"Time Can Transform the Fantasies of Youth" By Russel Banks

     Choosing one of the articles from Writers on Writing was easy, I simply just closed my eyes and had chosen a random article. The article I clicked read, "Time Can Transform the Fantasies of Youth" by Russel Banks. The first thing I thought was, "this doesn't sound like an author giving me his opinion about the writing process." Once I started reading this article I was instantly hooked.

     Banks talks about when he was in his early 20's reminiscing on trying to make it as a writer and working at a bookstore down in the basement. Most of his time in his 20's was spent drinking heavily and hanging out with a woman from Virginia  whom he could marry and have children with. Banks being heavily depressed almost turned to a life of crime but figured out what he needed. He needed to be in solitude and give himself time to write his short stories and get idea's for different novels. So what does he do? He leaves Boston and drives towards Key West, Florida.

     I agree with the author about having solitude when writing to really gather up your thoughts and idea's of what you want accomplished. One thing he didn't mention was setting goals for yourself. I think as a writer, it can be personally overwhelming when trying to write a novel for example. It is very daunting and horrific. I am actually about to start writing my first novel this week, between work and school I haven't had much time lately. With this three week break coming in for school, you can say I'm going to take full advantage.

    My thinking has definitely changed regarding a writer's perspective in the social media environment, especially in regards to journalist's. I think journalist's and the citizen journalist need to stay close along the lines of the journalist Code of Ethics and not stray away from it. That is one of my views that has changed the most in regards of going through this course the past couple months. I never really had thought about social media and how people publish things all the time on social media sites without citing it. But I think people will start to realize that WE are all publishing things online constantly and need to have some sort of sense of ethics when publishing online.