Mental Health Awareness

Someone committed suicide on campus today… 

My friend said someone jumped off the Social Science Plaza building during finals.

He heard about it as soon as he got out of his final and saw the police tape around Social Science Plaza.

Another mental health awareness and emotional distress issues on college campuses… I understand that this happens a lot in all Universities. And I totally understand how people can feel so overwhelmed. Let’s be compassionate. 

College years can be so stressful.. with the worry of financial aid, academics, and the upkeep of a social life combined can have serious effects on a college student. Especially as the school year is winding down.. students face a lot a lot of pressure. 

We need conversation about depression and distress…on how students can seek help when they’re feeling depressed and stressed you know. Like I’ve always thought that it is so important for a student to take advantage of the counseling services that are offered, and talk to someone and get help even if the issue could be very very small. It is important to learn how to cope better, such as how to replace negative thinking and learn how to find hope. And Schools provide theses services that will show you how a positive outlook can improve your life and the ability to do well in school..it is confidential and it is free; they are there to talk with you and support you. And we need to let those around you know that. 

It is healthy to pay attention to your feelings; learn to be aware of them and not let them build up to the point where they overwhelm you and cause bigger problems in your life.

First-Person Writing...

I seem to be doing first person mostly. It’s for me a way of gaining stylistic freedom. I’m able to use conversational tones and rhythms that give great expressive value and appeal for me. I can turn the volume up and down within a single sentence. I can slip in and out of the kind of colloquial talk and the kind of formal talk I’m partial to. And of course it’s the “I” who can be most intimate, who speaks in confidence, who tells us secrets.
- Philip Roth

Narcissism is self-obsession or self-love, it can be as much a part of a third person tale as one in the first person. “John Smith is the smartest person in the world” (written by John Smith) is as narcissistic as “I am the smartest person in the world,” said by John Smith.

The advantage of first-person is that it more readily allows an author to get inside the mind of the leading character than third person. It also allows the author to talk, one on one, with the reader.

Water Exercises To Do in A Swimming Pool

Water Exercises To Do in A Swimming Pool

By Formosa Lan

As summer is approaching and the southern California temperatures rise, who wants to be stuck inside a gym when the weather is gorgeous outside?  Have you ever thought about taking your workout to the water? Going swimming is one refreshing activity you can do to get a good cardiovascular workout. 

Besides burning calories to lose some body fat, swimming is a great mood enhancer. By going to the pool, you will feel relaxed. It is an activity that a person can indulge in with family and friends. Although going to the pool may not offer the lace-up-your-shoes-and-go convenience of running, all you need is a swimsuit and goggles and you're set to hit the water. 

Even if swimming laps isn't your cup of tea, here are some exercising moves to do in the pool will help tone up all parts of your body. The key is that water offers heavy resistance. Ever notice how much harder it is to walk through water than air? Use this to your advantage. If you do not know how to swim, you can still burn major calories and slim down in a splash with these moves. So let’s beat the heat and tone your body with a swimming pool workout.

1. Water Leg Raises

Using the water as resistance is an effective way to maximize your abdominal exercise in the pool. To do this, stand in the water with your back to the side of the pool. Lean onto the edge of the pool with your elbows (you will use your arm strength here). While you have your hips and back against the pool, squeeze your abs as you raise your legs. Try to keep your legs straight, lift them up to parallel with the floor of the pool, and then slowly lower down. This is a great exercise to work your lower abdominal. Do this for 10-15 reps!

Tip: If you do these exercises quickly, you can raise your heart rate and increase your cardiovascular strength and overall endurance.

2. Water Crunches or Sit-ups

To do this, your body is up and the lower half is almost floating on the surface of the pool. Put your legs up on the deck of the pool up to your knees. Lie flat in the water, just do normal crunches and squeeze your abdominal, using that muscle to pull your upper body up of the water. You don’t have to put your head under water, just do crunches above the water with your feet on the edge of the pool is fine. You should feel the burn because you are using your abs to support your body against the wall. Do at least 10 to 15 repetitions and rest. The water will actually help you get a better range of motion than you would on the ground.

Tip: When you put your legs up, you may place a towel under your feet so that you won’t slip off the wall easily.

3. Making Waves

Keep your head above water and hold onto the edge of the pool with both hands. Extend legs behind you at water level with both feet and knees together, then kick like a dolphin. Initiate the motion with abs and hips and transfer it through thighs to knees and finally to feet. Kick as hard and as fast as you can and you are going to do this for at least 30 seconds, trying to make as many waves as you can. If you get tired, don’t quit! This is really good for your stomach area, legs, and back. Do this until you feel the burn! 

4. Dolphin Kick

The dolphin kick is a common water workout for swimmers. It gives you an effective abdominal workout while simultaneously targeting your glutes and leg muscles. Make sure you practice stretching beforehand. To do this, face the edge of the pool and hold on with both hands. Bring your body up so it is floating face down in the water. Keep your legs together, and kick them up and down in a fluid motion like a dolphin. The whole-body flexibility is key since it requires doing a body roll underwater to propel yourself forward. For swimmers, this motion isn’t just about the legs; a good Dolphin Kick requires their entire body to crack like a whip, creating a fluid wave that starts at the chest and increases in amplitude as it travels all the way through the toes. Don’t worry about your form if this is your first time. Try to perform this kick for 30 seconds, then rest. 

5. Water Treading Running

Treading water is an excellent exercise for your entire body. You want to be in the area where you can’t really touch the bottom (if you can’t swim, try this with floaties). You’re going to be extending your legs as if you’re running in the water. Now this is a bit crazy, because it really gets your heart rate up quickly. It is going to feel like you are doggy paddling almost, but pump your legs. You are using your lower body and moving your arms to help keep you afloat. Make sure to bend your knees and extend your legs like you are running. Do this for 30 seconds at least. Take a few seconds rest and repeat this movement 5 or 10 times until you get tired. You will notice a major good difference in your arms. Your abs and your core and everything is working too. Once you finish this exercise, you should feel your muscles tightening.

6. Water Squat

You can do squats in the pool, too! This exercise will help you tone your thighs, legs, and butt. Stand in the pool with your feet aligned with your hips. Lower your torso by bending your knees and pushing your butt back into a sitting position. Then squeeze your glutes to bring yourself back up to starting position. It can be painful but it works!



Not only is this workout good if you have a private pool, but you can also do it when you go on a vacation. Most wellness centers and your college apartments have pools where you can swim. Now you can go try these few techniques to get a total body workout without breaking a sweat. What are you waiting for? Go to a pool and start now!

“The most beautiful makeup of a woman is passion. But cosmetics are easier to buy”

Well. “All women need makeup. Don't let anybody tell you different. The only woman who was pretty enough to go without makeup was was Elizabeth Taylor and she wore a ton.” ― Tracy Letts, August: Osage County

When guys be like oh I like a girl with no make up on.. girls don’t need no make-up.…

Ain’t no girls putting make-up on for you guys.

LA hike trip

I wish we would have gone to the Observatory where we would get a better landscape and stand looking over the view of downtown LA. We only went close towards the Hollywood sign, and it felt like the hike/walk was less than three miles. Pretty chill and easy..  However there are multiple hiking trails to get to the sign.

I only read that there are tons of hiking trails. There’s one that’ll take you to the Hollywood sign, and the Observatory and the old (abandoned) LA zoo. Tons of area to go wander off in. 

You’ll enjoy it here if you’re an active person looking for some real adventure. People usually come back here for a different trail up. What are the chances that i’ll ever come back here..  When’s the next time i’ll ever come to Griffith park..? I would love to go to the Observatory on top that I didn’t get the chance to go.

OOTD

Crystal Cove State Park and The Beach

Finally here. Been waiting to get me some vitamins D all week. 

My Best Advice: New on Campus? My Advice for Incoming College Transfer Students

My Best Advice: New on Campus? My Advice for Incoming College Transfer Students

By Formosa Lan

As a third year, I’m currently still in the process of adjusting to university’s quarter system -- I am a transfer student at University of California, Irvine. Most of us have already experienced two or more years of college. I spent two years at my community college before I arrived to this campus. I was often identified as a freshman during welcome week because the way I was navigating myself that made me look like I was new, but I wasn’t asked if I was a transfer though. 

We are different than freshmen when it comes to academics, maturity and overall life experiences but we’re similar to freshmen because we are both new to the campus, people and environment. Now that I’m in my third quarter at UCI, I realized that the process of transferring by no means simple. It requires some effort to acclimate to a new academic system and social environment, especially if you're transferring far from this city. Being a transfer from the Bay Area, at times can be hard because I don’t know anybody in SoCal and I don’t get to go home until winter and spring breaks. For some transferring students, new academic and living norms can even be a “shock” if it’s really different than the environment you’re used to be in. Studies have shown transfer students experience drops in their GPA, especially in the first quarter. And there are many different reasons to that. (Just a reminder that your GPA from community college will not carry over so in a sense, your UCI GPA is starting from scratch. Your GPA basically resets to 0.00 when you transfer. This is also an opportunity to start over.) Since you’re new, you may not spend as much time on your education as much as you want to after working your butt off going through the transferring process at a community college. You’re trying to find new people, enjoy the new life here and explore around.

My mind goes back to the things that I have learned from going through the process of getting used to the new system, city and overall environment. So here are just some of the few things I thought might be helpful for the incoming transfer students to make their transition as successful as possible.

1. Don’t estimate your classes. Be prepared to get work done in 10 weeks

Usually transfer students are more prepared and tend to perform better academically. We seem to be more self-directed and focused at this point in college. Therefore, many transfer students tend to assume their classes will be easy when they first get to UCI and almost forget that we are going into the quarter system, which is pretty different. Terms are shorter which means we have to learn faster. We might not push ourselves to work hard if we were in the semester system since we would have more time to engage in other non-studying activities. Coming from a semester schedule, my first two weeks classes seemed super easy. But the speed of the quarter system actually threw me off. I had to learn the hard way when I found out I was falling behind with the massive readings and books assignments. So be sure you make time to study a little everyday. A lot of us tend to procrastinate until the end of the week and do the work over the weekend. I tend to spend my weekend for relaxations, exercise and more sleep. However if you get lost for a few weeks on the quarter schedule, it's going to be much harder to get back up. That's a legitimate downside. Really though, it’s very stressful sometimes since the pace is much quicker. The bottom line is that if you like to move quickly, be efficient, and don’t mind an extra workload, then you will most definitely find the quarter system to be for you. If you are not the best test-taker like me, you like to get super in-depth, and you value taking your time, then you probably hate the quarter system. Again, some transfer students are well prepared and some are not. It really depends on the situation and the determination of the student. 

2. Talk with an adviser.

Another thing I would tell transfer students to do when they arrive on campus is talk to their academic adviser, and work through the details of which credits transfer, which don't, and just to get a better understanding of your major courses. Transferring can be a very stressful process and many times you will seem lost. The Transfer Student Center at UCI (located right across from Zot-N-Go) provides programs and services for transfer students. They help students transition effectively into college and maximize their UCI experience. They also provide students with one-on-one meetings if you ever have any concerns or needs. Always stop by the center and check it out. I usually pass by the building when I am on my way to class. It will never hurt to just walk in and talk to someone. You can discuss the topics such as time management, coping with stress or goal setting. They have a mid-quarter check in where you can talk to a counselor who can help you during a stressful time. I encourage you all to take advantage of these services. I actually went in and met with a counselor a couple times during the quarter when I felt overwhelmed and stressed.

3. Live on campus.

I realized that living on campus over at AV, VDC Norte, Camino Del Sol and VDC will help transfer students be more connected to their new school. Also another plus is that the Anteater Recreation Center is only a quick walk away from these campus housings! As transfers, you are basically like a first year student at UCI and you should get that first year student experience. Living on campus can help you meet other students and make friends easily. I had a few friends who opted to commute a few miles to their new school admit they lament their decisions, because they felt detached and difficult to fit in and make new friends. Plus I don’t have a car to drive down here so living on campus was the best option for me. It could be very pricy to live on campus if I didn’t have financial aid covered. If you decide to live off campus to save a little and don’t mind commuting, it will just require some extra work to meet people and stay connected. I would say to live somewhere closer but then again there is always other ways to get into the social scene and stay connected to the school campus such as join clubs or finding an on campus part-time job!

4. Get involved on campus.

Living on campus can help, but it's integral for transfer students seeking a new social group to be active in student organizations. Getting involved on campus will be the best way to transition. When it’s a new beginning, you are given a fresh start. You can make the most of your time in college by challenging yourself and seeking new and exciting opportunities. I have also heard someone said that if someone ever asks you to attend anything with her/him, say yes. It’s just an opportunity for you to get out there, and a great way to make friends and jump out of comfort zone. A part-time job on campus can make it easier for you get more involved on campus as well. If you are moderately interested in joining a club and their meetings are right before or right after your shifts, you might be more inclined to attend. There are more than one hundred of clubs and student organizations at UCI, as well as other activities such as club sports. Find something that you are passionate about, related to your major, or interests will help you build the connection and friendship with the right people. Make sure you check them out before you think about what you really want to join and weather it is really for you. You never know if you’re interested until you actually attend the meeting and meet the people. But don’t become too involved and join too many at once though. That was me my first quarter. I wasn’t focusing as much on my classes. It became hard to follow through towards the end since I was still adjusting. I ended up not being able to stay committed. So I would suggest join no more than 2 clubs in your first quarter.  To me, however, each quarter is like a fresh start. So maybe you’ve always wanted to try another new sport, intern at UCI’s radio station like I did (KUCI 88.9FM) or study abroad in Taiwan – well, you can definitely start off trying something new next quarter.

5. Join Facebook groups or pages!

There are tons of UCI Facebook groups as well as transfer student Facebook groups. I didn't even realize that social media outlets are actually useful to stay connected and meet other transfers students. You can post questions on Facebook, and there are other fellow students usually willing to respond. It’s way easier to interact with people since everyone is in the same boat as you. I met most of the transfer students through a transfer student Facebook group. Also, be aware of events happening on your campus. You can easily find updates and posts about campus events such as concerts, or club fairs through the Facebook page. Attending events such as volleyball or basketball games are a great way to express and reinforce a strong sense of pride in your school. So joining Facebook groups will be one of the quickest and easiest way to look out what’s happening on campus.

6. Know your workload. Balance your social and academic life.

The two hardest parts of college to balance are academics and having a social lifeWhen you just get here, you might tend to focus more on your social life. Make sure you know your workload before you decide to go out and party. It’s natural to have fun and go out with friends, but it’s also important to understand that doing work will make it easier for you to relax and have fun after all the work is done. You just need to make sure what goes first and last. Being a student in college has so many responsibilities; it consists of attending lectures, going to office hours, completing readings, finishing assignments, studying for tests and exams and more and more. It can be hard to maintain a sense of balance. No doubt that we will face a time when we feel unmotivated - stressed - depressed - anxious - exhausted  - become run down or sick - feel anti-social - not be able to sleep or sleep too much and unable to study or work. So I tend to spend a lot of time for exercise, and especially, relaxation before I can even study or function. I feel that they are necessary to my life. We are all human with human needs. I make sure I take care of my body and mind before I can do anything else. Nonetheless, every person has his or her own mindset and way of doing things. If you stay focus and prioritize in college, then you will sure have a successful and eventful college experience.

These are just some of the many things that I have acquired as a transfer. Ultimately, the transfer experience is what one makes of it. It can be as simple as opening yourself up to new things. So get excited for what’s to come and make sure you get the best college experience possible!

Wayzgoose festival at UCI!

Some goood times first time boothing with uci Her Campus and UC irvine's radio station KUCI at #Wayzgoose festival today! 😜 and fun times hanging around w/ more than one hundred clubs/orgs. Hehe who doesn't like free things and cheap stuff right? #celebrate #uci</p>

Common Conversation at UCI!

WWOW WHEN Common was walking to his van in front of us outside of the Brens, my phone had to DIE and turn off on me!? THEFUCK. Waited for almost an hour for that selfie w/ Common.. I was so bummed. So many people took a selfie with him. Haha. And so lucky one of the friends I was with got his autograph! So awesome!! I was so jelly…. I just got to see his beautiful eyes in person though… it was so close haha!
Thank you @COMMON for dropping by UCI and sharing your Common Conversations, New Narratives on identities & culture with us!

I honestly don't really know many of his songs or know very much about him but what i know is that he does have good inspiring music and stories... and he's been doing some good things too. 

PS it was really legit to hear Common freestyle rapping UCI in the end. #news-narratives #hiphop #commonConversation

Sunday park day

It was such a fun time at the park, surrounded by a bunch of nice people today! I smiled so much and so hard that my face hurts. I simply love being outdoor and engage in all the fun, playful activities that make me smile! It was hot, sunny, a little windy and we were moving a lot and running around. 

No doubt that being out in a natural setting, refreshes me and makes me feel happier and less stressed. I love that the atmosphere is extremely relaxing and healthy. It simply makes me feel so good. 

I just love and enjoy the outdoors, especially it's in spring when the weather is so nice and peaceful. <3

Irvine 85 degree bakery cafe

Went first time today and ended up having a box of pastries from 85 度c. 🍞🍞🍞Can't help it and want to try everything..Their stuff is so so good and so soft so crunchy!! Why didn't I come here every time I pass by this place until now  #85degreebakery #cafe #nombuns #irvine. 

I know I've had them before when I  was in Taiwan omg I remember I used to be in love with their cakes every time I passed by one store in Taiwan. Now that I'm absolutely obsessed with their breads and cakes again in irvine! I didn't even bother to go in every time I was around. Today I didn't plan to go either but just went in with my friends to see what pastries they have and maybe try a couple of them. 

I was in love with the breads that I got after trying them !!  

4.3.2014

Lately i’ve been kind of self conscious about myself… i don’t know. I think i’m having serious low point at the moment while things just have not been going right either.

Also, I feel like i’m starting to deal with most likely low self esteem and perfectionism. They tend to get in my way as I try to rise out of the abyss and into the light

Catching up with friends over the spring break and I learned how they seem to be so successful. Everyone seems so successful except for me kind of feeling. It makes me want to cry how things just don’t go as planned for me. It also hurts to realize what i can’t do. 

There was time when I knew what I should do, but then I feared that I’d do something to mess it up. 

I’ve been initiating to do what i need to do and getting everything together. I think i tried my best. But every time, things always happen after and go wrong. What can I do about bad lucks? I feel that i’m not lucky when it comes to luck. i think i’m losing some confident in myself and I can’t put myself out there because of no luck.

Whatever i’m doing i’m still working on it.. i’m for sure not willing to give up so easily. What I can do is control my reactions to what is happening. Reflect everything then keep on being initiative. There is always choices to make every day. I’m just finding the ways to get through and make plans to get to a better place and  get through this low points of my life right now

Music Blog

http://langaugetomysoul.tumblr.com/

So I created a secondary blog on tumblr for music only.

i’ll be playing music in the air next quarter, and will be posting playlists of the songs that I play and such every week. (It will be mainly hip-hop/RnB genre; a little jazz/blues; mostly underground artists).

Lately I’ve already started to be more active and have been posting some music that I personally listen to and some music videos. so. here it is. FOLLOW ME IF YOU’D LIKE :D

http://langaugetomysoul.tumblr.com/

The Duke in His Domain: A Profile on Marlon Brando

Truman Capote successfully profiled iconic Hollywood legendary actor Marlon Brando in his 1957 piece, The Duke in His Domain for The New Yorker. The duke is Marlon Brando, observed and interrogated by Truman Capote during the filming of "Sayonara," at Kyoto, Japan. Readers are exposed to the softer side of Brando. We get to feel of someone in his unguarded moments. Something we do not get from the famous in their public domain such as the infamous, the droll, and the improbable side. While some ethical issues may rise from personal interviews, Capote is able to handle such dilemmas in a powerful way, effectively getting close enough to his subject without offending one’s feelings or violating privacy lines. The interview takes place at the Miyako Hotel in Kyoto where Brando is shooting the 1957 film, Sayonara and it is during a time in Brando’s life when he has already gained recognition from his previous roles in such classic film, A Streetcar Named Desire.

In the portrayal, the normally reticent and reclusive actor was not a shimmering Hollywood star but a flawed man who could be seen from all sides and angles; Brando who revealed much of his soul talking endlessly into the night. Truman Capote managed to successfully get him to reveal their innermost selves, and he did that by talking about himself and being quite open about it. Telling someone something about yourself, a secret, a flaw, the other person may feel inclined to tell you a secret in return; something truthful yet something that you may have never think about them. Brando at the time would continue the gabfest. Capote told Brando his problems, as they sat in the suite, being served by Japanese waitresses, and then Capote started to observe things while keeping a polite manner. “I hadn’t taken a note. I hadn’t done a thing. I hadn’t even seemed to be interested. . . You tell him about yourself, and slowly you spin your web so that he tells you everything,” Capote mentioned in a report with Rolling Stone how he methodically inspire the actor, to allow him to relax, and so permit a surprising result.

Through the “interviewer’s” lens, we learn about Brando as a reluctant hero who in real life actually is having a period of self-doubts and insecurity. As a highly skilled performer he is, he shows this appearance that he is shooting the movie for the money, he tells Capote, “The only reason I’m here is that I don’t yet have the moral courage to turn down the money,” in films as opposed to return to performing in stage plays, where his career originally started, to be the famous Hollywood star. On the contrary, in the near to the end of Brando and Capote’s conversation, Brando himself even said in the article, “And listen! Don’t pay too much attention to what I say. I don’t always feel the same way.” As readers, we are able to discover that Brando is an intelligent and artistic man who loves to express his creativity. As a result of Capote’s calm style of interviewing and profound questions, Brando feels comfortable enough to open up quite candidly.

As the conversation progresses, we learn more and more about Brando’s personality and his feelings. Marlon Brando talks, non-stop, for hours, to Capote that night during the conversation.  Readers get to pick up more of the surface on Brando’s personality. He drinks vodka. He clearly feels relaxed. The fact that Brando feels so relaxed, he actually talks about his feelings in his own unique way. He talks about his problems with fame, his issues with directors, his problems with the Sayonara shoot. He talks about how he is on a diet for the role in his current movie. He also recalls an experience in boxing as happy as the Sicilian nap, “It was when I was in ‘Streetcar..’ One night, I was mixing it up with this guy and—crack! . . . My nose was really busted. They had to give me an anesthetic to set it, and put me to bed.” He discusses how his nose was injured on the set of “Streetcar” after friendly contests of boxing, with the guys backstage and Capote details its significance in making Brando seem less perfect. His nose did not heal nicely thus the look was appeared pretty roughly that many women yearn for. That was a key to his sex appeal was that even though he had an overall attractive body, his face looked too innocent and pure.

We get a sense of Capote bringing up a topic that shows significance to Brando when the writer questions his subject on why he had not returned to the stage. He initially answered with great apathy and excitement but after thinking for a second about what he had just said, he turns his side comment into a professional sounding answer that is meant for publication. Capote’s descriptions of Brando “musing” and pondering about such a topic provides an excellent example of how literary journalists can achieve such results by just having a chat with the subject. It was entirely casual and laid-back between the two of them. As knowledgeable as Capote intended to present himself, while secretly memorizing the subject’s words, he spoke with such breathless assurance about the culture, and kabuki, and sake, and all that. The setting was relaxed and pleasant. While Capote may have been sneering at Brando in an delightful manner, what should be taken into consideration is that there has to be a starting point for every conversation to keep it going. The dialogue goes from what to order and foods that would lead to proper weight control lead to being on a diet for a movie role and eventually talking about whether or not to return to the stage. It is important that the more a journalist can get out of their subject the better. This is an extraordinary piece that a literary journalist can do organically.

The more we follow the conversation between Capote and Brando, the more we are able to enter the mind of the subject. He is a very introverted character, who seems to need someone to inspire him to talk and readers never would get that image from seeing the characters that he is portrayed in films like “Streetcar.” As the interview goes on, Brando becomes more insightful and we learn about how it was difficult for him to cope with the loss of his mother and how such a tragedy was one of the life events that helped inspire him to make a change in the world. We can get the sense and realize that the loss of his mother was a very sensitive, emotional subject to bring up. By now, we can know that Brando has let his guard down and is able to reveal such personal information. Throughout the whole time, Capote’s passiveness makes the environment comfortable enough. There was never a time in the interview when he was aggressive. If Brando wanted to answer a question he could, if he did not that was cool.

The reconstructing of past events aspect of the piece may or may not be factual that made me question its accuracy throughout the passage. However, this ethical dilemma comes to a simple solution. The piece is about the life of Marlon Brando from his own words. But there is an issue that he jokes about his opinion and tends to change his mind and thoughts later as he thinks twice. Therefore, words written on a page for a magazine article clearly do not define who he is as a person and from this, some things may be true and some may have been just made-up fiction. It is hard to consider the information reliable when quotes coming from the writer’s pure memory. We are not sure what to believe and what not to believe. However, it is truthful that the things that happened and what Brando said in the story. For an example, the injured nose is real. The way that it healed and the way that he dealt with it may seem a bit more fabricating, but it is a quote as good as his memory is. With that, as readers, we are able to learn a lot about a character from the actions and words. It is a fact that the interview took place and it is a fact that the statements said came from the mouth of Brando. As Joseph Mitchell said, “sometimes the facts don’t tell the truth you know,” and such a statement can be apply to be accurate. Brando changes his mind and he does not always feel the same way about what he says, so fascinating, a fact that was told earlier in the story may have just become a fiction later on in the story.

In the end Capote is able to handle the dilemmas of journalism in an ethical way. Capote called "the secret to the art of interviewing,” structuring his idealized writing style with a unique formula. I read that Brando felt “tricked” because he was entirely unaware that what he said to Capote was going to be published in public on the New Yorker. As much as Capote hopes to write about this piece, it is tactful that he tells an amount of information about himself, which reversed the roles and give the person the feeling of being the interviewer. The facts are there in that they came from the subject’s mouth and he is able to use quotes accurately. It may seem as inventing and contriving his own characters in his writing, but why tell a factual story when journalist can rather craft the story in a unique way. Nonetheless, Capote’s article shows how amazing that a chain of conversation can lead to revealing and some emotional scenes, as we hear about the diet conversation leading to a discussion about the play industry. The article is not only a piece of reading to learn how to report and handle the dilemmas of journalism in an ethical way, it is also an essential document to look at how to carefully control situations that are dealing with the field of literary journalism. This is among the greatest challenges a writer can face.

But so much of success in life is about consistency and routine

The freaking habits that i’m reluctantly adapting to…..

I don’t think that i am fully interested in writing in this class yet, especially when I barely have learned anything useful from what I’ve been reading….Classes, like Literary Journalism, working on a particular piece of writing nearly takes me f . o . r . e . v . e . r….. it’s crazy that i’m forced to be sitting in for hours, literally half of the day spent sitting in my room just to figure out how to create a piece of writing.

I’ve been fully experiencing that kind of life to be spending time on just trying to put something on a paper. Merely committing to putting words on paper during a period of time is not something I’m born to be skilled in. And it frustrates me so much when whatever is written is so badly that I can let no one read it. It is..very exhausting for me. Sitting in the chair for hours….just to figure out many different ways to have my words show up on the paper… and to be repeatedly reading, observing, interpreting, and all of this is like being trapped in a room for ten hours alone, although I feel completely okay to be isolated. I sit around a lot even with hella distraction on the internet and phone, I get back to pondering. So tired.

I look at the blank screen until my eyes hurts. I want to write laying down in bed like Truman Capote, one of the famous writer. The things that I must do to help me go through these process throughout the day I could only make food, walk around in the kitchen and make more food. Eat by my laptop instead of the kitchen table. Shower or shit. Then get back on the typing grind. 

What kind of life is this..

Truman Capote. The author of “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” and “In Cold Blood.” He said he had to write lying down, in bed or on a couch, with a cigarette and coffee. The coffee would switch to tea, then sherry, then martinis, as the day wore on. He wrote his first and second drafts in longhand, in pencil. And even his third draft, would be done in bed.. 

What kind of life is this..  i feel pretty crazy to be going through this life style.. like what am I really doing here… and these famous writer consider rewriting their work as part of the writing process, with all those different habits to get through the day, and that they focus on putting the time in rather than the quality of what they write. 

Karen Russell: “Enjoy writing badly.” In an interview with The Daily Beast, she talks about her daily struggle to overcome distraction and write…

I know many writers who try to hit a set word count every day, but for me, time spent inside a fictional world tends to be a better measure of a productive writing day. I think I’m fairly generative as a writer. I can produce a lot of words, but volume is not the best metric for me. It’s more a question of, did I write for four or five hours of focused time, when I did not leave my desk, didn’t find some distraction to take me out of the world of the story? Was I able to stay put and commit to putting words down on the page, without deciding mid-sentence that it’s more important to check my email, or “research” some question online, or clean out the science fair projects in the back for my freezer?

I’ve decided that the trick is just to keep after it for several hours, regardless of your own vacillating assessment of how the writing is going. Showing up and staying present is a good writing day.

I think it’s bad so much of the time. The periods where writing feels effortless and intuitive are, for me, as I keep lamenting, rare. But I think that’s probably the common ratio of joy to despair for most writers, and I definitely think that if you can make peace with the fact that you will likely have to throw out 90 percent of your first draft, then you can relax and even almost enjoy “writing badly.”

I guess that it is still somewhat encouraging to learn about some people’s routine and their committing to the process consistently. “They possess an incredible willingness to do the work that needs to be done.” Actually, I really think that pretty much explains what it takes to do most anything.