User:ReaganC

=Analytical Writing=

Statement of Intent
Statement of Intent: I have decided to change my topic, I started to read about the God vs Gods sort of situation and found that it was definitely not what I wanted to write about, I want something I can enjoy writing about and that I will continue to be motivated about. So my new idea is to write a short story with the characters being Greek and I could incorporate traditions and other cultural things into the story and the characters. It’s going to be a love story; the only thing I am unsure about is how long a short story usually is. It would be great if you could help me come up with the word count.

Timeline: Week 5: Research Greek culture and create the plot of the story and characters Week 5-7: Write the rough draft of the ending of the story Week 7-8: Write the rough draft of the beginning of the story Week 9: Put parts together and revise Week 10: Proof read the entire story

What I want to take from this assignment: I have had this interest in possibly writing a book, I want to write this story to see if I can actually come up with a legitimately good story line and if I enjoyed writing to know if I would enjoy writing a book.

Things that could go wrong: I think my motivation could get in the way but I love anything Greek so I hope I will be interested enough to want to keep learning. Another thing that could go wrong is that my other class work could get in the way and I am trying to find a new apartment, I hope to avoid this by keeping my priorities straight and doing the work right away and not put it off until the last minute.

Week 6 Project Review
My project is about some historical event that took place in Greece and tying that in with a fictional love story. I have done some research on the behaviors of Greeks but not necessarily on the specific event I want to incorporate into my story. I read something about the Greek revolution, but I can’t remember what time era that happened so I need to keep researching. As for any other progress I have made, it isn’t much aside from trying to get the plot line decided. Right now I’m in between writing the story in first person perspective or third person. I’m leaning towards first person, of a woman who went through this horrible tragedy during this war and needed to escape and I think she became a painter but I’m still unsure about that. I would need to do a little research on that part of the story as well. Such as information about having a showing and what all goes into putting one together. It wouldn’t be too extensive just the basics. For some reason I’m feeling very motivated today to come up with the story and start writing tonight, I feel like once I get the story down, everything else with be easier to correct and possibly redirect certain things.

Before and Including week 6

 * "Julian" by Gore Vidal Julian_(historical_novel)
 * 1) Who are the Greek Gods
 * 2) Transformation of Greek Gods into Roman Gods
 * 3) Polytheism vs. Monotheism
 * 4) How does a polytheistic impulse embody itself in a monotheistic culture (saints/mary &c.).
 * 5) Trinity.
 * 6) Sophia Cult.
 * 7) Mormonism.

Men Who Explain Things
I have found that this is true. At my age I haven't encountered a male with whom I have a difference in opinion with about a topic that as important as things like the author talks about. But it was interesting and more entertaining obviously entertaining to me more so because I am a woman and can relate more to the topic. But I particularly enjoyed the area about the guy who complains that she didn't include some guy called hayel or something close but she stated that he didn't read to page 202 where it indeed mentions him but that he isn't very important.

Project
Lost Love Reagan Cole

The night was quiet, Ophira had just arrived home from her night out with him, they had met in the local bakery, from the moment she met his brown eyes, he was all she could think about. The war had been going on for almost two years but Macedonia was facing the worst of the bombing. They bonded together through the war and comforted each other as they watch their loved ones either being evacuated or dying from starvation. Tonight he held onto her so tight she was sure she would be bruised tomorrow, when he kissed her, his lips lingered longer than usual, he barely spoke but never took his eyes off her as they walked along the beach back to her house. Tension hung around them like the stars on a clear night, they didn’t talk about the war but tried to think of a future together, a future they would never have. She awoke to lights flashing through her bedroom window, a faint rumbling from a little ways away; she opened her eyes to still darkness. She got up to see what was going on, as she peered out the window through the darkness she saw her neighbors scurrying down the street holding their children close. Before she could turn away she hears her neighbor screaming, as she searches the next house an explosion burst through her window shattering sending thousand of glass shards towards her, she throws her arms over her face and is sent flying across the room, debris and plaster covering her body. Smoke blinding her, she struggled to catch her breath as she tried to free herself of the rubble, stumbling out her door she sees bombs falling fast from the sky. Villagers rushed to get out of their crumbling houses, children were screaming and crying, desperately looking for their parents, the air was filled with smoke and ash. He knew the bombing would be at its worst tonight, he knew it would be their last night together. After he dropped her off he ran back to what they planned to be their escape route, adding more provisions to the bag for her in case she could escape. He couldn’t think about the possibility of her not getting away, she had to leave; he was going to make sure that she would. As he was walking back to his house he heard the rumbling of explosions farther down the street, he began to run to her house. The amount of people in the street grew and he wondered why she wasn’t out of her house already, he then heard loud screaming from the house to his right, before he could think an explosion blew the side of her house off, throwing him back to the other side of the street, without hesitation he got up and ran to her house. Searching for the best way to get in he felt someone grabbing his back sleeve, he turned praying it was her and she was alright. A young woman with a baby quiet and still in her arms was pleading that he help her baby, blood was trickling down her temple from a large wound to her skull, he knew she only had minutes before she was gone. Looking back at Phira’s house, he took her arm and led her to the side of the ruined house, her pulse was very weak and as he set her down he told her soon she will be with her baby again. She looked up at him and all he was Phira, the woman thanked him while another explosion rang in the air, he leaned his body over her to protect her from the scattering debris. When he looked back down at her she was still, placing his hand over her eyes to close them he said a prayer. By now he was probably too late to save Phira. He searched the side of her house again, deciding the back door was the safest he around the house. Ophira looked up and down the street hoping he’d be there looking for her, a woman sitting against her neighbor’s ruined house was holding a baby. She ran over to them feeling for their pulses, when she didn’t find one she looked at her eyes and realized they were closed, the skin still warm under her fingers tips, she realized the woman must have died in the explosion. Ophira searched the street one more time then ran down the street searching for him as she passed other villagers, when she got to his house she called his name as loud as she could. Panic filled her voice the longer she heard no response, his house hadn’t been hit so she ran through the door and searched his house still calling his name. When she found nothing she started down the street again towards the beach, they had planned for this, they knew this was going to happen, going away from the damaged village she hoped he’d be there waiting. As she grew closer to their meeting point searched the area, when he was nowhere in sight fear gripped her heart. The tears falling down her cheeks started to come faster and faster as time went by. He frantically searched her house, calling out to her but he neither heard nor found her anywhere. He searched her room where there was the most damage, the wall was completely knocked in causing most of the debris to pile against the opposite wall. He called her name again while he started moving her dresser and other things around the wall, hoping he’d find her alive under the ruins. He found nothing, running down to the street he called to her again, searching the faces of every woman running down the road. He ran back to his house standing undamaged, the door left open and her knew she had been there. Relief coursed through his body so fiercely he almost started to cry. He ran into the house calling her name again but the house answered in silence. Thinking frantically about where she could’ve gone, he went to the window to look outside for her again, as he turned away from the window he heard a loud bang from come from his roof. He sprints down the stairs but before he can make out the door his house explodes, causing him to fly through the air, he hits the ground hard. He laid there for a moment thinking he would never see her face one last time, never hear her soft voice say his name again, never feel her touch, he had to see her, he had to know she was alright. His head throbbing painfully, he got up and wiped the blood away from his eyes, not caring that his right leg was badly hurt he walked as fast as he could towards the beach. The bombing had stopped but there was still screams coming from the village, she sat down against a rock and stared up at the sky now filling with a dark haze. She thought about the first time she met him, he way his eyes danced when she said his name, the feeling of his skin touching hers sending heat coursing through her body, she thought about never having the future they dreamed of. Silently weeping for the man she loved she heard rustling behind her, she forced herself to stop crying and sat still in fear that it was the government forces coming to evacuate her. She strained to hear how many there were but she couldn’t make out the sounds, she heard a wheezing breath, a hard thump, and a long silence before she got up to see who had come for her. As she drew nearer she saw dark brown hair clumped with dried blood, the wheezing growing louder as she got closer, a hand started to move and she froze. “Phira?” She ran to him as her vision clouded with fresh tears of relief, joy, and fear. He reached for her as she knelt down by his side, her hands searching for his injury. All he could do was smile at her tear soaked cheeks, ash covered her face and clothes, he grazed his hand over the tears, wiping them away, he was losing his strength, it took all of his energy to come to the beach and see her one last time. He winced as she touched the side of his head. Ripping the hem of her skirt she tried bandaging the wound but he took her hands in his and kissed them. “Don’t, I want you to lay here with me.” “But if I can get this bandaged, we can start leaving, the bag we buried is just beyond the cliffs” she trailed off as she finally looked into his eyes. She refused to let him see her fear, when he just kissed her dirty knuckles she leaned down to touch her lips to his. He held his breath as her soft lips touched his, he wanted to carry this feeling with him forever, he wanted to lay here on the beach with her forever, and he wanted to love her forever. He started to cough, she drew back and searched his body again for other wounds, he started to laugh as her hands flew over his body, he started to make a joke but was choked off by another forceful cough. “Sshh, I’m here, don’t worry, we’ll lay here forever I promise.” She tried to control her voice but the thought of living without him made her panic. He smiled up at her and tried to pull her down on his chest, his tug was so faint tears welled in her eyes again, she lightly laid her head on his chest afraid to put her full weight on him. She quietly started to sing as his fingers glided through her hair, she wrapped her arms around him and when his breathing grew slower and slower she gripped tighter. “I love you Phira, you are my heaven, I will wait for you to meet me there where we can run away together, where our love can exist without the war. I’ll be waiting for you to take my and be free, please promise you’ll take my hand and run with me without a care in the world, without fear of stumbling, and with your heart full of love. Promise me Phira and I’ll be forever with you.” “No, you can’t leave, I love you. Be strong, I’ll get you to safety and you’ll heal. O gods please stay with me!” Her cries catching in her throat as she feels his last breath leave his body. She curls her body into his as she cries out, the hurt numbing her body to the cold. Suddenly she sees flashes of light and hears the siren of the government forces searching the beach for runaways. She kisses his lips then his hand as she tears herself away from his body, running as fast as she can to the cliffs where her things are hidden, she falls to her knees before the lights and spot her. Crawling the rest of the way, she starts digging with her hands that are covered in his blood. Grabbing the bag, she starts to climb the cliffs. When the lights and voices got closer she hid in the darkness of a ledge. The lights searched the water and the rocks, more lights were clumped together where she had left his body, she looked away to see men below and above her searching. Filtering through her bag she realizes he had added more provisions, she grabbed a jacket and laid it on the ground, slid as far as she can away from the edge and watched the men walking along the beach, and waited for them to leave.

Ophira opened her eyes to the light that was pouring in from her bedroom window, the sky a beautiful clear blue and the sun spreading yellow warmth over her bed. Warmth that she doesn’t feel and hasn’t felt for almost six years since the night that he left her. She stretches slowly then turns to check on the little boy that’s sleeping soundly beside her. His face a perfect replica of his, she tries to push the hurt away as she watches his small body rise and fall and rise again. His hair the same shade of hers, light brown, so thin it wisps in curls around his face. She hears Geary downstairs in the kitchen, making breakfast for the three of them. Sliding as slowly as possible out of the bed, Ophira makes her way down the stairs to see what is going on. “Stupid pans making so much noise, I told her to move them but does she do what I say? Of course not. Oh good morning, I didn’t hear you get up.” Smiling at the sixty-year-old woman mumbling to herself she takes the pans and moves them across the counter to the opposite side. “You don’t have to do that, I’m using them anyway, and I’ve already woken you. You might as well leave them out.” “I don’t want to wake Alexander, he had a hard time falling asleep last night. So what are you making?” Ophira tries to peer past Geary’s should. “Oh no you don’t, since when have you ever wondered what I’m making, just put it in front of you and you’ll eat it without question, for all you know I could be poisoning you. “ “I know you would never poison me, who would do your gardening?” “Ha! Because you do such a good job, how would I ever find someone to replace you?” Geary smiles and winks at Ophira as she keeps cooking. They go about their morning chores as usual but today there is a parade to celebrate the seventh anniversary of the end of the war so they cut the chores short once Alexander wakes up. The street is crowded with familiar faces who all wave and smile at each other, children running around waiting for the parade to begin, parents attempting to control them but failing. Alexander stays close to her and Geary as they make their way to the side of the street. When the parade starts the children all scream and wave their hands at everyone going by, Alexander looks around beaming with excitement. “Mamma can I go over to see Sophia and her mom by the bakery? I promise I’ll be careful” He asks Ophira. She hesitates before answering, his pleading brown eyes locked with hers, Geary nudges her. “O go on and let him, he never does anything with his friends.” “ Alright, but don’t run in the street and don’t take anything form someone you don’t know. I’ll be right here if you need me.” He sprints off; watching him laugh and play with the other kids warms her heart. “You worry about him too much you know.” Geary says, “He’s old enough now to know what’s right and what’s wrong, you’re not going to lose him too.” Wincing from the truth Geary knows, all she can do is nod. They watch the rest of the parade and catch up with neighbors. She glances towards Alexander and sees him balancing on a ledge by the bakery; focusing on him she hopes he gets off soon. “Ophira, are you listening, I was telling Jaden about how the flowers are doing better than ever. Ophira?” Geary grabs at her arms just when Alexander trips over his shoe and falls off the ledge. His scream rings in her ears as she runs to him. Kneeling by his side she checks his body for injuries, tears filling her eyes from the fear of losing him. “Sshh, mamma I’m ok, I just tripped I promise, please stop crying.” “She looks into his brown eyes and see’s his father. “Can Sophia come over and garden with us? I told her our flowers were the most beautiful flowers she’ll ever see.” Laughing and clearing her voice, Ophira nods and sets him back on his feet. After cleaning up after dinner Ophira asks Geary to watch the kids while she steps out for some air. At the beach, she looks over the endless sea and remembers the night her life changed forever. She remembers his touch, the way his voice sounded when he told her he loved her. She sees his face every time she closes her eyes, she feels him everywhere she goes. “I love you. You are my heaven, I promise to take your hand and run with you, to run without a care in the world and without fear of stumbling. I promise to have my heart full of love for you and when I feel your hand in mine, I’ll know I’m in heaven.” She takes one last look over the water, one last look at the past, and walks away back to her what is her future.

Bibliography "History of Athens." Athens Info Guide. N.p., 2009. Web. 29 Jan 2010. .

"Military - Greek Civil War." GlobalSecurity.org. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Feb 2010. .

Name-Meanings. name-meaning.com, 2004. Web. 2 Mar 2010. .

Smith, Helena. "Bittersweet Return for Greek Civil War's Lost Victims." guardian.co.uk. N.p., 17 Oct 2003. Web. 12 Feb 2010. .

Self-Assessment In this class, I found that it is really hard for me to stick with a story and really focus and correct that same story. I found myself constantly changing the story and starting over at the last minute. I did well at the researching, what I didn’t do well at was incorporating my research into the paper so the reader knows I actually did the research. I think that the research was more of an inspiration than anything else. I feel prepared for other writing assignments in that I need to keep my focus on my original goal or intent and not stray from that. I also need to stick to my schedule or timeline but I think the fact that I kept changing my mind is was put me behind schedule. I found that as I read other stories now, I look for a hidden meaning or deeper into the story to see if there is something else that I could be missing. What I came away with from this project is that I don’t have the patience to write a short story let alone a full novel, maybe when I’m older I will be able to focus more on the storyline and developing the characters than I was with this story. I found that what I planned could go wrong in fact did go wrong.