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Memory Lane

Tom Spencer

Why is WVU set up the way it is?

To those that question the format. I present my opinion. You are the final judge.

There is a need, not for a testimonial, the need is for an understanding of the concepts that are in place, in this educational environment called "The Writers' Village University".

This concept is unique unto itself. There are no other sites, in my opinion; on the Web or in any university that can compare with the learning environment that Bob Hembree has presented to the aspiring writer in the format of this university.

This is a true learning environment not a teaching situation.

This is a forum for the creative person to create. This Writers' Village is not a place that tells the student what to create as most teaching facilities are. For those of you who have been guided every step of your life's education by a formal teacher or mentor this site allows you to throw off your shackles of directed thought and soar into a world of creativity that you have never encountered before.

This is not my humble opinion, I have been allowed to learn here without regard to who I am, how wealthy I am, what race I am, the religion I choose or my physical characteristics.

When it comes to writing, I know I have come a long way, from the point I started at three years ago, here at the University. I don't have a humble opinion of this Writing site; I have nothing but praise for it.

I know I can write interesting stories and poetry for the enjoyment of the reader. Although I have not been published by a major publisher yet, I will be soon and I know that is fact. Because I didn't have teachers guiding me in their concepts of storytelling and poetry, I have stories to tell and poems to write that haven't been written before.

Here I have fellow students who I have been able to learn from, telling me where my writing is not working, telling me the major things that don't work rather than the comma that is out of place. I have a punctuation problem and the students who have been here with me can tell you why I have a punctuation problem. I now have editors that believe in my abilities and me; they will correct my problems before submission to publishers. They don't make a joke of my punctuation any more, as some used to.

You see, I don't see what you see, I am legally blind. I am fortunate to see the large font words on the screen of my computer. The commas and the periods are a lost cause for me. I have had to take most of the courses here at the university without even the assistance of a book. Most of the texts are not on talking book and the talking book is my only means of reading standard print. The reason the longer-term students know of my inconvenience is that I asked to take some courses without the use of the book since it was unavailable as a talking book.

I have found that there is much more to learn from the other students than you will ever learn from a book or a teacher.

I don't agree totally with the newer format of Facilitators who the student inadvertently feels they have to please. This is the way we have been taught though, by the accepted standard of educational structure. I feel strongly that the embryo of a thought should be thrown on the table and let the students decide where to take it. I do know that with success there is always change and the change will evolve into its own life.

If you apply yourself here and accept that everyone is someone you can learn from, you will grow as a writer and a person.
A writer creates; a teacher's student pleases the teacher.

Your fellow student, Tom Spencer