Whenever I have to write a paper for class, I dread starting it. I love to write, I keep several journals and try to write in at least one daily. Yet the idea of writing for a class gives me intense writer's block. After reading this article, it is very nice to see that I am not the only person who has writer's block. By no means do I consider myself an excellent writer, but it is reassuring to see that Allen also struggles with writing from time to time. Allen and I have similar feelings with writing and it's refreshing to see that while in college she struggled with knowing all of the rules. I hope with my time at school I can learn all the rules and be able to write well.
Allen talks about different formulas for writing, with the five paragraph being the one taught in high school for her (middle school for me.) During one of my English classes last year, the formula I used with writing essays for my teacher was very similar to the formula she tends to imitate by Patricia Bizzell. The formula is starting off very broad and narrowing it down -making it more precise, as she then uses two examples to further her point and help the reader understand why this issue is so important. While sometimes formulas can be for the worst, Allen turns to outside readers, and sends her drafts to people who are better writers than she is. I enjoy this strategy and have found myself already doing it with my past English teachers which makes me feel better about my own strategies. Allen writes because she is awed with words, I write for nearly the same reason. I write because I feel like so much is happening and I need to document it all now, whether it be what happened that day or analyzing a piece of literary work, the words spill out of me on to my medium of choice.
The toughest piece I've ever written is also my favorite piece I've ever written. I wrote it my junior year of high school and it was a literary analysis on my favorite novel, The Great Gatsby. This essay was the turning point for me that made me realize that I love analyzing and criticizing and just writing a paper. It made me realize that I was meant to be an English major. I was so thrilled to see that I had received an A- on it, as the teacher for that course was an extremely tough grader.
Allen points out a major misconception that even the best writers can write whatever, without any trouble. As I can suffer with some writing, it was refreshing to see herself and those she held in high esteem struggle as well.
Not just saying this to be nice and to comment, but I actually LOVE how you wrote this. I connected to what you were saying a lot and there was a lot of passion in your voice as I read the post. The part where you mentioned how the toughest piece you've ever written is also your favorite is so true; a paper that took me days to perfect in high school ended up being one of my best pieces of writing to this day. Writing takes time, and no one, not even Shakespeare, had an easy time writing without any problems every day.
ReplyDeleteI also really liked what Allen had to say as far as formulas. I too use the broader to narrower formula a lot in my writing. Personally I have always found it difficult to strike that balance between using a formula and finding the times to be a bit more free and using others for sources of critique.
ReplyDeleteI think it's awesome that you enjoy writing so much! Your writing abilities definitely show in your blog, and I agree with a lot of what you had to say. I always hate when I'm assigned a paper for class because I'm usually not a huge fan of the topic. Once I get the paper started, though, the words start to flow a little easier. I also use the strategy of looking for outside people to read/edit my work. In the past, when I've asked people I look up to as writers to edit my work, they have always helped me to make my writing better and help me become a better writer, as well.
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