More often than not my writing consists of run-on sentences, incomplete thoughts, and a total lack of organization. When i attempt to write I normally fail to acknowledge any mechanics or other important writing techniques because I am too worried about getting words on the page (or screen). But as soon as I am asked to write about my feelings towards writing I suddenly have a small countries worth of words to say. I usually fail at coming up with a viable thought or idea, I just close the computer and return to the exciting universe of television. After re-reading the topic or prompt about 50 times I finally return to the computer with the image of "at least 4 pages" circling my brain. Then the deep frustration begins after a strenuous hour of writing only to realize I am only half way through the first page. When I bring others into the situation I it just becomes sad, to the point where i will aggressively ask my parents not to read my writing aloud because I can not bare to listen to it. I am worried it will be viewed as elementary, or a lack of understanding.
Worrying about not getting enough words on the page is directly associated with my reluctance to share my writing. Since I am so worried about volume i feel that the quality is poor therefore before i even begin to proof read the paper it is already in my mind that the paper is terrible. Then when i begin to spot minor faults I just dig deeper and deeper into how horrible the paper is. Thus far my only strategy has been to write until there is so much frustration, that i begin to break things until I am calm enough to continue writing.
I feel that you shouldn't be frustrated over what you put down at first. Besides, it's going to be a first draft anyways. I suggest you write whatever comes in your head down without trying to make it as best as you can, so that you can focus more on what you're writing about rather than how your writing is going to look like in the end. There's always room for revision and beautification when you go over your draft, and then from there, you can add all the delicious details that you were originally intending to add that was causing you the frustration you previously had.
ReplyDeleteTrust me, everyone's first draft sucks :) Just don't worry about it and your writing will turn out a lot better than if you tried to write it as best as possible first.
I understand that when you ask someone to look over your paper they happily read it aloud and ends up sounding as if a child wrote it because it happens to me all the time. As much pain as it brings you hearing your paper aloud it honestly is really helpful. Sentences you weren't quite sure sounded right can be easily fixed by someone else, not knowing exactly what you are saying like you do, by them reading it aloud. They also can find all your grammar errors because when you read your own paper you know what you are reading, so simple mistakes will go over your head. Getting an outside prospect of your paper can be hard sometimes, but in the end it makes your paper better.
ReplyDeleteI'm usually pretty confident about my writing, until I hear it read aloud. It's not an uncommon feeling to have. As Koji mentioned, everyone's first draft sucks. It appears to me that all you have to do is write everything you can possibly think on your first draft, and then refine your writing with more drafts rather than try and make everything perfect in one shot. There's no shame in having multiple drafts. The best writers do it. It may take time, but I can assure you the results will be worth it.
ReplyDelete"When things don't happen right away, just remember: it takes thirteen hours to build a Toyota and six months to build a Rolls-Royce."
I also agree with what you're saying. I feel like I have many ideas in my head that I want to put on paper, but when I try to write it down, it feels like a jumbled mess of words. I feel like my papers lack organization also. I found it helpful if you read it out loud to a parent or friend. Saying the words out loud and hearing them and how they make sense in a sentence making you realize if your paper is making sense or not. Hope that helps :)
ReplyDeleteI get what youre saying, you have so much going on in your head that you can't get on to paper coherently, I get that way too. Plus when you don't feel like your paper makes sense because you don't follow all the mechanics in writing it can get really frustrating, but like Amanda said I've also learned that reading it out loud to someone, or just to yourself, can help because you know where you want it to pause at and you can make certain adjustments like commas when necessary. and then you can also see does what I'm saying even make sense? or do I need to change some things around to make it sound better?
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