Writing Process
This post is about the writing process which was assigned to me by Dr. Sabatino Mangini my English Composition 1 instructor. I am to bring alive three major writers that contributed greatly to the writing process through interacting and dialog. We'll discussed their ideas and how me as novice can learn the writing process. The assigned texts are listed below. Teach Writing as a Process Not a Product (Don Murray) Against Vanity: In Praise of Revision (Mary Karr) Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life (Anne Lamott) My name is Francis Bracewell, born in West African Liberia. Liberia suffered 15 years of civil and political unrest during the early 90’s, the war finally ended in 2004. A democratic election was held, ushering African’s first female president Ellen Johnson Sirleaf. As a child growing up, I was always enthusiastic about writing, even though the civil crisis deprived my generation of my youthful days, but it didn’t perturb me from learning and finding answers to the writing process. On the 20th day of January 2019, during one of my English Composition classes at the Delaware County Community College, I had the opportunity to meet three of the major contributors that give meaning to the writing process. They were Don Murry, Mary Karr and Anne Lamott, I was so excited to be in their presents. I said to myself that if I am given the chance, I am going to asked them all about the writing process, what’s the best way to start the writing process and what are the tips in becoming a good writer? Fortunately for me that day, I was given the opportunity for a dialogue with the writers. I introduced myself once more to the English Composition 1 class and to the visiting guests. Since the time was not in my favor, other class mates needed their time with visiting guests. For beginner like me, I had to be more to the point with my concerns at it relates to the writing process. My inquest to body was how can I as a student of the English 1 Composition learned from them (the writers) the best practice to apply the writing process? Don Murray was the first to address my quest, he stated that by saying that he is more interested in the process rather than the product of writing. Don Murray said that the writing process can be divided into three stages: “Prewriting is everything that takes place before the first draft. Prewriting usually takes about 85 percent of the writer’s time. It includes the awareness of his world from which his subject is born. In prewriting, the writer focuses on that subject, spots an audience, chooses a form which may carry his subject to his audience. Prewriting may include research and daydreaming, note-making and outlining, title-writing and lead-writing” “Writing is the act of producing a first draft. It is the fastest part of the process, and the most frightening, for it is a commitment. When you complete a draft you know how much, and how little, you know. And the writing of this first draft—rough, searching, unfinished—may take as little as one percent of the writer’s time” “Rewriting is reconsideration of subject, form, and audience. It is researching, rethinking, redesigning, rewriting—and finally, line by-line editing, the demanding, satisfying process of making each word right. It may take many times the hours required for a first draft, perhaps the remaining 14 percent of the time the writer spends on the project”. Don Murray was followed by Mary Karr. She begun by thanking me for me gaining interest in the writing process and urge me to remain focus in my study and learned the process of writing and it will benefit me as a professional writer. Marry Karr “Actually, every writer needs two selves—the generative self and the editor self”. In the early draft, the generative self shakes pom-poms at every pen stroke and cheers every crossed t. In a month or so, this diligent and optimistic creature gins out, say, two hundred pages. “The editor self then shows up to heft the pages, give a sniff, and say: Yeah, but . . . The editor condenses two hundred pages down to about thirty. I don’t mean she cuts the rest; she may well boil the whole thing down so the same amount of stuff happens more economically”. “The editor self thinks only of saving the reader time and shaping a powerful emotional experience. She can’t turn her complaints and suspicions and doubts off”. Mary final words of encouragement was “Just picking up a pen makes you part of a tradition of writers that dates thousands of years back and includes Homer and Toni Morrison and cave artists sketching buffalo”. Anne Lamott was the last guest speakers, she was so visual in her address. Anne talked about starting a writing process, is like a one-inch picture frame which she can for example develop her first paragraph to set he tone for her writing. “Almost all good writer begins with a terrible first efforts. You need to start somewhere. Start by getting something-anything- down on paper” considering it the first draft or Shitty first draft. “the second draft is the up draft, you fix it up. You try to say what you have to say more accurately” “the third draft is the dental draft, where you checked every tooth to see if it’s loose or cramped or decayed, or even God help us, healthy” At the end of Anne inputs on the writing process, I was very happy to have encountered such an amazing group of intellects and the values they added to my knowledge. I have learned three important from the Anne, Mary and Don. “No one has monopoly over the writing process, so one should have an open mind in the process” “Never be terrify about making mistakes in the writing process, it will make you stronger and stronger in the process” “Always go over and over what you have written and if possible, get a third person input or to critic your work for more improvement in the writing process”
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I will be answering the Proust Questionnaire in this post.
What is your idea of perfect happiness? My Idea of perfect happiness is when one gets what he or she has been desperately in need off. I’ll say in short when your long-awaited prayer is answered by the Good Old Lord. What is your greatest fear? My greatest fear is for me not to get old before accomplishing my dreams, because I’ll not be able to sustain myself nor will I know who will take care of me during my old age and remaining days on earth. What is the trait you most deplore in yourself? Being respectful is my most deplored trait and I think it’s the way to achieving higher heights. What is the trait you most deplore in others? I’m indecisive of other deplored trait because we humans are not fixed and therefore, we change or act differently as situation unfolds. Which living person do you most admire? Barack Obama, he was able to remain courageous throughout his straggle (Raciest, hardship) and became one of the world’s most powerful person, that’s the President of The United States of America. What is your greatest extravagance? Providing for my family is my greatest extravagance. What is your current state of mind? I’m in a Stable state of mind. What do you consider the most overrated virtue? I thank the term or phase “fight global hunger” is overrated because all over the world people are still dyeing from hunger while later is been done in the name of fighting hunger. On what occasion do you lie? I haven’t come across that occasion yet, but I will if that’s the only way for me to survive. What do you most dislike about your appearance? My toes, I thank my toes are horrible to the point that I don’t allowed people to see them. Which living person do you most despise? The orange man. In my mind, I think he’s not a leader but a ruler who only care for the elites. He thinks that we’re not in the days of old where Kings reign. What is the quality you most like in a man? Treatment to others as if it was themselves. Like the bible say’s “Do unto others as you wish them do unto you” What is the quality you most like in a woman? How she carries herself and the respect for her body. I believe that a woman should be reserved and not all over the place which will devalue her. Which words or phrases do you most overuse? I use the five magical words: Please, Sorry/I’m Sorry, Thank You, Excuse Me and May I. What or who is the greatest love of your life? My wife is the greatest love of my life, she’s always there in every weather. When and where were you happiest? 2018 April 15, my wedding day. Which talent would you most like to have? Self-driven or a handy man. If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be? Empathy, I think get or feel sorry for people too quick that I go about taking the shirt off my back to give it to them leaving me without one. What do you consider your greatest achievement? Graduating from High school, it set the base for which I’m standing on now. If you were to die and come back as a person or a thing, what would it be? As Francis Bracewell but with more fortunes. Where would you most like to live? Africa, Liberia where I was born. I really love it there. What is your most treasured possession? My life, because I have life and in good health. What do you regard as the lowest depth of misery? When I had an accident back home and I almost lost my left hand. What is your favorite occupation? Probation officer is one of my favorite occupation I have had. What is your most marked characteristic? Smiles, I love to keep that smile on my face no matter what. What do you most value in your friends? A dependable friend will always win my loyalty. Who are your favorite writers? John Grisham and Robert Ludlum. Who is your hero of fiction? Sylvester Stallone (John Rambo) Which historical figure do you most identify with? Charles Darwin, I love his theory of Evolution by Natural Selection. Who are your heroes in real life? My grandma and grandpa, aunties and Uncles. What are your favorite names? Francis, Raphina, Hassan, Fumilayo and Rosetta. What is it that you most dislike? To be over looked or to be looked down upon. What is your greatest regret? When my country Liberia was involved in civil crisis, which made my generation to lost on youthfulness and achieving nothing as kids. How would you like to die? Peaceful is the way I’ll like to die because I wouldn’t want to put any of my family members through difficult times. |
FrancisI will use this blog to create and inform my readers of what I have learned in my English Composition course. Archives
May 2019
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