Ten Ways to Think about Writing

This week’s article, “Ten Ways to Think About Writing,” by E. Shelley Reid, urges college students who write to embrace process metaphors to gain a deeper understanding of their creative processes. By using these metaphors, the sometimes intimidating process of writing becomes more approachable and relatable. Thinking of writing as a journey is one powerful metaphor. This viewpoint encourages students to view every piece they produce as a journey with many turns and unexpected detours. Similar to tourists, writers face challenges along the way, but these setbacks may result in insightful discoveries. By establishing this journey mentality, students can understand that every draft is a step closer to their final goal, which makes the process seem less daunting and more like an adventure. Writing as gardening is another rich metaphor. This concept highlights how crucial it is to develop drafts, nurture ideas, and eliminate distractions. Writers must devote time to cultivating their ideas, just as a gardener takes patience and care of their plants. By reminding students that writing thrives with care and determination, much like a garden, this metaphor emphasizes the importance of revision. In the end, Reid’s examination of these metaphors gives students the confidence to find their own writing identities. Her explanation of these metaphors makes it easier for students to start up a conversation, talk to a peer, or with their writing group. They can overcome the difficulties of writing with creative thinking and resilience if they reconsider their experiences as a journey or a garden. This change turns writing from a difficult undertaking into a fulfilling investigation of one’s expression, enriching and delighting the process.

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