Writing, most of the time, does not come as easy as one would like, especially if it’s for an assignment. E. Shelley Reid, in her essay Ten Ways To Think About Writing: Metaphoric Musings for College Writing Student, identifies very well and clearly the struggle everyone faces at moments of writing. A million rules taught throughout our lives mostly consist of “don’ts” instead of “dos.” I believe this alone traps and cages any writer instead of encouraging them to try new techniques or continue doing what they’re doing well. It’s simply psychology.
To combat all these “don’ts,” Reid offers three rules that motivate writers to let their creativity and knowledge run free. She says writers must write about things they are passionate, curious, or knowledgeable about, to show instead of just telling –meaning one should express clearly what’s in their minds instead of assuming readers are telepaths, and lastly, to adapt one’s writing to the audience and the purpose of the text.
Among all the bits of advice, examples, tips, and tricks Reid shares, one that resonated with me the most was free writing and leaving a trail. I personally rely on this technique almost 100% every time I write, as if without it, I don’t have a structure or can’t organize my thoughts. This is essentially writing an outline before actually writing the paper, which, though I know not everyone is a fan of because if they don’t “directly write what [they] think [they] are at risk of forgetting it,” I find so useful to bring meaning and purpose to my writing.
Additionally, she mentions that one, as a reader, should make all the cost money of the piece one bought to read. For this, she reassures us that writing in our textbooks or books, instead of just highlighting a phrase, is the best way to understand what a particular passage made one feel or think, which can come in handy while referring to those notes in one’s writing process. I, for once, absolutely adore it when I buy used books, and they come with previous owners’ notes, dedications, or underlines. It makes me feel more connected to what I am reading and to what those words make a community (or single person in this case) feel, creating a 360 environment experience for me as a reader.
Knowing that not everyone is the same and everyone may need a different boost in their writing, I find Reid’s essay extremely helpful to help a new writer embark on their journey.
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