#buffysthoughts

[writingsanjab]

Writing Emotions

Writing is catharsis to me. Verbal words often fail me when I want to express my feelings, so I keep a journal to write them down. When I am writing something on paper, I can feel myself begin to work through my emotions. Why do I feel this way? Where is this emotion coming from?

Anger is the safest emotion for me. All the other ones feel vulnerable, too raw, too real. I can keep them safe by sharing them on paper. I always recommend journaling to everyone I meet. Some people like to share verbally, but sometimes, it is best to let your emotions stew. That sting needs to leave before talking.

In writing in general, it is better to show an emotion. For a writing exercise, pick an emotion, write a scene, and never name that emotion.

Some examples:

"Their blood boiled just beneath their skin, and a jagged line formed the seam in their lips."

"The trees in the clearing pressed into the group and caged them in. A sheen of mist clung to their skin. The forest was oppressive."

Most importantly, writing is supposed to be fun. Be experimental. Think about your reader. A lot of blank space on the page will keep their eyes moving. Short and choppy sentences build tension. Longer sentences and dense paragraphs will slow them down. Become your character in that moment. See what they see, feel what they feel. Make everything dramatic.

Understanding visual art helps as well. Think about how you like to describe things. When you go outside, what takes your interest first? What sense is strongest to you? That is your strength. Wield it. Depending on how you describe a setting, like linking it to certain words that bring emotion to your reader, you can really fine tune the experience of reading that piece.

[writingsanjab]

My Take on AI

I'm a creative writing major in my university. It has honestly been shocking with the way my professors approach this topic. In my personal opinion, AI has no place in our society.

To begin, all professors must put out a syllabus for every class they have. Usually, at the very bottom, there is a type of disclaimer about AI. As students, we are not allowed to use AI on our assignments at all. It is only permitted to be used in the "brainstorming" phase of an assignment. I find this to be the main time that you actually need to use your brain. It's literally in the name.

Why is it okay to not think for ourselves in the very beginning of a project? I have yet to understand an answer. I have spoken to my professors, and they don't like AI either. They think giving people a "responsible" way to use AI will make them not use it on the assignment. I don't think this is true, but teachers and professors are losing steam to fight this plague on our planet.

I have an intercultural communications class, and the first assignment is how to use AI to study cultures. I find this to be very unnerving. I was shocked and appalled. The arts is the number way to understand a culture. Historians look at things that have been painted, things that have been written, the dyes that they use, the language, and the stories they tell to better understand a group of people. How dare you spit in the face of all those people?

Since I have a brain, I will refuse to do it. If I have to take the 0 I will. AI should not permitted in educational spaces. AI should not be permitted for use by people. Data centers should not be built on the ground. It is destroying the Earth, destroying human connections, and destroying life as we know it. I will not lose my integrity or look back on my morals to make a decent grade in the class.