"Demystify Writing
Misconceptions" was written by Joseph Moxley, University of South Florida
To become a competent, confident writer,
you may find it useful to analyze your attitudes about writing. After all, your
assumptions about how writers work can limit your imagination and the quality
of your finished product. You can debunk a truckload of myths about writing by
analyzing how you write, how your peers write, and how professional writers write.
Writer are Born Rather Than Nurtured
Reality: Perhaps a few people are born
with a special ability to express themselves through language, yet ability
without desire or experience nets an empty page
Researchers have been unable to prove that
writers are uniquely intelligent or original. What is unique, however, is that
writers discipline themselves to write and revise. When their thoughts are
muddy, successful writers persist until they achieve clarity.
Writers Always Enjoy Writing
Reality: Professionals agonize about their
writing from time to time.
For example, Sue Lorch, an accomplished
writing teacher and author, writes: I do not like to write. Most people to whom
I reveal this small, personal truth find it exceedingly odd, suggesting by
their expressions that I ought either to repair my attitude or develop the
discretion necessary not to go around telling people about it. Apparently these
people hear my confession as an admission of fraud. Because my professional
life centers on the written word—on producing it, interpreting it, teaching it,
and teaching others to teach it—people assume that I should enjoy writing. Not
at all. I inevitably view the prospect of writing with a mental set more
commonly reserved for root canals and amputations: If it must be done, it must
be done, but for God's sake, let us put it off as long as possible. [Sue Lorch,
"Confessions of a Former Sailor." In Writers on Writing. Ed. Tom
Waldrep, New York
Although experienced writers may dislike
the act of writing, they know that if they are to develop ideas, they need to
put their pen to the page or their fingers to the keyboard. Like the
forty-niners prospecting for gold in the Sierras, many of us write with the
hope of eventually experiencing the "Eureka Phenomenon"—the
inspirational moment when our passion finds form and we discover what we want
to say by writing.
Gifted Writers Are Overflowing with Ideas
Reality: Experienced writers do not have a
monopoly on good ideas.
Like most other people, they suffer
through long, weary days when good ideas seem as rare as a lunar eclipse. Even
on the worst days, however, they have faith in the creative process; their
experience tells them that the chaos and frustration of early drafting will
subside once a few drafts are written. Also, they look outside of themselves
for ideas by reading extensively, observing their world, and building
relationships with people.
Writing is a Lonely Craft Conducted Best By
Introverts
Reality: Contrary to the myth of the
lonely writer in the garret, you do not need to chain yourself to a desk in
order to create.
Writing need not be a solitary, lonely
act. In fact, writers who do not enjoy working in isolation either coauthor
essays or they make arrangements with friends to meet together and write on
their separate subjects. Others find it useful to write in noisy college
cafeterias. And even if you do your best writing in a quiet room away from
other people, you can probably do your best revising by observing how your
words influence actual readers. When you can no longer find fault with your
manuscript, there's nothing more invigorating than sharing it with trusted
peers.
In business settings, people often
coauthor corporate reports and interoffice memos. Even the stereotypical author
in the garret is responding line by line to how his or her words are likely to
be received by the intended reader. Most writers routinely seek advice from
colleagues and editors.
Writers Work Best at Their Desks
Reality: Thoughts about what you are going
to write about do not only occur when you are sitting at your desk. If you are
receptive to sudden insights, you will find that some of your best ideas
originate when you are puttering about in the world, playing golf or driving in
busy traffic. Studies of the creative processes of scientists and artists
suggest that our most innovative breakthroughs occur in the slack moments
between work and play, so keep a notepad or tape recorder handy to record
promising thoughts.
Writers Are Most Critical When They are
Planning and Drafting
Reality: When they are just beginning a
writing project, experienced writers ignore doubts about the quality of their
ideas.
They often set aside questions of how best
to organize their ideas or whether their rough drafts contain grammatical and
mechanical errors. Experienced writers understand that evaluating the
originality of all ideas based on a first or second draft is impossible.
Truly Skilled Writers Rarely Revise
Or, quality writing always develops
spontaneously; revision is a form of punishment inflicted by nit-picking
teachers
Reality: Professional writers do not
perceive revision as merely a process of correcting errors; instead, they value
revision as a method for developing and discovering their ideas.
Once Written, the Word is Final
Reality: Sure, when you submit your
finished essays to your teachers, you should believe in what you have said.
Ideally, your essays represent your best thinking on your subject. However, you
should feel free to change your mind when reviewing your work at a later date.
In fact, your teachers want to help you recognize that thinking is an ongoing
process. Rigid thinkers, like rigid writers, are characterized by bitterness
and sarcasm rather than invigorated by the challenges of an ever-changing
world.
It is Inappropriate to Use "I"
in Writing
Reality: Use the first person when you are
discussing personal experiences and when you want your readers to understand
that the ideas in the text are your ideas or your opinions.
Because the "I" voice is so integrated with the insightful, energetic inner voice that helps us create, you might find it useful to write all your first drafts in the first person. Later on, if required by your communication situation, you can remove or rework the first person references.
Because the "I" voice is so integrated with the insightful, energetic inner voice that helps us create, you might find it useful to write all your first drafts in the first person. Later on, if required by your communication situation, you can remove or rework the first person references.
The First Paragraph of Every Essay Should
Define Your Thesis
Reality: Although it is true that many
readers appreciate a writer's work when he or she summarizes the purpose of the
document, explains the significance of the topic, and foregrounds how the
document is organized, this does not mean that you always need to follow this
sort of deductive organization structure.
Rigid rules about structuring ideas need to be shattered when serious thinking is going on. No single structure or format can satisfy diverse audiences and purposes. When you are revising your work, you will want to respond to the conventions for structuring ideas that exist for your specific communication situation.
Rigid rules about structuring ideas need to be shattered when serious thinking is going on. No single structure or format can satisfy diverse audiences and purposes. When you are revising your work, you will want to respond to the conventions for structuring ideas that exist for your specific communication situation.
Instructors Care Primarily about Grammar,
Punctuation, and Spelling
Reality: More than anything else, your
instructors care that you have thought deeply about a subject and written about
it in such a way that they can understand your thinking.
Your instructors are much more concerned with the quality and depth of your ideas than with spelling, grammatical, or punctuation errors. However, because stylistic errors can intrude on your reader's understanding of your subject, be sure to correct any such errors
Your instructors are much more concerned with the quality and depth of your ideas than with spelling, grammatical, or punctuation errors. However, because stylistic errors can intrude on your reader's understanding of your subject, be sure to correct any such errors
