A light shining my way

My "Ughh" 300 Word Profile First Draft

2009-06-09T23:29:00.000-07:00

So anyway, I am going to post up one of my "most disappointing 1st drafts ever." This was my first essay here in Melbourne and sad to say it was a very rushed last minute effect.

I am not ashamed to say it sucks. It is a poor interview work. After all, this is my first hand experience as an amateur writer and this first attempt essay was not my best accomplishment. But heck it was my first draft so take a look.

-First Draft on Describing a Person-

Quiet. Shy. And most definitely nervous.

Fiddling gently with a thick, grey woolen scarf around her neck, she bites her lower lip as I approach her.

She ties her dark long hair into a bun and extends her hand to me.

At 25, Hui San is nothing like the women her age. For starters, simplicity is her ideal image. Generation gadgets such as iPods, playstations or even cell phones mean little to her. And Sushi is an all time favorite.

Originating from Mainland China, her studies take main priority. Hui San also said that she was the only one amongst her seven siblings to receive higher education overseas.

“My parents were really proud.”

As an International Commerce Student at Swinburne University, Hui San confesses that she takes an English language class to improve on her speaking and writing.

She says although she still struggles with getting people to understand her, her writing has definitely improved.

At the start of her university life in 2006, having too small a frame was something this young lady found it hard to handle. Everything was either too big, too huge or had no size. It was a real tiresome affair indeed. It is also one of the main reasons she hardly shopped.

Hui San also admitted that she was also nervous to talk to the locals in Australia because they intimidated her. Not only because of their frame but because she could not understand their accent.

“The way they speak is very different. Sometimes I cannot make out what they are saying.”

Painting and instrumental music is the only way Hui San says she can express herself. She also terms it as her de-stressing factor.

Adjusting her blue rimmed glasses, Hui San shyly admits that she would also love to learn to ride a bike.

“Nobody taught me before. It looks like a lot of fun”

After the interview was over, I watch her tiny frame shrinks back into the shadows of the quiet church.

I glance down at my notepad, astounded by what I discovered.

An ambitious girl with big dreams.

A person who had a passion for art.

A determination to push for what she wanted.

And I had thought that she was just a small pale figure across the room.

I smile to myself, shut my book and made my way to the door.

***

Sucks doesn't it? Ughh. After a few weeks of pondering and scratching my head figuring how to cap up the essay to have a more concise touch, here is the more professional approach towards this 300 word profile.

(By the way, this took me 3 weeks to figure out and there was a lot of papers being strewn all over the room just for the effect of this essay. I did 4 different drafts for this essay and god almighty it WAS NOT easy.)

Here goes:

-Final Draft of Describing a Person-

10 minutes late.

I ran through the hallway of the church. Panting, I went through the big mahogany doors.

Tucked away in a corner, was a young Chinese woman.

Adjusting her spectacles, she munches on a turkey sandwich. As her long dark hair falls messily around her pale face, she flicks it behind her ears and continues reading.

Adjusting her grey woolen scarf, she gives a tiny smile as I approach.

I eye the novel she was holding. Tom Sawyer, apparently. Tasteful.

Being born in Shanghai, China, Lee Hui San, 25 says that she is nothing like the women her age. Coming from humble beginnings in a small town called Tuandong, Hui San is a rather talkative person. She is also hardly affected by the rise of technology, which had taken Shanghai by storm. Simplicity, she said is her ideal image.

However, as an international student studying accounting at Swinburne University, studies, of course, took main priority. Extra English classes were also a must. Amongst seven other siblings, Hui San is the only one to receive higher education overseas. This brought great honor to her family and although there was no pressure from her parents, the stress of doing well still remained.

As she reaches for her old battered Nokia phone, Hui San said being away from home was not a problem but she did miss her dog, Chi-Chi. He was her graduation present from her parents and was her greatest possession.

Hui San’s favorite pastime is music and painting. Adorning herself with self made jewelry also enlightens her during spare time. Sushi is an all time favorite. Apparently, lounging around with a good book and sushi would compromise of a good day in.

As I walked away from our little meeting, I realize that one cannot really judge a person by their looks alone. In what I have just witnessed, this stereotyping outlook simply does not define them in any way. Actions however, justify them.

***

Now ain't that just a breath of fresh air ;)

Haha.

Anyway, let me know what you guys think. Any comments (however harsh it might be) are welcome in regards to this essay.

It will help me improve after all =)

Cheers!

How do blog journalists get their "GROOVE ON?

2009-06-09T23:09:00.000-07:00

-Ranting about the types of blog writers-

You know, I find that writing a blog is one of the hardest things a person could ever do.

I mean how does one person manage to sit on their arse for a couple of hours (a possible pondering process I should think), MANAGE to even think of a topic to talk about, then TYPE endless seams of ongoing messages and flip and turn them into a story. Honestly to me, it is just too much of a hassle.

Don't get me wrong just yet though. I do admire those who actually take the effort to do it.

So, you must be wondering, what keeps me going and ranting on about this non-importance topic? You see, I plan on improving on my writing.

Don’t laugh.

The thing is, I have seen hundreds of different blogs that contain various styles of writing but what I have come to realize is - each one of them hold one same similarity. The writer's improvement of writing is TREMENDOUS. If you take a more in-depth look at it, you would find that it is more or less like a pattern really.

If you don't believe me, FIND A BLOG, TAKE A GOOD LOOK at the very first post the writer has posted up and then go to their latest blog posting. One could find an amazing difference in the writing style, let me tell you.

If I were an amateur writer, telling a tale for the first time, I would probably do so in this sort of hap-hazard manner which probably would be like this:

1. So I went like "O-M-G." He actually asked for my number!! I so felt like I was in the movies!! So cute somemore!! Sigh. I wish this would happen more often mann..

THAT rant above, my friends is an EXAMPLE. It is how virgin writers voice out their opinions of their topic of choice. Basically their angle is simply: self- impression. Not touching so much on human interest stories but more on topics that are important to them. They express their thoughts without so much of a train of thought of whether it is good or bad for public viewing. It is a typical thing that virgin writers do on getting things off their minds. It can be a daily thing, or a monthly thing. For some, like myself, I'd like to call it "a blue moon occurrence." It simply means that if I feel like writing, I would sit at my desk and write. For HOURS. Sleep wouldn't even be necessary. If I don't feel like writing, my blog would probably be on a stand-still mode like how it is today. Nada, Zilch, Zero. Nothing.

Virgin writers normally start writing because of two possible terms: “sudden inspiration” (HARDLY), or it could be the whole "everybody is doing it" factor. Some do it because it is a good place to vent out their anger and frustrations in. So at some point, blogs basically act like a personal journal or based on what I have said above, it could also be considered as a popular trait.

However, those who have been blogging for some time now (a year perhaps) sound like this:

“Jamie was my best friend, my lover and my husband. And he was gone. It was hard to believe that the time we had spent together had passed by so quickly. ”

These writers are called – Jr. Authors. They express their facts from a third party point of view. In other words, they are narrating their story to the public. The choice of being more appropriate to their audience is well- defined here. Their readers are their utmost importance when it comes to this choice of writing.

Professional journalists on the other hand, talk about DAILY OCCURRENCE, things that normally involve the community. They are called "human interest writers."Their rants are basically "the talk of the town". It is what makes the “hottest news.” No, they are not gossip column writers and neither are they “Cartoon Writers”. This fastidious writer's focal point would fold around on three things - inform, entertain and proximity. It basically means the closer the news is to the general public, the bigger the hype would get about it. So technically this way, it makes the news more newsworthy.

At this moment, the biggest news in Australia is Gordan Ramsey's sexist remark on a famous reporter, Tracy Grimshaw. He basically attacked her on her home turf in his show by calling her a "PIG" and it was widely unaccepted by his fans.

On more information on this fascinating topic (which everyone here seems to be wanting seconds on) click on this link:

http://www.news.com.au/entertainment/story/0,28383,25598938-10229,00.html

Anyway, regardless to the entertainment frame that I have set above, the most famous trait used by many are called a social activity network. These blogs are set to bring the writer closer to their friends and family at home and letting them know what is going on in their lives. They are called as the "bond-binder blogs." They normally form of constant updates of personal lives. It would look like this:

1. So anyway I got the promotion. I was handed many congratulations from the members of the staff and that kept me liberated throughout the day. This transfer finally meant that I was free and was able to go home. Mum and Dad, if you are reading this, your girl is finally coming home! I can't wait to see you guys =)

This is the typical sort of blog that one could find among a circle of friends. This especially applies to those who are overseas and miss their friends and family members. So these sorts of postings would be the main target of students studying abroad I suppose.

And wow, look how far my ranting has taken me. That is A LOT of words.

Ah, the pleasures of writing a blog. I guess sitting on my arse for the past 3 hours have proved some good at a certain point. I actually managed about 1000 words going on about types of bloggers. Fascinating. So you see, ladies and gents, if you do want to get a start on improving your writing, this is one of the best ways to do it. I guarantee it. Just make sure you got the time and the effort to do so.

Have fun =)

Cheers!

Trying to put things in perspective once again

2009-03-28T22:01:00.000-07:00

*Sniff sniff*

Gosh, this is what I would call nice food. At this very instant, I am back home in Malaysia, with my lovable family and eating my favourite meal; steamboat. (It is a chinese dish prepared in soup) Yum!

Sigh, what could be better?

My parents and siblings are smiling from ear to ear and are noisily chatting away while eating their meal. That familiar cling-clang of cutleries and dishes made me feel like I had a sense of belonging once more, and honestly, I was loving every single minute of it.

I look at the small blue bowl in front of me and at the spicy aroma coming out of it. My mother had put more noodles and crab cakes in it. Lovely.

As I was about to take a bite, a loud and sudden ring rudely awakens me from my pleasent slumber. I jump up from my bed in an instant.

My dreams disappear and the memory of it becomes hazy. That could only mean one thing.

I am in Melbourne again.

And oh gosh it is still dark.

So, without much thought, I pulled my comfy covers around me and returned to my pleasent slumber.

And that was how, my friends, I was late for my first class.

Too many thoughts gets tiresome after a while

2009-03-18T22:16:00.000-07:00

Hmm...

So this is good. Got up at 2:30 in the afternoon, ate some biscuits and played around with some of the features of my blog.

A pretty laid back day I must say. It is now 4:30 p.m and a few moments ago I just received a call from my younger sister saying that she was coming home and wants "Indo Mee." Sigh.

Yummy isn't it?

Ahh... the joy of eating one of Malaysian's fast and instant noodles. Makes me miss home more and more.

Anyway I have got to cut my "blogging short" because I am still halfway preparing the meal for my dear dear sister.

Will upload another post tonight.

Ta!

:)

In common thought

2009-03-18T07:16:00.000-07:00

Many times I find myself sitting at the study desk, pondering about what to write. Whether it is about assignments, or even when it comes to a posting a daily journal or a news report. However one thing I have hardly ever done is "BLOG."

The truth is, I hardly blog. Why? I never had the time.

True, I admit, I used to have a couple of blogs in the past, which I had created at random because at the time, the hype about blogging had come about. I mean EVERYONE was talking about it. So basically I just followed the trend.

So sure, I uploaded a few blog postings here and there but as time went by I began to not bother about it as much as I did before. What I realized was that blogging required time, which again, I did not have.

So then why you must be wondering , am I sitting here writing and ranting on about posting a blog?

Simple. I suddenly had the inspiration to give myself the time and write. And oh please, if you think this happened overnight, think again. It is a very hard habit to get into, this "blogging routine."

It has been a month since I have been here at Melbourne. My major is in television journalism at RMIT so basically that is how I began writing more and more. I guess what really made me wanting to practice my writing, was to see how much better I would actually get at it.

So yes ladies and gentleman, be prepared to get more postings from this blog because I plan to write in in at least twice a week. Or at least I hope so.

Let's see how I fair in it shall we? :)