The Phillies, the Cheesesteaks and Rocky... OH MY! From the sweet sound of cars passing my window...the decadent and delicious peanut butter and chocolate I covered in Kandy Kakes...the sun beating down on me as I watch the Phillies fight at Citizen Bank Park; there's no place I'd rather be than in Philadelphia. The memories I have from my past have been the secret tools I have used to make my writing unique. Writers tend to draw on personal experiences to fuel their writing. This idea has been the cornerstone of my writing process so far this semester. My writing draws on what I know and my hometown of Philadelphia has been the connecting factor throughout my work. Although Philadelphia has not been the focal point of my work, it has provided a nugget of uniqueness to my articles. This little piece of connection from my past that I incorporated into the words of my articles allowed me to connect to the reader as well as connect my writing to my past. The following is an example of how I incorporated Philadelphia by connecting my own cultural past with the cultural past in the poem "Coca-Cola and Coco Frio" written by Martin Espada: "While Tastykakes are a regional treat which can be found in every Pennsylvania. grocery store and gas station, the Coca-Cola logo is a global symbol recognized in Egypt, France and almost all countries. This example illustrates how incorporating my own past has helped me connect and improve my writing. I have found that writing this semester has become easier for me when I write about what is familiar to me. This process allowed my writing to contain more depth and connectivity between different topics. As I tried to incorporate my hometown into my writing, I also learned that Philade...... middle of paper ......e about what I I knew what the unpleasant memory was from my hometown in the spring. Philadelphia has become my secret weapon for getting out of difficult situations in the writing world. This semester taught me about the challenges that come with writing, but gave me the tools to overcome them. I've learned through trial and error that writing about what I know can inevitably help me connect my literary ideas to my personal story. This year's writing processes have challenged me to push my writing ability to a new collegiate level. I feel that once I complete this course, I will have successfully demonstrated my improved writing skills. Writing is something an author should be proud of. My work this semester is definitely something I can be proud of. I guess that goes to show...when in doubt, I can always count on Philly.