When no one is looking : poetry and fiction

While revising this collection, I learned to take notice of the similarities and differences among my poems and stories. In doing so, I discovered a common element that defines not only what I write, but also my motivation for writing. For the Psychology or Sociology student, the catalyst for research might be the question Why do we do what we do? I have chosen to study creative writing because it forces me to discover and create my own answers to that question with each and every piece I write. This thesis is the culmination of my attempt to understand and appreciate glimpses of the human experience. I began the project by seriously considering the motivations of my characters. Many of them are alone and searching for change, while some of them are surrounded by family and friends, yet are still alone. Much of this writing revolves around the relationships people value, need, take for granted, or simply maintain. Often times, my characters are not aware of the motivations, consequences, or possibilities surrounding the most influential relationships in their own lives. It was not too difficult to find models for many of these character-attributes in my own life and in the lives of those .around me. Yet, I consider this thesis not an imitation of life, but an exploration of life\u27s possibilities, whether they are seemingly insignificant or life altering