Joanne Weise

web bio.

I've always been a relatively small-town gal, having to use my own imagination to entertain myself. As a result of this, I constantly find myself zoning out while doing mundane tasks, usually drifting to thoughts of events that took place several weeks, months, or years ago. This process usually ends in a giggle or the occasional fit of laughter, which prompts others around me to question what was so funny.

"Haha... R!" (You know, that joke about what the pirate movie is rated.)

I have to explain myself all the time, and I love doing so.   Being a unique individual is no new undertaking for me, thanks to an equally unique mother, father, and two younger brothers. We tend to get ourselves into the most unimaginable situations, at least in our own minds—which leaves us our keen intellect and wit to get us out. This is what happens when you're a member of a tight-knit, loving family from the Midwest.

Since I have had plenty of experience with explaining myself, I have little trouble in explaining anything else to others, whether through creative prose pieces, haiku, websites, or technical writing pieces. While each genre uses different techniques to do so, I am able to touch upon subjects and have others understand them, at least for the most part.

As I go on to graduate school and further delay the decision of what I want to do after college, I might take on the task of editor, web publisher, teacher, or millionaire—I haven't decided which. For now, dingy apartments, long hours on computers and in books and notebooks, and a diet of soup and macaroni and cheese will sustain me and help me continue to thrive.

Poetics: web publishing and creative writing

I have very, very rarely ever considered my works or myself "excellent," except for, maybe, my ability to scrapbook or my skill in playing Super Mario Brothers. Even then, when I receive the random compliment, including those regarding pieces I've done in my English writing courses, I blush, smile, and mutter a timid "Thanks."

Having said that, I'm going to do my best to describe what "excellent writing" is to me and my stuffs.

I believe in being simplistic, both in creative writing and in design strategies. Just because a short story, poem, or website contains a ton o' words does not mean that those words are worth reading.    Making sure a client's needs are met when creating a website is not unlike making sure an audience's needs are met when writing a creative piece. No site is ever complete unless the client it was designed for is satisfied, and I definitely make sure of this before completion.

Likewise, with creative pieces, I am always conscious of my audience. My purpose is to entertain; if I am rambling on about nothing, or stating things that are disinteresting, then I am not catering to this ideal. Again, just because a piece contains a lot of words does not mean that it will be worth reading. I always try to write creative pieces with this in mind, keeping the text to a minimum, without sacrificing the reader's enjoyment. Good creative pieces will invoke a response from anyone, not a select group only. Creative prose and haiku are meant to be universal, and I strive to make sure that they are.

Writing and creating to the needs of others is not a new concept by any means. However, I would say that anything that I create, whether prose, haiku, web sites, or anything else, is intended to be read or used by anyone. I believe that universality to be the most important characteristic of excellence in any sort of creation.