Blake R.

Senior at Millersville University. Baltimore sports fan.

[danig2601-deactivated20241226]

What do you like most about your learning?

What I like most about my learning is how it connects directly to the real world, especially when refining content strategies and creating meaningful engagement. Every skill I’ve developed feels valuable and relevant, whether it’s analyzing data to improve content or experimenting with new approaches to writing for specific audiences.

I also enjoy the creative freedom I’ve been given to test ideas and learn through trial and error. There’s something so rewarding about trying something new, even if it doesn’t work perfectly, and reflecting on what I’ve learned. This freedom has made the learning process feel personal and engaging, helping me grow as a writer and strategist.

Overall, I’ve found that this journey isn’t just about gaining knowledge but about discovering how to adapt, create, and communicate more effectively in a constantly evolving landscape. That’s what makes this learning experience so exciting and meaningful for me.

[bramey2002]

This is a great reflection. I appreciated how you made a connection and were able to apply what you learned to the real world. Everything you mentioned is very valuable in today's world, and your dedication, commitment, and willingness to learn through trial and error will be very beneficial going forward.

[ksinsabaugh]

Original Content Post

What are you most proud of with your writing process?

I am most proud of my structured and iterative writing process. Starting with brainstorming and outlining helps me organize my thoughts and ensures a logical flow in my writing. The drafting and revising stages allow me to refine my ideas, enhance clarity, and ensure coherence. Additionally, incorporating feedback from peers and professors has been invaluable in improving the quality of my work.

[bramey2002]

A strong writing process is so powerful and I am happy you can have such an organized process because it is harder than people think. This will serve you well for the rest of your writing career. Keep up the good work!

[madischoolreport]

My Proudest Moment of Writing

What are you most proud of with your writing process?

I'm very proud that I have been able to write online. It's always been very daunting to actually post stuff to the internet. I've stayed away from posting with only a photo of a sunset or two on Instagram. Now, I've got dozens of posts on tumblr and it's been a lot of fun! Getting over that fear of posting and actually creating stuff to post on the internet has been really fulfilling and something that I will absolutely continue along with me in the future as I continue on my writing journey.

[bramey2002]

Overcoming your fear of posting on the internet is a great accomplishment, and I think it can carry over into more than just posting on the internet. Having a fear of something and overcoming it is very challenging, so I hope you can continue to do that in other things in life that may be an obstacle. You have grown and gained tremendous confidence in your abilities and I hope you continue to experience that.

[bramey2002]

OCW Week 15 3/3

What I like most about my CL Reflection is that it was nice to reflect on the course as a whole and although sometimes over the last couple months I may of felt stress and overwhelmed that ultimately I fought through the adversity and prevailed. There is so much stress that occurs in a semester, but it is about being able to weather the storm and in the end accomplish the goal that you have for yourself and the CL Reflection made me realize I did that and this is a lesson I hope to carry forward not only into next semester but ultimately life. Sometimes it is hard to see clearly through all the challenges and obstacles you may be facing but you just got to try and stay the course and overcome whatever may be hindering you.

[bramey2002]

OCW Week 15 2/3

What I like most about my learning is that it has been intentional all semester long. Every week and every module that have been introduced, I have attacked with maximum effort trying to be a sponge and learn as much as I possibly can. Digital writing is something I would describe as a passion of mine along with social media so this class meant a lot to me. I wanted to try and learn something new and refine my skills as a digital creator and learn more about the world of social media as I believe it is the present and will be even more crucial in the future. I aspire to make it a career and learning about it for 15 weeks is something I very much enjoyed.

[bramey2002]

OCW Week 15 1/3

What I am most proud of as it pertains to my writing process would be just being intentional and knowing that by the end of my writing, I am creating the best product I know that I possibly can create. Sometimes through all the stress and overwhelming nature of a writing process it can be easy to just try and get work done by any means necessary and potentially not turn in the best product you can. However, I hang my hat on striving to create the best work I possibly can and that reflects in my writing process particulatly at the end of it when I am going through and making my own personal critiques acting as a perfectionist trying to create the best writing I possibly can.

[bramey2002]

Thursday Check-In Post Week 15

As far as questions I have about web writing that will help me after this course I do not have anything in particular that I want to know, however, I am curious about something and do have a question for you that interests me. What do you think web writing will look like 20 years from now? I personally do not think we have even scratched the surface of what web writing will become and I am just curious to hear your thoughts on the future of web writing and how you think the idea of it will progress in the future?

@npfannen

[dpsauve567]

share an example of your favorite television show or movie - how does that show/movie help you work through this project and understand angry fandom?

One of my favorite shows ever is The Mandalorian. It is a show that is a spinoff of Star Wars, and it was the first big streaming show that was on Disney+. This show came out 5 years ago and it has 3 season so far. Unfortunately, many fans have begun to attack the creators, writers, and directors of the show for its lackluster third season, and even for some of season 2. They have become very angry and hateful, almost to the point where I’d rather not be associated with them. I do share some of their frustration, but not the hate that comes with it.

[bramey2002]

The Mandalorian was fantastic! I do agree with what you say. With fandom, there comes a lot of responsibility and unfortunately part of that is dealing with the frustration of fans, which is honestly almost taxing when people are so hateful online. The internet is a legitimate cesspool and it is important to care for your mental and curate your feed to what you want to see. I am sorry to hear they ruined your enjoyment of the show.

[jackbell]

Orignial Content Post #3

Here’s a section from my hockey Instagram project:

"Nasher uses funny hockey memes and trends to connect with casual fans, while Bardown focuses more on deep hockey knowledge, which hardcore fans love. The NHL keeps things super professional with high-quality pictures and videos, but sometimes it feels a bit distant compared to the other accounts."

This part explains the differences in how these accounts engage with fans. I want to make sure it’s clear and easy to follow, but I also think it could use more examples or details. How can I improve it? Feedback is welcome!

[bramey2002]

I like how you articulated all of it and were able to distinctly break down how each account caters to its audiences. You made it easy to understand how they all have their own niche and content strategy, which tells me you have a strong understanding of the subject matter.

[minkysposts]

Original Content Writing

share an example of your experience as a fan of a show that was cancelled. help us feel the feels

I know of a show on Netflix that only has one season and was quickly cancelled and it is called, “The Imperfect.” Although I could see why it was cancelled as it didn’t have much viewership. It didn’t excuse the amount of potential it could have and that was the most disappointing part of a show being cancelled. Wasted potential.

[bramey2002]

Yeah, I always hate when a show ends especially when it has potential. It just feels like a huge screw you to the fans of the show who invest a whole lot of time and energy into it all. What aspects of the show stood out to you regarding having the most potential?

[bramey2002]

OCW 3/3 Week 14

There is no particular part of my project that I need to be critiqued but overall I am just wondering how everyone is incorporating visual elements into the second part of their design project. With the first part I feel that I made very good strides toward completing my overall project but I am kind of struggling with incorporating visual elements as the project just feels primarily text based. I have some visual elements added in but perhaps just wondering if I could add more and am open to suggestions if anyone has any?

[bramey2002]

OCW 2/3 Week 14

One of my favorite shows ever is Game of Thrones. It was a fantastic show and has one of the most loyal fanbases of any show that has ever existed in my opinion. The show was a massive success, however when the final season came around there were very unpopular decisions made that the fanbase did not like and it led to a lot of anger and angst among the fans. In fact, odds are if you ask someone that watched the show if you should watch it they will respond with "Watch it and do not watch the last season," or something along those lines.

The point being, show writers are tasked with very tough decisions and just as much as they have to manage the cast they have to manage the fans and I do believe fans have the right to be upset.

[bramey2002]

OCW 1/3 Week 14

The one TV show that I was a fan of especially when I was growing up that was cancelled was 'The Big Bang Theory' which was obviously a very successful TV show that spanned multiple seasons and even got a spin off which was called 'Young Sheldon'. Ultimately, the show ended because Jim Parsons whom you may know as his character Sheldon did not want to continue any further with the show. I was not too deeply invested but for some reason when shows end so abruptly it makes you as a fan think that the cast and crew could care less about the people who tune into every new episode.

[bramey2002]

Thursday Check-In Post (Early) Week 14

We are nearing the end of the semester and I do believe there are going to be some ways that I can transfer the writing skills that I developed in this class to the real world and real life situations. To be quite honest, I have communicated with many different people in this class that I do not know personally and I believe that is a challenge and an example of something that can be transferred to the real world. There are going to be times when I get a job that I have to interact with someone I may not know well but the point is being professional and putting yourself out of your comfort zone and trying to accomplish a common goal. I do not necessarily have any questions but I feel that is an important skill that we have all displayed one way or another.

@npfannen

[jbh-from-pa]

What is my style rule for short Tumblr posts?

I have been using the same style strategy all semester for my Tumblr posts.

By far the one thing you want to make sure you do is not have a wall of text. Have short paragraphs, broken up by breaks, or even have images between your paragraphs that emphasize your points.

If you're using the desktop web version of Tumblr, it lets you insert an image anywhere you have a blank line, as seen in the above image. Including an image in your post increases its engagement, as I've personally seen in my time here!

[bramey2002]

I have kept up with your Tumblr posts all semester long and often enjoy engaging with them because of the way you use language, they are very easy to respond to and I appreciate that. Also, you organize them so they are a very easy read and that also is very helpful so I appreciate that. It has been a good semester and I am looking forward to reading the rest of your content.

[elliisc]

Original Content- 3 of 3

Explain the appeal of long podcasts (20+ minutes), why do audiences listen? How do the creators make choices to engage the audience?

Audiences listen because, unlike shorter formats, podcasts don’t rush through topics. Making them good for complex narratives or discussions, creating a space for thoughtful exploration. Creators can engage the audience more by the podcast host maintaining a conversational tone, sharing personal stories or opinions that make the content feel genuine.

[bramey2002]

Well-said. Podcasts definitely have their own appeal and it is for those people that enjoy long, sustained conversations. I think they also make nice for people that have maybe long car rides or even when I am in class sometimes I will put one on and listen to it in my earbud. They have a weird appeal about them that just draws you in. Do you listen to any?

[zacharyyattackaryy]

Original Content Writing | Week 13 (3/3)

Explain the appeal of long youtube videos (10+ minutes), why do viewers watch? How do the creators make choices to engage the audience?

This sort of video can range in all types of topic, community, message, goal, etc. A major reason I could see someone sticking around for a longer YouTube video would be A. for a deeper analysis/explanation/tutorial or B. an interest of theirs/something that is inside their community. Either way, the creators must make audience-specific choices to sustain engagement. They must recognize their purpose of the content, and make choice that reflect the discourse community and meet the audience expectations.

[bramey2002]

I think you make a great point about sustaining engagement which is a very challenging thing to do. There are a lot of creators that have a lot of success but are not able to sustain engagement and will end up for lack of better terms, falling off and lose their momentum which is catastrophic. When creating content, I think it is important to stay true to yourself and put out the best product you possibly can.