That Big Book Review: 10 Slightly Clumsy Steps

AKA my writing process.

AKA
Via All Voices

So I'm taking a shot at writing about my writing process. I am also doing this to avoid writing a paper I have due next week. Get ready, y'all, I'm about to blow your minds. Drum-roll please! I have no idea what I'm doing. 

Why UT Tyler Students Should Embrace Academic Literature

While trying to find a topic for this blog post, I was inspired by my co-worker Michael's post, “Habits, Practicing Self-Control, and Reading Lists,” in which he discusses his use of reading lists and their implications on time management and creating good habits. While reading this entry on the UT Tyler Student Blog, I realized that my blog post could discuss what makes up my personal reading list: academic literature. 

     Now, before I sound too pretentious to the readers of this student blog, let me clarify what academic literature really is, and discuss why it would be relevant to an undergraduate or graduate student.

Experimental Poetry, Self-Discovery, and Refining Art Through One’s Profession

Experimental Poetry, Self-Discovery, and Refining Art Through One’s Profession 

For what it’s worth, I love the writing of Neil Gaiman, Grant Morrison, and Steve Moffat ( well, his TV writing anyway ) because they are ‘bizarre.’ Their writing isn't gross, or creepy ( well Gaiman has hit some creepy chords in his time ), rather their work is experimental and comes from as much of their personal lives as their imaginations. Gaiman has included his friends ( turned into characters ) into his books; Morrison turned his father into Superman; Moffat has written his dialogues with his wife into comedy routines.

Publications, Publishing, and Persistance

   So, recently I was very honored to have been allowed to publicize a blog article BSCENE magazine. A few people have asked me, "How on earth do I get published? What is the secret?" I am in no way, shape, or even form close to considering myself a writer of the genres of things I want, however I have been lucky enough to write on content I find interesting.

Summer Classes

          My creative writing class starts on the 9th (Summer II), and I should really start concerning myself with writing some fiction. This is my first online class, so I'm getting nervous. :/ So, in order to quell my nerves in that special, obsessive way, I give you a list!

• Am I registered for it? Yes, for sure, and the time hasn't moved. 
• Have I paid for it? Sure thing, I paid for that class, because my account shows that I did with no remaining balance.
• Do I even know where it is? I mean, it's online. That's easy. 

Okay, okay. Since I am a senior, I basically have those types of things figured out, and I know the answers to these tough questions, but do you? 

The deadline to pay is July 6th, at 5pm! Don't let the 4th of July distract you, or you'll get dropped! I linked above to most of the places you'd need to visit to get your classes in line for Summer II.

I'm ready to get back to work. That brain break was nice, but I'm ready.

Writing, or … that Stuff I hate Pt. 2

Writing, or … that Stuff I hate Pt. 2

A Novel Idea

   As an English major, one of the things that I encounter very often is people who want to use their immersion in literature to fuel their own writing. This is fine-and-dandy, I love it. It is what *I* want to do with my life, that and teach in a University.

   I think one of the bigger issues people have with writing is that, despite the charm and highlife that comes with the idea of being a writer, the reality is *much* more grueling.

   That book ain’t gonna write itself

Writing, or ... THAT STUFF I HATE! Pt. 1

Procrastination, Perfectionism, and Pretentiousness – As once said by C. Montgomery Burns, these are the Three Demons you must slay if you wish to be good at business. Okay, so he was talking fictitiously about BUSSINESS, not Writing, and his Demons are not the ones in the clip … but it was a good excuse to bring in Burns. Anyway, the idea however of slaying metaphorical demons to succeed is not “new” ( thanks, Evangrius! ) so I have qualified some slayable-monsters that I think might get in the way of what is a genuine success at the art of writing … writing ANYTHING, really.

Tyler Texas Vacation

               This weekend at UT Tyler was a good one. Two of my friends from Oklahoma, Parker and Joel drove down here from home to visit me. Because I live off of campus, they could stay with me at my apartment. I get off of work at 5pm on Fridays and normally go to meditation but they got into town at around 7:30. That gave me just enough time to clean up! The last few weeks have been killer on my roommates and I, so we have let a few things go. Dishes. Trash. Bathroom. I missed the meditation.
                As soon as I saw Joel's car from the window, I want to say I stopped worrying, but I did not. Nothing I asked them about, they wanted to attend. Friday we could have gone camping with Tyler Mindful, we could have Discoed the night away at school, we could have gone to play pool, we could have listened to our friends play music at Fresh (or in Longview). They didn't want to do any of that. They drove for six and a half hours, and just wanted a vacation-- a break. We stayed in at my apartment and had steak, twice baked sweet potatoes, asparagus, and pie. Oh, the pie. We were up late catching up and laughing at internet videos.
                Saturday morning, I negotiated a ten am wake up time so we could attend the P3 colloquium, Pixels, Poetry, and Prose. My friend Michael worked closely with UT Tyler staff and students to discuss Science Fiction and Fantasy, and as someone that does not know much about either, it was a wonderful talk on different types of writing. Can't go wrong with free MET food, either. 
               That afternoon, we adopted a third guinea pig. Shame fills me. He needs a home! His name is Tony and he's old and I love him already.

              Last night we had dinner at What About Kabob and had a few people over. Joel and Parker loved my Tyler friends, and every one hit it off really well! This morning... er... afternoon, we made coffee (That I can't drink wahhh), bacon, eggs, and Hawaiian bread french Toast and called a few friends to eat with us. 


They drove here for good company, food, and to slow down a little.
I suppose because I go here, Tyler is not always a perfect place to relax, but the atmosphere is relaxing.
Strictly considering how much I need to write for my classes, this week I won't see much of that. 

Welcome to OZ!!!

No... That's not right... There's far too much fluorescent lighting in here and I'm almost certain everyone in this place has a brain... Or so I've been told.

Anyway, I would officially like to invite you all to my UT Tyler student blog. My name is Patrick Saikin but before I go on with any further introductions I think it is important for you to all see the man behind the writing.

pucker up ladies

Oh dear. Perhaps we should find a better picture. How about this one?

Bowies in space

Hmmm... Perhaps we better forget about the pictures and just move on.

Anyway, my name is Patrick Saikin and I am a senior studying history here at the University of Texas at Tyler. I am also a member of the local band  The Problem Preachers (look us up on facebook) and I enjoy hot baths and long walks on the beach... You don't believe me? Well who doesn't like a nice hot bath and a nice walk on the beach? Huh, PUNK?! Though, I can see how after walking on the beach you'll have trouble with sand getting in your pipes and what not. And then there's the whole tracking all that sand into your house. And, whenever you take a bath you're basically soaking in your own filth. Never mind, I take that back. I'm not a big fan of long walks on the beach or hot baths. Both just lead to sticky messes.

Anyway, I hope you all enjoy my blog as I take you all on a journey to absolutley no where. Because if you were to leave how would you read my blog? Now for Bowie.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A576vUpoUKs

Writers Should Write

It is Friday, and I am discouraged. Midterms are fast approaching and the stress is getting to me. My classmates are planning more study sessions, more frequently. My to-do list notebook is running out of space on the page marked "Do Before Monday".

The porch professor said,
"Write, or you'll be dead in the water."
Wow, that's encouraging.

What I wanted to say is that,
I'm already dead! My best hope is to stay afloat! I'm drowning here!

But the truth is, I should be writing. Without practice, it doesn't matter what we are capable of anymore, it is what we can properly execute. Too many people are caught up in the "correct" way to do things, or their own idea of what would be "perfect".
Throw that away.
Nobody knows your art isn't what you planned. Maybe it is better.
So, writers should write. I get it.