to improve my writing. I like how she starts by saying you should write about things you are obsessed with. I never really realized it, but when I'm writing the idea always sprouts from something I'm very interested in at the time. Like how she basically said that if you are interested in something, it will naturally come out in your writing. I never truly understood that until now.

I then like how Goldberg goes from obsessions to having to use details in your writing. Without them your work seems dull and very bland. Details honestly can make a story. They are important pieces of writing that can make even some of the most unrealistic ideas seem plausible to our minds. I liked how she brought up the transporting details part. Just because something is in New York in real life, doesn't mean that if your story takes place in Boston that you can't put that thing in Boston in your story. It doesn't have to be a hundred percent real true facts to be authentic. It just needs to be believable.

The transition from details to the "baking a cake" section was intriguing. She goes from saying details are extremely important to saying that just having details isn't enough. It seemed contradictory when I first read it. But, when I kept on reading it all made sense when she started referring your writing to baking a cake. Details are like the ingredients to the cake but it isn't a cake until it's baked. Your writing needs heat and friction. It needs PASSION. It needs ENERGY. IT NEEDS LIFE!

These things were very eye opening for me. It brought a new level of power and light to writing in my mind. I'm excited to see how these tips will help improve my writing.

Post 4

I read the last three poems in the book Tocqueville.  "On My Mind" started off seeming like it was going to be a somewhat normal poem but by the second stanza that changed. The second through the third stanza had a different form than the rest of the poem, besides the fifth, and seemed kind of crazy and hard to follow. When the fourth and sixth stanzas started the form shifted back to normal and was almost perfectly understandable. It was interesting.

"Trees" was emotion but honestly I don't know why. While it sort of followed in my head, it didn't always make sense. There seemed to be a lot shifting around in the poem and it confused me at times, so I had to re-read multiple sections multiple times. As I previously stated, this poem pulled at my emotions. I got angry, sad, and happy at different times while reading it. It goes to show people don't always have to understand what something is truly about to sense the feelings you are showing or letting go.

Mattawa is a powerful poet to be able to evoke emotions like he does. I was quite impressed with this book and him. My eyes will be kept open and searching for more of his work. I look forward to when I find it.