Britney Abreu 

04/30/2024 

Intro to Creat Writing 

Progress Letter  

 

Dear Mom, 

As the semester soon ends, I wanted to reflect on my journey in my writing course from January to May. It’s been an eye-opening experience, and I’ve learned a great deal about myself as a writer and a student. I thought you might appreciate hearing about it, no but like really listen, sit down for a little. 

When I first entered the course, I believed I was a strong writer. However, as the semester progressed into the material, I realized just how much more descriptive I needed to be. It was a bit of a wakeup call, but one that I welcomed with open arms, I know that once I become a teacher, I need to be more open minded about writing. I’ve always been one to believe in continuous improvement, especially with my struggles with writing as a child, do you remember how challenging it was for me to even pass ELA?  This course has certainly pushed me to strive for better and new me. 

One of the most significant lessons I’ve learned is the importance of being thorough in my writing and work habits. I used to skim articles and think I grasped the main ideas, but now I understand the value of rereading multiple times to fully absorb the content, even if I feel like I understand the topic, REREAD MULTIPLE TIMES. Additionally, I’ve learned that being descriptive isn’t just about adding a few adjectives here and there, it’s about including the reader in the scene with vivid details, to make them feel like they’re in that setting too. It’s a skill I’ve been learning how to try to master throughout the semester, and I can already see improvement. Oh did you notice that big hole we have in the kitchen by the sink? I noticed it when I was writing my kitchen dialogue.  

Writing my monologue was a particularly challenging task for me. I struggled with how to effectively convey my thoughts and emotions in a way that would resonate with the audience. However, something I’ve felt like has truly helped me were the descriptive words we explored in class, bringing the setting and characters to life. The feedback I received from Professor Jane was also incredibly helpful in pinpointing areas for improvement and providing guidance on how to strengthen my writing. Even when I was seeing the setting face to face like our kitchen, I was struggling on how to realize when the information is too much for the readers.  

Despite the challenges, there were moments of joy and discovery in the course, and my favorite section was surprisingly the poems. I’ve always had a bit of a hatred for poetry, it was always difficult for me to understand, but there was something about taking on the role of a living creature that really captured my imagination. It was a refreshing change of pace and allowed me to explore new ways of expressing myself through writing. I decided to take the role of a moth. The connection we have with moths and your brother made me feel like I could take my imagination and let it take the lead. I know, you know, I only made myself a moth for Tio. It really did help thinking about maybe this is him following and this is what he is thinking.  

Looking ahead, I aspire to continue growing and evolving as a writer. I want to push myself to explore new ideas and let my creativity flow freely, as my professor often encourages us to do. While I may not be where I want to be just yet, I’m optimistic about the future and excited to see where this journey takes me. 

Thank you for always supporting me in my journey, Mami. Your encouragement means the world to me. 

With love, 

Britney Abreu