ARTFUL NEGOTIATION
UWRT 1102 REFLECTION
My writing experience this second summer session has been very constructive to say the least. On the first few days, we were assigned some writing tasks that demarcated what became immediately apparent to me as a process. We began by giving some descriptions of ourselves to break the ice followed by some written analysis of literary pieces. We were writing from day one and I was already apprehensive. These first assignments were specially difficult to me, not because of the difficulty level, but because of my psychological block from not having written anything in such a long time prior to them. Once we started looking at what constituted as good writing and how one approaches the task in general, it really sunk in that I struggle greatly with allowing my thoughts to freely transfigure onto the paper.
It wasn't until I read Anne Lamott and her piece on "shitty first drafts" that I realized and accepted that I was no professional writer and that it therefore followed that it was completely acceptable to create a substandard first piece. From that point onwards, I was better able to assimilate Stephen King's quote -you must not come lightly to the page- and apply it in my approach to writing without the excess stress, for I felt more comfortable with the process. There were other activities that we did in class that helped tremendously with making some of the connections between the writing and its applicability to the real world. For example, the daybooks,which were a great exploratory resource as they forced me to develop different types of writing; I suppose the adage that says writing something every day is the habit of the great writer holds true.
This concept became clearer when we started discussing what genre was. “The Graphic Chapter on Genre” was one of the best tools that illustrated, literally, how genre works in and affects writing. However, out of the different lessons we tackled in class, I decidedly enjoyed the rhetorical analysis section of the writing the best, as I think it resonated well with my style of writing. I think this is strongly reflected in my writing as most of my blog posts include some level of philosophical thought. My predisposition to appeal to logos and ethos is specially noticeable in my blog posts titled- “Technology and Language”, “Word”, and “Inquiry step one”.
The daybook activities also well prompted the exchange of helpful feedback among my peers from which I mostly based my attempts at changes in my writing. Most of them complimented my writing by describing it as formal, scholarly, and logical, but also added that I lacked the creative risks and the conversational tone that were paramount in any progress as a writer. After some hesitation, I finally began making some adjustments in my writing. I think I have progressed well in exploring other forms of writing. I do think my core style of writing definitely favors the formal tone and the essay structure, but I have learned the importance of adapting to an audience with different tastes and expectations. I think this is what constitutes as a good writing; the written expression that appeals best to the reader. On some of the first classes, we were asked to define writing with 2-3 words. I called it “artful negotiation”. I called it this because to me, writing is communication that does not include the body language as mode of aid for comprehension. Since the reader interprets your message through your words, you are engaged with the reader in a sort of negotiation for the true meaning of your writing. Even now, my thoughts are one way as I describe what I mean, but my words may be interpreted differently, but it is still my responsibility, through the artistic endeavor of writing, to negotiate my case through rhetoric and skill.
My goals for any future writing is to first keep my audience in mind and employ the best use of the tools we learned in class. I think it’s this awareness that is very important in keeping a writer within the desired style and tone, and it is in this that I must work to avoid monotony. On a side note, at moments the class did not feel like a class setting per se, but more like a practice room where ideas are exchanged and writing techniques are improved. Looking at the class like this made it much easier to tackle some of the challenges in the class.
It should also be mentioned that I was very impressed with professor Andrews. In many ways the instructor(s) play a crucial role in one’s development, and since this whole experience felt more like a collaborative effort, it follows that a lot of the credit goes to her excellent instruction. I truly feel that this was a very positive experience overall, and I can honestly say I have adopted a better perspective and attitude towards the writing process.