David Kime [#2], On the Writing Process

When I started writing this, I had something much lengthier. But that in itself was a useful exercise because it proved my point that I tend to overdo so many different parts of the writing process, leaving myself unmotivated to actually complete it. For instance, I do an excessive amount of research to procrastinate on starting the paper... or take offense when others offer reasonable feedback on areas that need revision. Writing can feel discouraging. I dedicate so much time to it that, through all the blank pages, misinformation or tangential information, and dedication to revisions, by the end, it can feel as though I unnecessarily wasted a huge chunk of my time (i.e., writing for hours on elements that ultimately don't wind up in a final draft). This goes for both academic and creative work. I feel quite empathetic to students who feel the same after I've read their work. Most students, from my experience, often overlook the revision stage because they too just want to be done with it all.

The Bedford reading at least helped me see that my process is not necessarily wrong, but it clearly needs work. And what I've been noticing as I write this all out (and even more outside of this post), I just find the whole process infuriating... even if rewarding.

Comments

  1. C OSeptember 8, 2020 at 4:51 PM

    I can definitely relate to how you find the writing process both infuriating and rewarding at the same time, especially when you’ve spent a chunk of time on something only to realize that it needs to be deleted. In the beginning of this week’s chapter the Guide emphasizes that writing is a non-linear process of continual discovery. I found that to be a nice reminder that all the time wasted when writing isn’t time wasted at all, but instead a necessary ingredient in the whole process.

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