writing-changing the course of time
What if Theron Humphrey never came to Atlanta on his book tour?
Humphrey and Maddie the coonhound share a great message about following your dreams and rescuing pets. I have loved the whole concept since I heard about it. If I never got to meet Humphrey and Maddie, however, then I would have missed out on a lot.
These two really made me feel confident about following my dreams of becoming a broadcast reporter, even if the pay isn't good. They also made me want to do more for rescue shelters. If they never came to Atlanta, I would never have wanted to volunteer at a shelter or speak out for animal rescue as much as I do now.
As for everyone else, they would have never been exposed to the benefits of rescuing pets. Humphrey helps spread a cause that others should support.
I wanted to do this WMP because I wanted to reflect on something that means so much to me, which is pet rescue.
Humphrey and Maddie the coonhound share a great message about following your dreams and rescuing pets. I have loved the whole concept since I heard about it. If I never got to meet Humphrey and Maddie, however, then I would have missed out on a lot.
These two really made me feel confident about following my dreams of becoming a broadcast reporter, even if the pay isn't good. They also made me want to do more for rescue shelters. If they never came to Atlanta, I would never have wanted to volunteer at a shelter or speak out for animal rescue as much as I do now.
As for everyone else, they would have never been exposed to the benefits of rescuing pets. Humphrey helps spread a cause that others should support.
I wanted to do this WMP because I wanted to reflect on something that means so much to me, which is pet rescue.
Visual- warhol something
Doing this WMP, I learned how to edit something so that it has different shades of a color, making a photo pop. This could help me create digital art in the future and create visually appealing review photos.
Writing-changing the Course of time
What if Gail Simmons had never become a food writer? Gail is a judge on Top Chef and Top Chef: Just Desserts and works for Food & Wine. Suppose Gail had instead become a door-to-door salesperson instead? Gail wouldn't have gone to college because she decided to make it in the food world without a higher education. Poor Gail has yet to discover that her annoying personality will not get her far. At all.
After completing high school, Gail moves to Minnesota, mistakenly thinking that it would become the food mecca in a couple of years. But she was wrong. After trying hard to find food magazines or trendy restaurants, Gail decides that food writing is not the career for her. She instead becomes a door-to-door salesperson and lives happily ever after because she doesn't know what she missed out on.
Bravo fared better, though. Since Gail never worked for Bravo, they had a much happier Top Chef franchise. More people view the show now and the contestants have a chance to tell their stories without someone chiming in and saying "Me too!" or getting the last word. The cooking world is in perfect harmony.
From doing this assignment, I learned how to find a creative way to report a story. While we will never have to make up stories in newspaper, finding a different angle can make or break a story.
After completing high school, Gail moves to Minnesota, mistakenly thinking that it would become the food mecca in a couple of years. But she was wrong. After trying hard to find food magazines or trendy restaurants, Gail decides that food writing is not the career for her. She instead becomes a door-to-door salesperson and lives happily ever after because she doesn't know what she missed out on.
Bravo fared better, though. Since Gail never worked for Bravo, they had a much happier Top Chef franchise. More people view the show now and the contestants have a chance to tell their stories without someone chiming in and saying "Me too!" or getting the last word. The cooking world is in perfect harmony.
From doing this assignment, I learned how to find a creative way to report a story. While we will never have to make up stories in newspaper, finding a different angle can make or break a story.
writing-Tweet a film
Beca Mitchell goes off to college and just sits around by herself all of the time #antisocial
Beca's dad suggest a crazy idea: Beca should try to make friends in college!
Beca discovers the Bellas, gets creeped out by their sunshine-y disposition, and decides to intern at a radio station instead.
Beca meets a guy who gets all obsessed with her, while she pays him no attention #typicalmovie
Beca gets attacked by the smiling face of Chloe Beale, a Bellas member, while showering. Showering? #what
Beca eventually joins the Bellas and starts singing her heart out, but not without being moody #getoveryourself
The Bellas finally get some sense and decide that maybe they should sing songs from this decade.
The guy at Beca's work keeps fawning over her #still?
The Bellas compete until they end up at the semi-finals, competing against the Treblemakers. But again, they stick with their repertoire of old songs, until Beca improvises with something current.
The Bellas's leader gets mad and Beca quits. Then, they all make up, go to finals, the Bellas win, Beca and that guy get together, and they all live happily ever after #comeonnow
From doing this WMP, I learned how hard it is to summarize a movie concisely. This movie has a lot going on, so summarizing it in ten tweets is difficult. I had to choose the most important points and lump some together, only expanding on those that needed explaining.
Beca's dad suggest a crazy idea: Beca should try to make friends in college!
Beca discovers the Bellas, gets creeped out by their sunshine-y disposition, and decides to intern at a radio station instead.
Beca meets a guy who gets all obsessed with her, while she pays him no attention #typicalmovie
Beca gets attacked by the smiling face of Chloe Beale, a Bellas member, while showering. Showering? #what
Beca eventually joins the Bellas and starts singing her heart out, but not without being moody #getoveryourself
The Bellas finally get some sense and decide that maybe they should sing songs from this decade.
The guy at Beca's work keeps fawning over her #still?
The Bellas compete until they end up at the semi-finals, competing against the Treblemakers. But again, they stick with their repertoire of old songs, until Beca improvises with something current.
The Bellas's leader gets mad and Beca quits. Then, they all make up, go to finals, the Bellas win, Beca and that guy get together, and they all live happily ever after #comeonnow
From doing this WMP, I learned how hard it is to summarize a movie concisely. This movie has a lot going on, so summarizing it in ten tweets is difficult. I had to choose the most important points and lump some together, only expanding on those that needed explaining.
writing-caption writing
Puppies fight over possession of the toy in the 2013 Puppy Bowl, resulting in a foul for the opposing team.
Good captions should explain what the photo shows, without repeating what the story says. They should also explain who, what, where, when, and how.
From this WMP, I learned how to write a caption for a sports photo (if you think of the Puppy Bowl as a sport). It involves describing what is happening in terms of the actions and the sport, which is a tad different than other photo types.
Good captions should explain what the photo shows, without repeating what the story says. They should also explain who, what, where, when, and how.
From this WMP, I learned how to write a caption for a sports photo (if you think of the Puppy Bowl as a sport). It involves describing what is happening in terms of the actions and the sport, which is a tad different than other photo types.
Writing-Review an app
I recently downloaded the app Brit+Co. on my phone. This app promises articles about quirky new trends and products for every section of your life, including food and technology. I found that it comes through on these promises.
Created by Brit Morin, named Silicon Valley's Martha Stewart, the app has a functional and trendy design, and also exposes users to new trends and ideas without seeming too unwelcoming to those who do not know much about the topics. The short articles and DIY's are written by Morin and her female staff, showcasing different writing styles and tastes throughout the app.
Brit+Co. also offers a monthly subscription service, sending out boxes of goodies for DIY crafts such as Valentine's Day cards, at a nominal fee. This adds another element to the app, something different than your normal product review/introduction app.
The only negative aspect of this app is its operating speed. The app can seem slow, even at times when phones have full service or are connected to WiFi. This sometimes makes me want to give up and not go back. The main aspects, however, make me keep believing in this app.
I decided to do this WMP because I don't try new apps too often, but I tried Brit+Co. and thought it would be fun to review. I learned how to review technological products and apps, since they are a bit different than reviewing movies or food. I would love to see more reviews of products that aren't obvious in our paper, which would intrigue technologically-savvy folks and possibly gain readership.
Created by Brit Morin, named Silicon Valley's Martha Stewart, the app has a functional and trendy design, and also exposes users to new trends and ideas without seeming too unwelcoming to those who do not know much about the topics. The short articles and DIY's are written by Morin and her female staff, showcasing different writing styles and tastes throughout the app.
Brit+Co. also offers a monthly subscription service, sending out boxes of goodies for DIY crafts such as Valentine's Day cards, at a nominal fee. This adds another element to the app, something different than your normal product review/introduction app.
The only negative aspect of this app is its operating speed. The app can seem slow, even at times when phones have full service or are connected to WiFi. This sometimes makes me want to give up and not go back. The main aspects, however, make me keep believing in this app.
I decided to do this WMP because I don't try new apps too often, but I tried Brit+Co. and thought it would be fun to review. I learned how to review technological products and apps, since they are a bit different than reviewing movies or food. I would love to see more reviews of products that aren't obvious in our paper, which would intrigue technologically-savvy folks and possibly gain readership.
audio-analyze a podcast
I listened to an episode of The New Yorker: Comment called An American Abroad. It featured Steve Coll's essay on Romney's foreign policy and can be found on iTunes.
I chose to do this WMP because I have never listened to a podcast before and I thought "Why not?" I tried to choose one about a news-related topic, even though it's not current. I did this to tie in my WMP with newspaper and journalism and because I love hearing peoples' opinions on the presidential elections after they actually happen. I apologize for the poor quality of the recording, but I just went through a breakup with technology and it's really upset, so it's not on friendly terms with me. Enjoy!
I chose to do this WMP because I have never listened to a podcast before and I thought "Why not?" I tried to choose one about a news-related topic, even though it's not current. I did this to tie in my WMP with newspaper and journalism and because I love hearing peoples' opinions on the presidential elections after they actually happen. I apologize for the poor quality of the recording, but I just went through a breakup with technology and it's really upset, so it's not on friendly terms with me. Enjoy!
wmp.wma | |
File Size: | 2034 kb |
File Type: | wma |
writing-changing the course of time
What if Kim Zolciak had never been to the charity dance event she went to last season on The Real Housewives of Atlanta? Kim first met Kroy Biermann, the love of her life, at this event. Meeting Kroy changed her life; she became less of a hot mess, she has more kids, and the world is just a happier place. Imagine if this had never happened...what would become of Kim?
It's the fifth season of The Real Housewives of Atlanta. The first episode highlights Kim Zolciak's downfall from her privileged life. Kim now lives in squalor; she had to move to Kandi Burruss's neighborhood, the one in which Sweetie told Kim to lock her car doors. Kim's daughters now have to buy less clothes and Kim can only afford one pack of cigarettes and one bottle of tequila per day--gasp! No men are attracted to Kim because of her habit of wearing wigs even though her real hair looks perfectly fine; only a pro-football player with a heart of gold and a slight case of crazy could love her. Even Sweetie's life has been changed. She's bossed around by Kim and her kids even more than before now. All of the housewives hate Kim--oh, wait--they already hated her to begin with.
Meanwhile in another Atlanta 'hood, Kroy Biermann, pro-football player for the Falcons, is living it up. He met a nice Southern belle at this charity dance event and now has one baby boy and is expecting another child. Kroy's family is the creme de la creme of Atlanta society and his wife even got asked to replace Kim Zolciak on The Real Housewives of Atlanta after her tenth assault arrest caused the producers to kick her off. Life is great for the Biermanns!
I did this WMP because I thought it would be entertaining. It really was! I learned a bit more about the creative writing side of things, which I'm not exposed to much because I mostly do newspaper writing.
It's the fifth season of The Real Housewives of Atlanta. The first episode highlights Kim Zolciak's downfall from her privileged life. Kim now lives in squalor; she had to move to Kandi Burruss's neighborhood, the one in which Sweetie told Kim to lock her car doors. Kim's daughters now have to buy less clothes and Kim can only afford one pack of cigarettes and one bottle of tequila per day--gasp! No men are attracted to Kim because of her habit of wearing wigs even though her real hair looks perfectly fine; only a pro-football player with a heart of gold and a slight case of crazy could love her. Even Sweetie's life has been changed. She's bossed around by Kim and her kids even more than before now. All of the housewives hate Kim--oh, wait--they already hated her to begin with.
Meanwhile in another Atlanta 'hood, Kroy Biermann, pro-football player for the Falcons, is living it up. He met a nice Southern belle at this charity dance event and now has one baby boy and is expecting another child. Kroy's family is the creme de la creme of Atlanta society and his wife even got asked to replace Kim Zolciak on The Real Housewives of Atlanta after her tenth assault arrest caused the producers to kick her off. Life is great for the Biermanns!
I did this WMP because I thought it would be entertaining. It really was! I learned a bit more about the creative writing side of things, which I'm not exposed to much because I mostly do newspaper writing.
Design- Weird book room
Have you ever experienced the feeling of being friendless? Of people not liking you? Well, the solution to that problem is to befriend a dog. Dogs really are man's best friend, and won't ever leave your side. So, what are you waiting for? Find your soul mate today!
I decided to do this WMP because it sounded pretty fun, and it's out of my comfort zone, since I don't usually design crazy book covers. Plus, I've been at home for most of the week with my dog around me 24/7, so that's what inspired the title. I learned more about design through this WMP and also learned how to design something that's so ridiculous, it's kind of funny.
I decided to do this WMP because it sounded pretty fun, and it's out of my comfort zone, since I don't usually design crazy book covers. Plus, I've been at home for most of the week with my dog around me 24/7, so that's what inspired the title. I learned more about design through this WMP and also learned how to design something that's so ridiculous, it's kind of funny.
writing-your adventure is over
You dodge the tennis balls and bones littered in the field. After looking behind yourself, you trip and fall. You want to give up, but you can't. It's almost catching up to you. You get up and start running again. Starting to panic, you realize that this might be it. But wait--there MUST be something you can do. You reach in your pockets and search around for the last dog bone you have. Is it just a normal dog bone, or is it one left over from Dr. Ruinit's growth experiments? After quickly weighing your options, you decide to take a chance with the bone. You stop, turn around, and throw the bone as far as you can. "Yes!" you think, "It's gone! It went after the bone!" You decide to head home at a brisk pace, feeling confident that you're safe but still trying to get out of the field. After following the path for a while, you slip on something and fall in it. It's sticky and slimy. You try to get up and figure out what you fell in. It seems like...dog slobber. You look up and see the dog in front of you. You threw it a bone, and it was the experimental one. The even larger and even more vicious dog opens its mouth, you see its gleaming teeth. You have no where to go. And you never will. The end.
I chose this WMP because I wanted to do some writing that's a little more creative than what I usually do. I really had fun with it and while it doesn't directly tie into facts and reporting, it taught me about angles. Each "Chose Your Own Adventure" demise has multiple angles and multiple endings. Like reporting, you have to consider the angles and outcomes of an event.
I chose this WMP because I wanted to do some writing that's a little more creative than what I usually do. I really had fun with it and while it doesn't directly tie into facts and reporting, it taught me about angles. Each "Chose Your Own Adventure" demise has multiple angles and multiple endings. Like reporting, you have to consider the angles and outcomes of an event.
writing-caption writing
Preparing for tonight's black and white carpet appearance, Charlie Chaplin adjusts his signature bowler hat.
Captions should elaborate on the photo, without giving away the obvious. Who, what, where, and when should be included in captions.
From this WMP, I learned more about caption writing. It is often overlooked, but a caption can make or break a photo, especially since photos are often difficult to understand. Including the elements of a caption is important, but captions should also have pizzazz. This caption could have said "Charlie Chaplin gets ready for his appearance later tonight," but this is bland and blah. Including what he is doing to prepare and what kind of appearance it is gives it some oomph.
Captions should elaborate on the photo, without giving away the obvious. Who, what, where, and when should be included in captions.
From this WMP, I learned more about caption writing. It is often overlooked, but a caption can make or break a photo, especially since photos are often difficult to understand. Including the elements of a caption is important, but captions should also have pizzazz. This caption could have said "Charlie Chaplin gets ready for his appearance later tonight," but this is bland and blah. Including what he is doing to prepare and what kind of appearance it is gives it some oomph.
visual-over edit yourself
To do this assignment, I used every touch-up feature on PicMonkey to make myself super weird looking. I applied a fake tan, brightened my eyes, highlighted my hair, whitened my teeth, and other applications people usually use to make their photos look better. I learned what not to do when editing photos, which is everything I did do, and what to use for what and how to make certain aspects stand out.
writing-find your voice
I have been an avid follower of the blog Desserts for Breakfast, but after blogger Stephanie's most recent post about writing her own story in life, I have come to see her as more than just a food photographer. Her posts have an element of fun in them, and she casually discusses her food outings, lunguistic adventures, and photography. Sometimes, however, she can delve into more serious topics, appealing to many readers who feel stressed or overwhelmed. After reading Stephanie's posts, her voice alone tells me so much about her: she loves what she does (photography, blogging, and lingusitics) and she's a person who tries to accomplish everything she can in life. While her voice has an air of casualness about it, it's also strong. She admits to being shaky about certain decisions in life and certain topics she ponders, but she seems to know how to face them. While I don't know Stephanie personally, I know who she is from reading her posts.
The blog post that I have written that demonstrates my unique voice and perpective can be found here: http://caramelandsalt.wordpress.com/2012/10/13/time-for-fall-and-baking/
While it is an older post I have written, and not too long for that matter, I feel like it captures my voice perfectly. I love food: talking about food, eating food, and dreaming about food. So, this post fits me. Most of the post, I admit, is the recipe. My original writing, however, captures my voice and perpective.
I decided to do this assignment to work on my voice and find my voice. I have been unsure of what my voice actually is, but I am discovering it more and more. I'm also getting better at figuring out writers' voices, especially because of my work in newspaper and AP Lang. This assignment, I feel, has given me more experience to work on my voice and think about others' voices. I learned that my voice is allowed to be serious at times, like Stephanie's October 23 post, and more "me" other times. It just depends on what I'm writing and what I want to convey to my readers.
The blog post that I have written that demonstrates my unique voice and perpective can be found here: http://caramelandsalt.wordpress.com/2012/10/13/time-for-fall-and-baking/
While it is an older post I have written, and not too long for that matter, I feel like it captures my voice perfectly. I love food: talking about food, eating food, and dreaming about food. So, this post fits me. Most of the post, I admit, is the recipe. My original writing, however, captures my voice and perpective.
I decided to do this assignment to work on my voice and find my voice. I have been unsure of what my voice actually is, but I am discovering it more and more. I'm also getting better at figuring out writers' voices, especially because of my work in newspaper and AP Lang. This assignment, I feel, has given me more experience to work on my voice and think about others' voices. I learned that my voice is allowed to be serious at times, like Stephanie's October 23 post, and more "me" other times. It just depends on what I'm writing and what I want to convey to my readers.
Writing-tweet a film
Girl moves to New York City, meets a guy, gets all involved with him, and then cries all the time when he cheats on her #classic #therearemorefishinthesea
"SWF seeks same to share an apartment." Craig's List never leads to good things, Allie.
Allie, meet Hedy: a girl whose twin was stillborn, has outbursts of extreme jealousy, and wants to be just like you #watchyourbackgirl
Allie and her ex get back together! Hedy doesn't seem too pleased, especially after she pushes a dog out the window and blames it on Allie's boyfriend #girlbecray
Allie finds a weird box in Hedy's room. It's full of letters and photos, revealing that Hedy's twin actually drowned and that her real name is Ellen #lyingisnevergood
Things start to get weird when Allie follows Hedy (who has now fully transformed herself into Allie's replica) to an underground sex club, where she's passing herself off as Allie. #what
Allie runs to Graham (her bff), who says that she NEEDS to kick Hedy out. Hedy overhears this and attacks him later on.
Things get even crazier when Hedy poses as Allie, goes to Allie's boyfriend's apartment, performs sexual acts with him, and then tries to blackmail him. Which leads to her stabbing him in the head with a stiletto #whatwhatwhatisgoingon
Hedy takes Allie hostage after Allie learns that Hedy killed her boyfriend. Graham miraculously appears after it seems like he died and tries to rescue Allie, ending in failure #typical
Allie and Hedy engage in a long struggle, with Allie eventually killing Hedy. The moral of the story is: don't mess with a strong female. Oh, and be careful who you live with #nevergoingtogetaroommate
I chose this assignment because I thought it would be fun. Plus, I recently watched Single White Female because I wanted to be able to understand the reference to the movie (i.e. "She's going to go all single white female on you!"). Summarizing it in ten tweets was actually difficult because tweets are 140 characters and less, and the movie is two hours or so long. The lesson I learned from this assignment is how to pick the most important details so that you aren't babbling on or taking up too much space talking about one idea.
"SWF seeks same to share an apartment." Craig's List never leads to good things, Allie.
Allie, meet Hedy: a girl whose twin was stillborn, has outbursts of extreme jealousy, and wants to be just like you #watchyourbackgirl
Allie and her ex get back together! Hedy doesn't seem too pleased, especially after she pushes a dog out the window and blames it on Allie's boyfriend #girlbecray
Allie finds a weird box in Hedy's room. It's full of letters and photos, revealing that Hedy's twin actually drowned and that her real name is Ellen #lyingisnevergood
Things start to get weird when Allie follows Hedy (who has now fully transformed herself into Allie's replica) to an underground sex club, where she's passing herself off as Allie. #what
Allie runs to Graham (her bff), who says that she NEEDS to kick Hedy out. Hedy overhears this and attacks him later on.
Things get even crazier when Hedy poses as Allie, goes to Allie's boyfriend's apartment, performs sexual acts with him, and then tries to blackmail him. Which leads to her stabbing him in the head with a stiletto #whatwhatwhatisgoingon
Hedy takes Allie hostage after Allie learns that Hedy killed her boyfriend. Graham miraculously appears after it seems like he died and tries to rescue Allie, ending in failure #typical
Allie and Hedy engage in a long struggle, with Allie eventually killing Hedy. The moral of the story is: don't mess with a strong female. Oh, and be careful who you live with #nevergoingtogetaroommate
I chose this assignment because I thought it would be fun. Plus, I recently watched Single White Female because I wanted to be able to understand the reference to the movie (i.e. "She's going to go all single white female on you!"). Summarizing it in ten tweets was actually difficult because tweets are 140 characters and less, and the movie is two hours or so long. The lesson I learned from this assignment is how to pick the most important details so that you aren't babbling on or taking up too much space talking about one idea.
Writing-Interview with the deceased
Maddie Swab: The Chant recently spoke with author, poet, and beatnik Jack Kerouac while on the road. Jack, where are you traveling to?
Jack Kerouac: We're goin' all over the country. Des Moines, Cisco, Big Sur, New York, anywhere.
MS: Do you just like to travel or are you on a mission or what?
JK: Why not travel? You meet new people, you see new things. You become someone new. I find my inspiration while on the road; I'm even writing a book about my journey.
MS: That's a very interesting view. Why did you get into writing?
JK: It's just who I am. I just write. My pals Allen [Ginsbug] and Neal [Cassady] and I always get together and just read. We read everything. It pushes us to write so other people can read.
MS: Ah. You write mostly what is considered beat literature. How do you feel about people calling you "the king of the beat generation"?
JK: It's not me. I'm not the king of anything. I just write, I just live, I just move. For someone to be the king of something, there has to be something to be king of. The beats don't have a king; they're just all people, all the same.
MS: Then what do you consider yourself?
JK: Jack. I'm just Jack.
MS: Do you plan on venturing into another medium? Maybe film?
JK: [Laughs] Nah, I don't think I'm the Hollywood type. I just write for myself, I don't do it for the money, for the fame. Movies are for those who want fame.
MS: If you write for yourself, then why do you seem to not want to help yourself? There have been rumors circulating of your drinking habits, sexual encounters, and drug abuse. These certainly must contradict wanting to help yourself...
JK: Everyone does everything. We have one time to live. I want to live. I drink, I smoke, I sleep around. It's because I like the alcohol, I like the drugs, I like the girls. They help me to write, they keep me writing.
MS: Ah. What type of people, other than girls, do you like? Who keeps you inspired?
JK: "The only people for me are the mad ones, the ones who are mad to live, mad to talk, mad to be saved, desirous of everything at the same time, the ones that never yawn or say a commonplace thing, but burn, burn, burn like fabulous yellow roman candles exploding like spiders across the stars and in the middle you see the blue centerlight pop and everybody goes 'Awww!'"
MS: You're an interesting man, Jack, and we look forward to reading more of your work. Thank you for talking to us today.
JK: Anytime. I like talking to writers, people like me, people who see the world differently.
I chose this WMP assignment because I thought it would be fun to interview Jack Kerouac. I have read three of his books, and love them. His life seemed interesting, and I feel like his voice is so unique; I wanted to try and capture it. I asked the questions I did because I've always wanted to know why he did what he did. Why did he travel? Why did he smoke and drink and sleep around? Why was he a beat? I also included one of his most well-known quotes ("The only people for me are the mad ones...") because not only do I absolutely love it, but it also shows his original voice. I felt like I needed something original to show how I translated his voice compared to his actual voice. This assignment was incredibly creative and fun for me. There's nothing better than pretending to interview Jack Kerouac :)
Jack Kerouac: We're goin' all over the country. Des Moines, Cisco, Big Sur, New York, anywhere.
MS: Do you just like to travel or are you on a mission or what?
JK: Why not travel? You meet new people, you see new things. You become someone new. I find my inspiration while on the road; I'm even writing a book about my journey.
MS: That's a very interesting view. Why did you get into writing?
JK: It's just who I am. I just write. My pals Allen [Ginsbug] and Neal [Cassady] and I always get together and just read. We read everything. It pushes us to write so other people can read.
MS: Ah. You write mostly what is considered beat literature. How do you feel about people calling you "the king of the beat generation"?
JK: It's not me. I'm not the king of anything. I just write, I just live, I just move. For someone to be the king of something, there has to be something to be king of. The beats don't have a king; they're just all people, all the same.
MS: Then what do you consider yourself?
JK: Jack. I'm just Jack.
MS: Do you plan on venturing into another medium? Maybe film?
JK: [Laughs] Nah, I don't think I'm the Hollywood type. I just write for myself, I don't do it for the money, for the fame. Movies are for those who want fame.
MS: If you write for yourself, then why do you seem to not want to help yourself? There have been rumors circulating of your drinking habits, sexual encounters, and drug abuse. These certainly must contradict wanting to help yourself...
JK: Everyone does everything. We have one time to live. I want to live. I drink, I smoke, I sleep around. It's because I like the alcohol, I like the drugs, I like the girls. They help me to write, they keep me writing.
MS: Ah. What type of people, other than girls, do you like? Who keeps you inspired?
JK: "The only people for me are the mad ones, the ones who are mad to live, mad to talk, mad to be saved, desirous of everything at the same time, the ones that never yawn or say a commonplace thing, but burn, burn, burn like fabulous yellow roman candles exploding like spiders across the stars and in the middle you see the blue centerlight pop and everybody goes 'Awww!'"
MS: You're an interesting man, Jack, and we look forward to reading more of your work. Thank you for talking to us today.
JK: Anytime. I like talking to writers, people like me, people who see the world differently.
I chose this WMP assignment because I thought it would be fun to interview Jack Kerouac. I have read three of his books, and love them. His life seemed interesting, and I feel like his voice is so unique; I wanted to try and capture it. I asked the questions I did because I've always wanted to know why he did what he did. Why did he travel? Why did he smoke and drink and sleep around? Why was he a beat? I also included one of his most well-known quotes ("The only people for me are the mad ones...") because not only do I absolutely love it, but it also shows his original voice. I felt like I needed something original to show how I translated his voice compared to his actual voice. This assignment was incredibly creative and fun for me. There's nothing better than pretending to interview Jack Kerouac :)