Writers on Writing

Lamott Summary
In her article, "Shitty First Drafts", Anne Lamott talks about her time as a food critic and explains to her readers how she would start off with a "shitty" first draft. This means that she would usually have long non-entertaining introductions with a lot of information, some useful, and some not. The draft would be a lot longer than what it should be and she was able to combine all of her thoughts to make a fluid and entertaining piece of writing.

King Summary
In his article, "What Writing Is?", Stephen King attempts to explain his view on the importance of taking writing seriously. He states "you must not come lightly to the blank page". This means you must take it seriously, put your heart into it. He also talks about his preferred writing area and the ways he does his writing.

Goodman Summary
In her article, "Calming the Inner Critic and Getting to Work", Allegra Goodman attempts to explain what the "inner critic" really means. She believes we are all smart enough to see that our talents are limited, that we can convince ourselves to whatever we feel necessary, and that we must follow our imagination.

Haruf Summary
In his article, "To See Your Story Clearly, Start by Pulling the Wool over Your Own Eyes", Kent Haruf attempts to familiarize his audience with his exact ways of writing. He talks about the importance of the atmosphere and the knick knacks that lay around your writing space. He says "the things on my desk and the walls above it connect me emotionally to memories, ways of living, people and geographical areas that are important to me". When you have things around you that make you happy, the way you write is enhanced in a better way. He tells how he writes his first draft and that is blind. He actually takes off his glasses, pulls a knit cap over his eyes, and types. It his way of staying in touch with subliminal and subconscious impulses. Everyone has their own writing process.

Sontag Summary
In her article, "Directions: Write, Read, Rewrite. Repeat Steps 2 and 3 as Needed", Susan Sontag tells her story of when she was diagnosed with cancer when she was 8 chapters into a book she was writing. Her friend offered to help her finish it but she had to decline the offer because she feels that in order to write to her her best ability she must be able to see, read, and rewrite her writing. She explains that the love of reading thrills the mind for the passion of writing.

Diaz Summary
In his article, "Becoming a Writer", Junot Diaz shares his story on how he became a writer. He tells his readers his struggles and that it took him many years to get over writer's block and figuring out where he was going as a writer. He went through so many ups and downs in his life of writing and his stubbornness and passion for succeeding kept him in the game of writing.

Using These Essays
I believe that all of these articles contain their own metaphors and their own concepts. You can't really compare one to the other because I believe they all talk about different things and different views. I mean maybe the writers would agree with each other but it seems as if the authors are talking about things that apply to them. I believe Tony would have very much so benefited from reading these stories, they are great and very useful.

Meta Movement
1. By reading both research about writing processes and writers' reflections on their own processes I gain the knowledge that every writer is different. Every writer experiences different things and they all think in their own ways. Three things I found useful were, having a "shitty" first draft, I think by getting your thoughts and information out on one draft can really be beneficial, I think learning that having things around you that emotionally tie you to things in your writing are is good for your spirits, and I by reading Diaz's article I feel better about having writer's block.
2. My conception of good writing and writers doesn't change because it all depends on the situation and your own opinions of what good writing and writers really mean. There is no set definition and my view is to always keep an open mind.

Reflections
Lamott- I think this article did a great job expelling the meaning of a shitty first draft and it gave me some ideas about how to pre-write writing.
King- I really enjoyed hearing the thoughts of Stephen King and I thought it was very interesting to hear about what he thinks about writing and some of his own processes. He is just an overall mysterious person and it was great that he was included.
Goodman- I think I understood this article the least. I do understand however that it is important to pay attention to your inner critic at some point, but that sometimes you have to look beyond it.
Haruf- I got a lot out of this article. I had so many notes written down when reading this and it was very interesting to me. I think it's so cool to hear about other peoples writing processes, especially interesting and random one's like Haruf's. I like that he talked about the importance of being attached to certain items in your writing space.
Sontag- This article was pretty common and similar to some I have read before. I think that it was good for her to talk about her struggles and her ways she prefers to write.
Diaz- This article was eye-opening to me. I never knew how severe writer's block could be and I didn't think someone would go through it for so long. It's inspirational that Diaz never gave up.

Individual Process

Harris Summary
In her article, "Composing Behaviors of One- and Multi-Draft Writers", Muriel Harris attempts to shows the difference between one-draft writers and multi-draft writers. She explains the meaning of both types and weighs out the pros and cons of each. She argues that "no picture of revision is complete until it includes all that is known and observed about a variety of revision behaviors among writers" (Harris, 179). This means that there maybe be different ways to draft and continue to draft your paper but as long as it includes all of the essentials and information that is needed it doesn't matter how many drafts you may have.

1. I am a combination of both a one- and multi-draft writer. It all depends on what type of paper and what kinds of information I have to put together. I know this because there have been times where I have had many drafts of a paper but also times where I've only had one.
2. With multi-draft writing you can develop a habit of including many many thoughts and facts that aren't needed. I catch myself doing that sometimes. With one-draft writing there is a chance you could miss grammar fixations or certain information that you wanted to include but forgot.

Reflection
I think this was a cool article to read. I enjoyed learning about the pros and cons of each type and the differences each had. However it was difficult to understand sometimes, but I think I figured out the main point!

Ransom Summary
In her article, "How Do I Write?", Dominieq Ransom answers her exact question in her title, the way she writes. She asks "what does a person know about their own writing process?" (Ransom, 293). During this segment she asks herself that question and proceeds to tell her audience what her process really is. She talks about the ups and downs of writing and mistakes that made her a better writer.

1. Analyzing herself under a time constraint, how a person can understand their writing process more clearly, having distractions, and writing down her thoughts were most interesting to me. By doing my own research I would find my own ways to help myself with writing and figure out my writing processes.
2. Yes, I do jot down little thoughts and notes here and there and they do lead me to write. I believe that one simple word can lead to a whole sentence or paragraph, Once you start writing, the thoughts just keep flowing out of your mind.

Reflection
I enjoyed reading this article and hearing about Ransom's ways of writing. I liked the way this segment of the chapter was set up and it was easy to read and understand. I kind of struggled understanding the questions at the end, I don't know why I just couldn't wrap my mind around some of the thoughts that I had about it all.

Rewriting, Re-vison, Editing

Summary
In her article, "Turning, Tying, and Training Texts", Barbara Tomlinson gives examples of eight different metaphorical stories. Each story represents and focuses on different ways a composing process works. ON page 261 she quotes Schon and says "that each metaphorical story conveys a different view of reality and represents a special way of seeing". This means that every way is different from another and that each person can learn something opposite of what they have already learned from ways of revising.

QD
1. I think she believes that she would get better and truer information through research.
2. Using a metaphor to describe writing is a way to tie different things into it and base writing off of something, but sometimes there is no way around writing, it can be just writing, simple as that.
3. A lot of the metaphors apply to my previous and ongoing writing. Especially, painting, casting and recasting, and tying things off.
4. No i really don't think she is going to far, each metaphor can come into place at different times when forming a certain text.
5. I think they come into play when revising writing because like the casting and recasting metaphor you can go back and reshape your writing and use different phrases or other parts combined and create something new when you revise.

Reflection
I overall liked this article, I love metaphors. I think they are mysterious and interesting to learn about because everyone has their own metaphors that they follow and believe in.

Tracing Processes/Complexity

In her article, "Decisions and Revisions: The Planning Strategies of a Public Writer", Carol Berkenkotter attempts to explain her view and and what she has learned about writing processes through her own work and the works of Donald M. Murray. She describes planning and revising when writing. Her main point was that students and writers must understand the ways of writing from other writers and use those skills to better their own.

In his article, "Response of a Laboratory Rat- or Being Protocoled", Donald M. Murray attempts to explain to his readers his own writing processes and the things he does to better his writing. He gives step by step procedures and things to do when writing. He argues that his main goal was not to only show his process of writing but show that there are always better writers and always something more you can learn.

QD
1. My writing styles are alike and different of Murray's. He talks about a lot of planning that he does, but I feel like I don't do as much planning. He also describes that he focuses and worries a lot about pattern of writing, which is what I do.
2. I think Murray is communicating to his writers in an informing sense. He wants to guide them and help them. He may even focus a lot about himself when writing. I like to communicate with my audience in a way where they can relate to me and feel as if what I'm writing ties into their lives.
3. This study changed Berkenketter's revisions and protocol because she now knows ways and she knows it creates room for using certain ideas and planning to improve your writing.

AE
When I write I am continuously thinking of different ways I can put my sentences and information together. A lot of my editing goes through my brain and I already have a revised copy flowing through my mind. I think it is great to brainstorm and plan your writing ahead of time. It gives writers the ability to write their article sin different ways and have a choice when picking the final draft.

Meta Moment
To understand my audience more and understand what it is I am writing form.

Reflection
I don't know if I understood these articles correctly, I  may have  gotten the wrong idea but I think it was interesting to read the two stories together and see how they both tied into each other.

Research Redux/Process

Kleine Summary
In his article, "What Is It We Do When We Write Articles Like This One-and How Can We Get Students To Join Us?", Michael Kleine attempts to explain the difference between a hunter and a gatherer when doing research for papers. "A hunter finds what he is looking for; a gatherer discovers that which might be of use"(Kleine, 25). He argues that too many students focus on finding research and copying in the sense that they re-word everything that they read, whereas coming up with new information from the information that runs through their mind. Everyone should "write to learn". Every word can bring a new thought and a new piece of information into view.

Questions for Discussion
1. I believe the way Kleine describes how students re-word the information that they find and use it for their own work is what happens for many writers. It can be a challenge to be able to come up with your own information and thoughts after reading and learning new facts of a certain topic. I usually put my own thoughts into my research papers.
3. In Kleine's idea, discovery and the actual of thought is the main source. Not actual facts and information. In my past resource efforts, teachers always wanted the sources to be the main idea, but I always took what I needed from my research and then added to it with the thoughts in my mind. The difference between the two is that when you only use what the sources say, you can't connect with the paper and the outcome isn't as relatable.
4. Not much would change, I basically balance my sources and myself when writing.

Reflection
I think this article was great for students to believe because a lot of the time, students only focus on the sources and they don't think that their thoughts and what they know already can be useful for their papers. In order for a paper to be the best it can be, the writer has to put their own thoughts into it, making it understandable to them and their readers.

Identity And Punctuation

Allen Summary 

In her article, "The Inspired Writer vs. the Real Writer", Sarah Allen attempts to explain the obstacles that writers face when learning how to write, learning how to revise, learning how to get over writer's block, and to face the fears of writing. On page 36 Allen describes the Inspired Writer to be everywhere. That at some point the Inspired Writer lives in every writer, giving the confidence that writing will come easily and that there is no fear of messing up. She argues that even though there are many misunderstandings and fears of writing, there is always a way for you to fix your writing, and to elaborate more on the point you want to get across. Everything that has to do with writing has to do with communication, and communicating with your readers in some way. 

Response

I feel as if I have experienced a lot of the things that Allen explains and compares herself to. This is because, as someone who does love to write, it doesn't always come easily and I usually spend hours figuring out how to get my point across and to kepp everything flowing.

Reflection

I really did like this article. I think Allen did a great job using personal experiences and her own thoughts that made the article easier to relate to. I understand the Inspired Writer a lot more than the Real Writer, but overall I can relate to what she says and it was interesting to read.

Getting Ready to Read

The only advice and guidelines I remember getting when writing in school, was to not voice my opinion and to not put myself into my writing, I stayed away from using words like I and you. 

Murray Summary

In his article, "All Writing is Autobiography", Donald Murray attempts to show readers how all writing is autobiographical and how effective it is to put your own experiences and opinions in your writing. He argues that we become what we write. We may write facts with fiction, but yet the fiction turns into facts in the story that runs along in our mind. Murray states "We make up our own history, out own legends, our own knowledge by writing our own autobiography". The texts that we read and write become part of the life we believe we lived.

1. The construct that Murray is asking his readers to reconsider is putting more of your own self into your writing. Making it a part of you.

3. Some different things about Murray's writing is that it is so emotional to the point where you feel connected. He uses facts about himself and puts in new ideas that add to what he is telling and add to the story in his mind. He gave examples of his own writing and he used different forms like narratives and poems. 

4. His article is included in the genre of "scholarly article" because like all of the other articles we  have read in this chapter, he is teaching us and helping us understand a different form of writing. Previous authors focused on using many different sources, but I think the point that Murray wants to get across is that you can be your own source. 

5. I think I am a lot like Murray. When I write I usually am writing from experience or from my opinion. Everything I write on paper adds to the story inside of my head. He talks about how all writing is autobiographical and that "our autobiography grows from a few deep taproots that are set down into our past in childhood". I completely agree.

Meta Moment

I think Murray's claims in this article make readers more excited about writing, and more obligated to include their own experiences and thoughts into their writing. 

Reflection

I really enjoyed reading Murray. I think that what he had to say and the point that he got across was very important for readers to read. I think a lot writers feel as if they can't put their own thoughts and experiences with their writing. In order to write certain types of writing you must learn how to put yourself into it. I do understand that there are certain types of writing that you stick to true facts but that doesn't mean you cant put your opinion into it. 

Getting Ready to Read

1. My sister's treehouse was made of wood scraps and cardboard. 

2. The treehouse made a great place to play with her friends, it was made of wood scraps and cardboard.

My sister's treehouse was made of wood scraps and cardboard, it made a great place to play with her friends.

Dawkins Summary

In his article, "Teaching Punctuation as a Rhetorical Tool",  John Dawkins attempts to explain his views on puncutuation and gives examples of different ways it can be used to better your writing. He talks about punctuating single independent clauses, raising and lowering a rhetorical effect, and other types of punctuation. He argues that by teaching raising and lowering, we will be adding to certain skills of the student, it will encourage students to clarify the meanings of their sentences, and more. This is because he has a firm belief on how punctuation can affect people's writing.

2. He talks about how there are easier ways and harder ways to punctuate and to make your writing the best.

3. Raising is like raising the bar, putting more of an effort into emphasizing your sentence and what you are trying to say. Lowering is almost the opposite, not putting to much of an effort, and almost making it simple.

5. That there are more areas you can use it and that you don't always have to use it. There are different techniques and different opinions about those of punctuation.

6. I focus a lot on it. I hate when writing is done without punctuation.