blog 2

Like others I loved Vicki Spandel's chapter on the right to personalize the writing process. I think the best way to teach anything is to lead by example, so what better way to teach writing than to do just the same. As I was reading this chapter I kept thinking to myself, 'just imagine how much fun writing would have been and how much I would have learned had we implemented these strategies when I was in school. I love the idea of a non-judgmental writing environment that nurtures and strengthens writing. I thought her idea of the students actually seeing the teacher struggle for topic sentences, pause for thought, stumble over words, and hesitate as they write was a great image, and hopefully one that will materialize in many classrooms. I liked how she stressed the idea that every writer should personalize the writing process to suit his style and preferences, and there is no right or wrong way to right (as opposed to what I have often been told). I like Spandel's quote on page 43 telling a student, "this is not the way to write, it is one way to write."

I thought chapter 3 in Writing and the Writer was also interesting. I had never considered the difference between composition and transcription before, or the fact that they can compete with one another. I agree when the author says that composition and transcription should be separated, but if you are working solely on a project I think this is hard to do sometimes. I can certainly understand how writing and thought are in competition with each other. Many times I forget what I wanted to put on paper or the idea I was formulating because my hand can't catch up with my head. I'm sure everyone has experienced this. I find it frustrating and annoying. How wonderful it would be to have a secretary around when I am writing a paper!

Chapter 8 was the least interesting chapter for me because I felt the author was re-hashing the same things we discussed before, but I still found some good information in the chapter. I liked the replacing the word 'prewrite' with 'groundwork' and 'rewrite' with 'review.' I think these words better sum up what is done during these stages of writing. I thought the analogy of likening the specification for the text to the blueprints of an architect was a helpful and useful metaphor.

One of my other favorite quotes from these readings also came from Spandel's chapter. She quoted Anne Lamott saying, "perfectionism is the voice of the oppressor, the enemy of the people" (Spandel 41). I agree with this idea in the world of writing. I know when I am overly concerned with grammar and sentence structure, I often lose my creative track or become so frustrated with the assignment that I lose focus with the bigger picture.