Composing Application:

What a took away from the Poe writing was know where you are going to go and write backwards.

Conversely, in Carter's essay she says O'Connor writes just the opposite.  She starts out with a line or sentence and has no idea where it is going.

The biggest impact Carter's essay has left on me and will immediately affect my 4351 CW poetry class is, the idea of tension.  I have a list of things that I have to include in every poem; language, concrete details, establish setting early on, diction, meter, end with a strong image, show me what is happening don't tell me etc... but now to the list I will add tension.  Tension is huge in a part of all life.  Sometimes it is a perpetually inner tension of your success as an individual with life, or if you are smart or beautiful or skinny enough or loved.  These simple thoughts all come with tension to old and young, but the real tension is how these ideas are being worked out in your head, sometimes in your guts.  Life is all about simple basic things when writing to people. All can respond to the statement, "God is holy".  Some may say "There is no God", some may say "Amen", some may say, "Which God" whatever they may believe there is a thought preceded with tension.  This is a touchy subject to a lot of people.  It is simple and straight forward.  

The other singular impact this essay had on me is the affirmation of my perspective being unique and if I can compose that artistically it can be a well written piece.