I really appreciate the way E. Shelley Reid describes the writing process and all of the rules that surround it. Her article, “Ten Ways To Think About Writing: Metaphoric Musings for College Writing Student” is a great way to think about writing, and how to unlearn some of the rules we are taught at a young age. Her explanation of the countless rules including not using “I” in writing was relatable to me, as I learned most of those rules as well. She’s right in that sometimes it can be difficult to try to keep up with all of these rules, especially when different teachers have different expectations, and remembering what’s what can be a challenge. However, her description of three new, straightforward proposed rules simplifies the writing process and makes it more manageable. Instead of trying to follow dozens of minuscule rules and remember why we need to use them, Shelley Reid explains that as long as a writer remembers three basic ideas, the rest will come easier.
She successfully illustrates why it’s important to think of the audience when writing something, and how to write for them, not the teacher. Her rule of showing not telling is something that I also learned when I was first starting to write. Shelley Reid goes into detail about why this is so crucial, though, so that the reader can truly comprehend why and how to follow this rule. Shelley Reid’s article is so compelling because she follows her own rules and writes to the audience. She uses precise and relatable examples so that her audience can follow what she’s explaining and fully grasp the concepts.
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