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“The true alchemists do not change lead into gold;
they change the world into words.” – William H. Gass
It’s my second blog not only in an English Composition class but in life. The initiator of my blogging is my English instructor, Sabatino Mangini. For this blog, I will use three articles that explain what writing process is and how to make writing less stressful. I will set a scene where all three writes are coming together.
Teach Writing as a Process Not a Product (Don Murray) Against Vanity: In Praise of Revision (Mary Karr) Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life (Anne Lamott) I have a friend who is always late. Nothing works with her, and even if you would tell her meeting time in 30 minutes early, she would still late. Although this time she is really very late, and I, just to kill time, go to the nearest library to look through magazines. I take a couple of magazines and take a seat in the comfortable armchair. At the first, I didn't even notice three persons that are seating like knights of the round table and arguing about somethings but my curiosity has taken its and I start listening to their conversation. As far as I understand, they are talking about a writing process and how it is better to teach a writing process for students. I go to them, introduce myself as a current student of DCCC, and ask their permission to participate in their roundtable. These three persons are Mary Karr, Anne Lamott, and Don Murray. “What is the writing process?” I ask. “In the college, our professors are telling so much about this term that it is hard to identify what steps or stages are?” Marry Karr answers, “I’ve heard three truths from every mouth: (1) writing is painful – it’s “fun” only for novices, the very young, and hacks…” And Anne Lamott agrees with her,” The right words and sentences just do come pouring out like ticker tape most of the time.” The guy, who looks for me as real “nerd” in English composition and literature, tries to settle down my growing concern about writing, “The writing process itself can be divided into three stages: prewriting, writing, and rewriting.” (Don Murray) “Oh…our professors always indicate the importance of outlines and drafts…but for me, it is just a wasting of time,” I mention. Don Murray, taking off his glasses and granting me with his super wise sight, pronounces,” The student should have the opportunity to write all the drafts necessary for him to discover what he has to say on this particular subject.” Anne Lamott immediately interrupts him, and states,” The first draft is the child’s draft… The second draft is the updraft - you fix it up. The third draft is the dental draft.” And Mary Karr adds her second truth about the writing process,” …(2) other than a few instances of luck, good work only comes through revision…” I repeat after them,” Prewriting, writing, rewriting, drafts… I have used all these tools and still dislike writing. I must follow rules in essay writing and go through peer review. And this process is nothing than an attempt not upset another person by making remarks on his or her writing and effort to hold me from a knock on his or her head due to comments on my work.” Mary Karr tries to encourage me, “Writing, regardless to the result-whether good or bad, published or not, well reviewed or slammed- means celebrating beauty in an often ugly world.” Anne Lamott’s words,” I don’t think you have time to waste not writing because you are afraid you won’t be good enough at it…” Don Murray, with a warm smile on his face, utters,” There are no rules, no absolutes, just alternatives. What works one time may not another.” On this totally philosophic passage from Don Murray, I get an angry call from my friend that is arrived, finally. So, I am leaving the roundtable with a big inspiration for my future writings.
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AuthorI will use this page to post blogs throughout my English Composition I class. Archives
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