Feedback Strategies

I read Be a Mirror and found it had some very good points. I almost always give feedback starting with "I think" or "I believe". I liked the article focusing on how we should do everything to keep the attention on their style and not pleasing us. Feedback has always been hard for me. I feel like I'm not qualified to give someone feedback on something I myself am not familiar with. It's challenging, for sure. How do I know if they need to add more or what if their style is just different than mine? One thing I really liked about the article was how it empasized focusing on what is on the page and not on what is missing. If you're a mirror, you can't show something that isn't seen. I also read Presence, not Praise which was a fascinating read. I thought the study was very interesting. Since I don't like to critique, I usually stick to praise. I always feel bad saying things that might make the writer feel bad. I liked how it said to identify the unique things as opposed to praising it all without really looking at it. I will definitely try to use some of these tips when I'm critiquing in the future.

Be a mirror. Image: Wikimedia Commons

Topic Research: Why Animals are the Way They Are

So, one of my ideas was to a project about creation stories, but then I realized that the ones about animals are even more interesting. I think it would be cool to look into Native-Amerian stories about how animals came to be with their distinctive features and characteristics. Here are a few that I would like to build upon. Sacred Texts is a great site to find some of these stories.
1. How the Redbird Got His Color. This story says the redbird became red because of a deal he made with a brown bird who wanted to change his color. It would be cool to expand upon the story and add more details, like why the brown bird was so unhappy with his color or why he would trust an animal who could eat him.

 How did this bird come upon the color red? Image: Flickr

2. Why the Bear Has a Short Tail. I like this story for the wittiness of the fox. He tricks the bear into freezing his tail off (literally) and because of that, all future bears were doomed to have a short tail. Unlike the first story, this one has more dialogue and is longer. I would want to develop the characters more, maybe give the fox and bear a backstory so his trickery has more meaning.
3.Why the Mole Lives Underground. In this story, the mole lives underground because he was hiding from people who were angry with him. He helps a man who is in love with a woman who does not return his feelings. The man had tried several ways to win her love but was unsuccessful. I would make the mole friends with either the man or woman so he has a personal connection to both of them. Either he works for the woman and wants her to find someone so she'll be happier or he's friends with the man and wishes to fulfill his wishes.

Reading Notes: Cupid and Psyche, Part B

Cupid and Psyche Notes:
I thought Venus's character was very interesting in the first part of this part. She is absolutely furious that her own son would betray her. Again, the descriptive words are used well. Ine one line, it reads that Psyche "drenched the goddess's feet with a flood of tears". I wonder how the story might be different if Venus hadn't become so upset and allowed her son to be happy with Psyche. The loyalty between Hera and Venus is apparently very strong. Again, another thing I might change in my story. The ant part of the story definitely reminded me of Cinderella and was a nice touch in an otherwise heavy scene. I liked that the animals, plants, and even gods were willing to help her. I want to keep those characters to give Psyche some friends in Venus's palace.
The instructions given by the turret for her final mission are a bit on the long side. I would shorten it, if I were to keep that in.
We finally see how the story ties in with the main character, which I like a lot. Sadly, the rest of the story was in another book, but I did like the allusion and lesson the girl learned from the old woman's story.

A happy ending. Image: Wikipedia

Reading Notes: Cupid and Psyche, Part A

I decided to read Cupid and Psyche by Apuleius ,and so far it has been very interesting. It's a unique layout, as it's a story in another story. I'm trying to figure out how the story relates to the first character, though. It was also interesting how Cupid is normally portrayed as cheeky and cute in popoular culture, but in the text, he is referred to as "shameful" and "wicked". I was also surprised that this immensely beautiful girl had no one to marry her. Usually, stories are criticized because they're sought after solely for their looks. I also liked the variety of descriptions used. They added so much more detail to the story, like when the palace was being described. I liked the twist about Cupid being her husband. Obviously, I didn't like the sisters, but I think I would keep them as antagonists. I liked the personalit of the main character. I also liked the irony of the horseman telling her to find Cupid after he left. I'm excited to finish out the story.

Psyche being transported by the wind. (Giordano)