Summary (RLW): In the “How to Read Like A Writer” by Mike Bunn, readers get the insight on how to write a piece a writer and also how to analyze pieces like a writer. He starts off with a little of his own narrative that soon quickly dives into the main topic of this writing. All writings are a continuous string of choices that the author has to make by themselves. We work to identify the specific choices an author makes to gain a better understand not only in our part but on their part as well. We want to look at every single sentence and every single word the author has written down on their particular writing piece. From doing this, we can develop our own beliefs on what is the most important choices when it comes to writing a story or article. Continuing on, he focuses on reading—how to read like a writer. We look at questions the author has given us at the start or ending. We look for genre, purpose, and our target audience. Overall, this writing is to get more information about writing our own pieces and reading others.
Summary (Islands): The author, J.R. Carpenter, has arranged the writing pieces in an odd but particular way. Each paragraph of writing relates to an island. Whether the island is actually real or not may be the question. The writings focus on the island. Whether by giving information about the history or derivation or by expressing some sort of emotion that comes along with the island itself. The paragraphs change from time to time. Some change faster than others and some may change more words than others. It is a creative, but thought provoking way of writing that I cannot fully explain myself.
Main Idea (RLW): It takes precise planning and critical thinking to read and write like a writer.
Main Idea (Islands): Each piece of writing (whether long or short) takes critically thinking to fully grasp the true meaning.
Key Terms (RLW):
- Writer: a person who has written a particular text
- Technique: a way of carrying out a particular task, especially the execution or performance of an artistic work or a scientific procedure
- Choices: an act of selecting or making a decision when faced with two or more possibilities
- Genre: a category of artistic composition, as in music or literature, characterized by similarities in form, style, or subject matter
- Construction: the style or method used in the building of something
Key Terms (Islands):
- Island: a piece of land surrounded by water
- Geography: the study of the physical features of the earth and its atmosphere, and of human activity as it affects and is affected by these, including the distribution of populations and resources, land use, and industries
- Ocean: a very large expanse of sea, in particular, each of the main areas into which the sea is divided geographically
- Paragraph: a distinct section of a piece of writing, usually dealing with a single theme and indicated by a new line, indentation, or numbering
- Radical: (especially of change or action) relating to or affecting the fundamental nature of something; far-reaching or thorough
Commentary (RLW): Mike Bunn mentions about how an author makes specific choices when writing a particular piece. It makes me think that every single word has a purpose and a meaning behind it. The author choose to use another word instead another similar word close to the meaning but why? Why would the author use the word “rage” rather than “angry”. But, it all goes to back to the author making that choice. Writing is such a creative but a complex situation. When I was a kid, I thought writing was fun. There was no limit on where you could go. However, growing up I came to realize there are several factors that an author needs to consider to make something good. What Bunn is trying to get across is true. A well done piece of writing needs to have structure and meaning. With all those detailed choices, it ends up creating something magnificent. To read and write like a writer is to pay attention to the details and meaning and/or symbolism towards each sentence.
Commentary (Islands): I am confused on the meaning behind this island writing piece. Each paragraph tends to lean a different way from the others. However, I found a line or two that took my attention for a bit. Carpenter writes, ” The deserted island is ready to begin anew. It is this very moment that literature begins” (And by…). At a certain degree, we are all deserted islands. We are all on separate paths with different outcomes that are fairly unalike from one another. From there, we can find our true selves and flourish. Like when an author sparks an idea and goes to be alone to write out those thoughts and brilliant ideas. With time to themselves, they can produce their best works. Another example would be going off into the world without the dependency of our parents. When we let go or get deserted by our parents, a new adventure appears. A new way of life emerges. Whether it goes well or terrible it is up to us to make that decision. We will have to write our own stories.
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