Maelah Jackson
The Better Idea About Writing
Jill Parrot’s essay called Some People Are Just Born Good Writers is one of many essays about bad writing ideas put together called Bad Ideas about Writing. Parrot’s essay talks about how students and writers alike often believe that the only reason why they aren’t good writers is that they weren’t born that way. This is a terrible idea. In fact, what makes a person become a “bad writer” is because of the writer’s anxiety. What solves writer’s anxiety, is simply practice. Other factors that make are good writer are; those who give uplift themselves instead claiming they are terrible writers before writing and taking the time calm your mind.
Now, don’t panic. There are plenty of ways to practice easing writer’s anxiety. In the further reading section of Parrot’s essay, an article by Katherine Brooks is listed called Writing Anxiety and the Job Search on the website called Psychology Today. Brooks breaks down behaviors of someone who has anxiety about their writing. Some include procrastination, fear of rejection, rushing through projects, etc. The most common kind of writer’s anxiety is Writer’s block. Due to these behaviors that many students experience, they think they are bad writers and this idea couldn’t be furthest from the truth. Just because a writer experiences these behaviors doesn’t make them a bad writer. It makes them an insecure writer. It makes them a writer with anxiety and doesn’t know how to overcome that. Students need to understand their anxieties are common among even the most confident of writers. Now of course there are those people have a natural talent for writing but even they still have to continue to practice getting better at writing. And believe it or not, talented writers often go through the same writing behavior problems as any other person. Sometimes talented writers procrastinate, get writer’s block, and even forget they themselves need to take much needed breaks between writing.
To get over anxiety, Katherine gave some tips to conquer it. She goes on to say, “Instead of avoiding writing, seek out opportunities to improve your writing generally.” (Katherine, 1). What she means by this is that students should take advantage of writing improvement opportunities. Talk to professors to gain constant feedback about your writing so that the student knows they are heading the right direction. It is also important to not be scared to take a critique or two. Professors are there to help students not hurt them. And then there is always an option of having a peer review the work of the writer. Having a peer looking at the writer’s work is a little bit more comforting considering a peer is around your age. But whether or not it is a peer or tutor a professor, there is nothing wrong with getting a second opinion.
Jill Parrott’s essays also gives advice about improving “bad writing” while first examining the writer’s metacognition. Which is the understanding of one’s level of educational thought process. Parrot talks about reflecting back to the writer’s thought process and point out what needs’ improvement. “Opening up cognitive space that allows for metacognition and reflection is essential to experiential and practical improvement.” This self-reflection helps the writer make changes and build stronger and better habits. And then after this, it is important for the writer it change their mindset about their writing. If someone continues to tell themselves they are a bad writer then they will forever cripple themselves as writers. Instead uplift yourself. It is also important for the writer to take time out for themselves. In order to be a good writer, you have to know when it is time to take a break when needed. Taking a break can help reset a writer’s thought process and calm down the nerves.
Another key factor in helping a student with writer’s anxiety is taking the necessary steps to calm the mind before writing. Eric Maisel’s book called Write Mind:299 Things Writers Should Never Say to Themselves (and What They Should Say Instead) is filled with affirmations that struggling writers need. The book tells you what many writers think which is wrong vs. what writers should think about. Instead of going into writing saying, “I’m not a good writer.” The better thing to say is “I attend my best and write what I can.” Many of these kinds’ examples can be found throughout the book and it helps writers have better thoughts about writing that eases anxiety.
In conclusion, in order to be a good writer, you have to be willing to practice and learn from your mistakes. Ask for help and ask questions and don’t be scared to get a second opinion. Not even the best of writers is incapable of writing mistakes. In the words of Jill Parrot, “Good writers are not born. They are learned.” (Parrot, 74).
Citations
Psychology Today. (2019). Writing Anxiety and the Job Search. [online] Available at: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/career-transitions/201007/writing-anxiety-and-the-job-search [Accessed 25 Apr. 2019].
Textbooks.lib.wvu.edu. (2019). [online] Available at: https://textbooks.lib.wvu.edu/badideas/badideasaboutwriting-book.pdf [Accessed 26 Apr. 2019].
(2019) Write Mind: 299 Things Writers Should Never Say to Themselves (and What They Should Say Instead) [Accessed 25 Apr. 2019].