Thursday, July 17, 2014

My Journey as a Writer

I am new to my journalism major and since I have started taking more classes, my writing has improved vastly. Since the start of this feature writing class, my confidence in my writing has increased. I no longer procrastinate as long as I have in the past. It is more gratifying to finish my articles ahead of time so that I don’t have as much stress as when I wait until the last minute to start writing.
From here I have two more semester at UW-Whitewater to finish my degree. This fall I will be involved in writing for the Royal Purple and I will be taking writing for the web and publication layout. I think that these classes will help me to learn more about newswriting.
I have always really liked to write. I like being able to research topics to inform people about society. Feature writing was fun because I was able to put more creativity into my topics and into my wording. The more I interview people, the more comfortable I get. I am able to think of more questions that better my pieces.
There was some difficulty with this class because of how fast paced it was. Occasionally, I had writers’ block that prevented me from finishing some assignments earlier. With how much I work and the random stressors from coworkers, I’m not surprised I lost my words sometimes. After I walked away for a while and gained some new perspective, I was able to complete writing were I left off.

After I graduate, I’m hoping to get a job as an editor or photojournalist. After taking this class, I’ve also realized that I wouldn’t mind freelance writing for a while. The article about self-motivation and selling yourself as a freelance writer was really intriguing and inspiring. 

Saturday, July 12, 2014

Writers' Block

Writer’s block is one of the most annoying situations to cross as a writer. I get writers’ block when I’m pushing myself too hard to finish something because in those times I’m not relaxed. When I can’t think of the next word to write, I become irritated.

I become bored.

I go on Facebook.

I look at the latest craft ideas on Pinterest.

I make tea.

I listen to music.

I play with my cat.

I do laundry.

I clean my apartment.

Then, if I’m ready, I’ll come back to what I was working on with fresh eyes. Sometimes it takes longer than what I’m willing to admit for my brain to think of the next words to write. In these instances, I need to get outside. Going outside is my last resort, but maybe it should be at the top of my list. Going outside gets me away from my cellphone and away from my computer. I can clear my head and re-center my thoughts.

I often wonder what happened to the elementary school me that could sit down and just write for hours. Maybe I’ve put too much pressure on myself? Maybe I procrastinate too much now? Overall, I think that I care too much about what people will think about what I have written. I concern myself with what others will think instead of letting my thoughts flow out through my fingers.

I follow one of my favorite fiction authors on Twitter, Sarah Dessen. I’m always amazed at how real of a person she is. I don’t know why, but before Twitter existed I thought she had ideas for books and just wrote the books. As in she could literally sit down and write out a novel in one shot. I know how completely unrealistic this is, especially now that she “tweets” about having distractions and writers’ block on a regular basis, but at the time I just made all my role models “writer gods.”


I suppose it’s those people that find a way to eliminate their distractions and their writers’ block that become successful writers in the first place. 

Thursday, July 10, 2014

The Journalist at Work

This week has been pretty chaotic. I was given a management position at my place of employment earlier this month. We’re short staffed and I've had to work a lot already this summer. It’s been somewhat frustrating because this has prevented me from being able to be productive in other areas (mainly my writing and photography).
It’s very hard to focus with such beautiful weather, summer community activities, and a messy apartment. I just have to keep reminding myself that I will be grateful that I did this class over the summer to make my last semester of college lighter.

I have finished my main interview for my personality profile, but my outside sources haven’t been able to talk with me yet. I always get nervous before interviews, but once I’m interviewing someone I calm down and think of more questions to ask that add to the story.

I’m wondering what my other classmates are writing about and if they had a hard time thinking of a story for this first article too. The other features I had ideas for the moment that I read them. I always try to find something I know about or that I’m really interested in to generate ideas from. This helps me to keep focus on the article and to keep the article interesting for readers. I have a hard time writing about city council or board meetings, however, if the time comes when I need to write about those topics, I will have to find some way to keep them interesting.


As I was typing this someone from work called and offered to work for me on Saturday. Originally, I was supposed to work two 10 hour shifts (Friday and Saturday), but now I only have to worry about Friday! I have even more time to get ahead in this class this weekend!

Saturday, July 5, 2014

Who am I?

     My name is Hilary Igl and I am a “super” senior at UW-Whitewater. I’m majoring in journalism and minoring in general business. I declared my journalism major this past spring, so I am fairly new to writing in this style. In middle school and elementary school, I loved writing, especially creative writing. I am out of practice with creative writing because I focus my time on newswriting now. I have taken writing and reporting for news media at UW-Whitewater as well as publication editing. This fall I will be involved with the Royal Purple. This will be my first time working with a newspaper or any sort of published news outlet.

     I like both the writing and editing sides of journalism, but my dream job is to be a photojournalist. When people see me out in public, I usually always have a camera with me. I have been taking photographs as a hobby for ten years. Initially, I liked landscape photography, but lately I have fallen in love with photographing people. The expressions that you can capture in a photograph are never the same from moment to moment or person to person.


      I’m excited to see how this class will push me as a writer because I will be forced to write every day. I’m sure it will be a struggle at times, but I can’t wait to get started!