Essays to Emulate Part II

Virginia Woolf's essay called "The Death of a Moth" has always been a piece to remember. I read it back in junior high but didn't understand it fully. Not until I was in high school did I recognize how deep of a meaning was in the essay. Something I can use in  my own writing is using a seemingly simple thing, like a moth, and attach unlikely but true ideas to it. This way the readers are lead gently to a sometimes heavy subject matter.

Another essay that has a lot to learn from is "Three Fragments." I even tried to use it as inspiration as my recent blog. I love the way it starts. Simple and yet intriguing. It instantly makes you want to read on because you feel like you walked right into a regular conversation. It is very accessible.

Another thing I like about "Three Fragments" is the juxtaposition of eating while bombs fall. That line was very moving. It gave the sense that this war was being fought in people's backyard's literally. They just watched smoke rise, cut watermelon, and were unafraid when the thunder like sound turned out to not be thunder. It was eerily calm. That is something I want to try doing in my writing--make a point by using subtle and obvious observations.