De-Stressing the Writing Process

School work and academia are stressful, especially when you’re also juggling other things, but some people find writing to be particularly so. So, with the end of the semester just around the corner, I turned to my fellow tutors at the Writing Studio to see what their writing processes look like, plus any tips and tricks they had for de-stressing the writing process.

Picture of student at computer with her pen between her teeth and a nervous look on her face.

What Are Some Examples of Tried and True Writing Processes?

Nellie: “My writing process flows as such: notes, outline, research, organization of research into categories aligned with body paragraph organization, writing the essay, editing the essay, revising the essay, proofreading.”

Bailey: “My writing process changes depending on what the goals are. BUT I can say that the technical part – outlining, setting deadlines, assigning word-count goals to sections/paragraphs – stays relatively constant. At the end of the day, a writing assignment is just another project to get done. Sometimes you’ll be fueled by a spark of inspiration (LOVE those days) and other times you’ll just have to set technical deadlines for yourself and make yourself write to meet them on time. Either way, you come out of the process with a product. I think we have this idea of the passionate writer typing away in a cozy office with a big glass of wine – and some days are definitely like this. But sometimes writing is just work, and that’s okay – just get it done.”

Jennifer: “I’m big into brain dumps and outlines. I’ll sit and get all my ideas out over a few different writing sessions. Then, I’ll go back and pick out my main ideas. I’ll use those ideas to create an outline, and then I’ll develop my ideas further in each section.”

Calabria: “I will brainstorm just to help get my ideas on the page, to see what points I’m trying to make, and to begin some initial organization. I like having my research done before I begin drafting, but I will continue to research as I realize I’ve left gaps in my evidence/support. I’ll create a rough draft, and then leave it for a day or two before submitting the final draft. I tend to leave it for that day, so I can get some distance between myself and the work. Otherwise, I’m too close to the work to really see what edits and revisions I should work through.”

Tyler: “I’ve recently begun to adopt outlining into my process, but honestly… taking notes. I take notes as I read what I’ll be writing on. Sometimes these notes are one-off, out there sentences. Other times, the notes end up turning into 400-500 word sections. So, if I view those 400-500 word sections as puzzle pieces, it just becomes a game of writing around those pieces (i.e. putting them together) in a way that makes sense.”

Is Procrastination Your Friend or Enemy?

Gabriella: “Unfortunately, I’m someone who functions best under a looming deadline. I try to give myself at least five days for the whole process. Most of my writing is research based, so once I establish what my approach for the essay is going to be, I look for scholarly articles to cite in my paper/use as support for my argument. If I’m having trouble in the brainstorming process, I’ll reach out to either a classmate or my professor to get some ideas. I’ll usually print out 5-10 articles relevant to my thesis and read them over the next day or so. This is helpful because it can help flesh out the details of my argument. Once I’ve annotated those sources, I sit down to write. I tend to write best from start to finish, beginning with my intro/thesis and move through my writing following the path I want my essay to take. Once I have a rough draft, I take a day away from it, and then go back to make small edits/adjustments. Then I send it to friends/family to get general feedback. My last step is usually an appointment at the writing studio to get an academic-minded pair of eyes on my essay. These sessions are always helpful because I have to explain my argument to another student, and if they can’t understand it from my writing, I know that I need to find new/different ways to support my claims.”

But it is just so overwhelming!!

Nicole: “I struggle with attention and become easily frustrated, and when I need to write, those two challenges seem to be magnified. My writing process follows the typical formula (planning, drafting, revising, etc). But, I learned that my process needs to have contingency plans for when challenges flare up. For me, switching writing modalities is really helpful (moving from computer to handwriting, for example). Also, if I’m stuck on one aspect, being able to pivot, calm down, and return to that frustrating bit later, makes me get less caught up in the fuss of writing. It became about knowing myself and listening to my emotions and really my body’s reactions to what I was doing and adjusting as I go–without abandoning the writing altogether!”

 

Natalie: “I like to have a plan of everything which I hope to include in my writing. Not necessarily in a specific order because I find that the appropriate order becomes apparent whilst writing. If I’m doing creative writing I like to have a very good grasp of the personalities of my characters before I begin writing so that I can accurately convey that through the whole piece.”

 

Leah: “I like to break down what I need to write in sections.  I free write mostly and let whatever I need or want to say flow and then I revise  and restructure as needed.”

How Do I Know I'm Done?

Dylan M: “I don’t thing there is a finished, just a place that we’re satisfied with our writing enough to submit it. Because of this, the approach I take for most writing is similar – identify expectations, examine examples of the genre, dump ideas on the page, revise for cohesion and flow, and then revise for brevity, diction and grammar. The idea dump I would say is the most important as it takes a lot of stress out of the writing process – once the main ideas are there I can work on making them into what I want.”

Karen: “My process is pretty simple and traditional. Prewriting is usually a web of ideas. For creative work I tend to write from the gut and then go back and edit. For academic work, I’ll write an outline and make sure all my loose ends are tied (evidence and arguments connected and supported). Then I revise. The tricky part is actually knowing when to stop revising. Any work is never going to be PERFECT, and that’s the beauty and frustration of writing.”

Personally, my writing process has changed over the years. Previously, for most of undergrad, I would write one draft and turn it in, no editing whatsoever. However, with longer papers, it became difficult and I found myself needing structure and to break it down into parts. Now I start by brainstorming a topic and writing out my thesis. Then, I research and attotate based on my thesis. After this I create an outline. For me, one of the hardest parts is getting started and staring at a blank page, so I trick myself into writing more by filling in the outline, first by saying “okay, bare minimum, write the topic sentences for these sections” and then once I get started writing, it’s easier to keep writing. Sometimes I’ll write it beginning to end, sometimes I’ll jump around. Editing and revising is difficult for me since I hate reading my own writing the same way some people hate the sound of their voice, so I try to leave the paper for a couple days before editing to get some space from it. I always try to keep in mind, though, and I tell tutees this when it comes up, that I can nit-pick and change words around all day, but eventually, the paper needs to be turned in. And when I do wait until the last minute, I always tell myself that I will do the best I can with the time I have left, and a good paper is a done paper.

 

In the end, there is no single “right” way to write. The best way to write is the way that works for you, and those of us here at the Writing Studio are always happy to help with that process. However, if you think you need a little more help, here are some other resources at GSU: [library resources] [counseling center resources].

Photo of Emily

A blog post by Emily Pierce

Emily is a second-year Master’s student in Literary Studies. Her research focuses on multicultural literature of the American South, and she is currently writing her thesis on Lillian Smith and Foucault. Out of the various projects people bring to the Writing Studio, personal statements are her favorite. She loves watching people grow into better writers and is excited to be working in the Writing Studio for her last semester.

So You Think You’re A Bad Writer…. (Part 2)

In the Writing Studio, we hear students say things like “I’m a bad writer” or “I’m not a good writer.” You may be one of these students. Writing insecurities are common, even for those of us who work at the Writing Studio. Since our focus at the Writing Studio is to make better writers (rather than better writing), I turned to my fellow tutors to see how they respond to hearing “I’m a bad writer” or “I’m not a good writer” in an appointment, what they think makes a good writer, and how they combat their own writing insecurities. Here are some of the highlights:

Photo of GabriellaGabriella: “Good writing is a myth–it’s a completely subjective construction. Different disciplines require different kinds of writing, and no one is well-versed in all of them. The first step to getting over the idea that you’re a bad writer is to understand that, internalize it, and remember that when you sit down to write anything. Sometimes the feeling that you’re not a good writer is the simple result of not being comfortable with writing, and the way you combat that is through practice. Confidence is key. My writing is never perfect, but I enjoy doing it, and I do it with some success because I’ve practiced enough to become confident in my finished product. I still frequently make simple (and sometimes not so simple) mistakes in my writing, but I keep at it because I know that effective writing is so useful as you go through life.”

Photo of AlinaAlina: “A good writer is one who strives to improve and does the revision necessary. Almost no one is a good first-draft writer. Good writers are those who have put forth significant effort in revision and have gotten help with their weaker areas. By getting help and working to improve, you have what it takes to be a good writer.”

 

Natalie: “What makes a good writer isn’t defined by one single thing. There are many different aspects that come together to produce a piece of writing, and I would highlight to the student the aspects they’re particularly good at. I would then say that the one aspect every good writer shares is a passion for their writing.”

 

Photo of Dylan M.Dylan M: “‘The first step towards becoming a good writer is to understand that no one’s writing isn’t perfect, the second is to keep considering ways of improving our writing.’ A good writer is someone who puts in the practice and reflective work necessary for composing and revising their work.”

 

 

Photo of LeahLeah: “No Worries. Writing takes practice. I am glad that you came in so that we can work on some of the concerns you want to address.”

 

 

 

Photo of NellieNellie: “‘Good writers’ are writers who write regularly and often. Anyone can be a good writer. If we focus on what’s working well in your work and tinker with the things that are not, your writing will definitely improve.” 

 

How do our tutors handle their own writing insecurities?

Photo of GabriellaGabriella: “I try to get as many eyes on my writing as possible. I read my writing out loud to my dog so that I can rephrase phrases that sound awkward when they’re spoken. I send my papers to my mom and to my boyfriend to try to gauge if my writing makes sense to an audience that isn’t familiar with my subject-matter. I try to get my peers/classmates to read my writing and get their feedback. If at all possible, I like to submit early drafts to my professors for their input/criticisms. I also make frequent appointments with tutors at the writing studio. I also try to remember that everyone has a unique voice/writing style, and I try to maintain my own when I’m taking in all of the criticisms I’ve asked for from others.”

Photo of AlinaAlina: “Personally? I google a lot. I look up how to do things and see what better writers do. I also get help; I’ve gone to tutors and teachers for help before. Primarily, if I don’t know how to do something or I’m unsure, I don’t jut guess or call it good enough. I look up the answer or ask someone who would know, then I try to remember it.”

 

Photo of Dylan M.Dylan M: “To combat my own writing insecurities I usually will take some time away from the assignment to read or watch a tv show, taking time to absorb how the writers are doing things and then trying to incorporate those techniques into my own writing.”

 

 

Photo of LeahLeah: “I take my time. Take it piece by piece or question by question , if it is a prompt.”

 

 

 

Photo of NellieNellie: “I keep writing. I practice recursive writing. I step away from my work and return with fresh eyes.”

 

In tutoring sessions, when the “I’m not a good writer” bit comes up, I usually say this: “There is no such thing as good writing, only good editing. Good writers put forth the effort to revise, learn, and grow.” This is echoed by what many of my fellow tutors are saying here. It’s important to remember that when it comes to writing assignments, you can only do so much with the time and the resources you have at your disposal (like the Writing Studio!), so give yourself a little grace.

-A Blog Post by Emily Pierce

Photo of Emily

Emily is a second-year Master’s student in Literary Studies. Her research focuses on multicultural literature of the American South, and she is currently writing her thesis on Lillian Smith and Foucault. Out of the various projects people bring to the Writing Studio, personal statements are her favorite. She loves watching people grow into better writers and is excited to be working in the Writing Studio for her last semester.

So you haven’t written in a classroom setting in a while…

Shows Multiple people walking past eachother at a fast pace in a hallway.

GSU has a diverse student body, and that is reflected in who we tutor at the Writing Studio. We realize that not everyone that comes through our doors (er… screens?) is an undergraduate student who came straight into college from high school or a graduate student who started their program immediately after finishing their previous degree. Going to school after being away from it for a bit can be scary, and the transition involved in becoming a student again can be difficult, especially when it comes to writing. Many of us tutors have “gaps” in our academic timeline, too, so here’s some advice from people who fall into that “non-traditional student” category:

Photo of Bailey

Bailey says...

“Not to sound like an advertisement, but utilizing peer review and writing center assistance is the key. I always advise non-traditional students to google questions they have about writing, as there are tons of articles and blogs (like this one!) to bring you up-to-date about what the general expectations are. But talking with a colleague/classmate or having a productive session with a writing center tutor gives you that real-world, right-now perspective of what kind of expectations you should aim to meet. Also, Youtube. Youtube everything. Step-by-step visuals of how to do stuff.”

Photo of Karen

Karen says...

“Use your experience! No matter what kind of work you were doing before (I was a food writer, server, tour guide, and library clerk) there were probably elements of composition or writing involved. Remember that writing is rhetorical, and you’re coming into academia with some interesting new expertise and perspectives. Don’t be ashamed of them, but rather use them to bring some texture and variety to academia (as appropriate, of course)”

Photo of Leah

Leah says....

“Your writing will improve the more you write.  Embrace where you are and lets keeping working from here. Before you know it you will be writing better than you could have imagined.”

Natalie says...

“It’s kind of like riding a bike – your first time back on in a little while might be a little shaky, but in no time at all you’ll naturally get back into the flow of writing again. I’ve seen in many freshman students already this year the incredible development in their writing from their first assignment to the second.”

Photo of Gabriella

Gabriella Says

“What helped me get back into academic writing was going back and reading some of the papers I wrote during undergrad. Another useful practice is reading. Immerse yourself in the kind of literature that you’ll be expected to write. One of the best ways to find your own authorial voice is to put it in context with others”

Photo of Nicole

Nicole says...

“I’m a first-generation college student (and one of the few in my family to even graduate high school). My experience involved always working through school, oftentimes two jobs in addition to my classes. I needed to really have a sense of time management, and I needed to prioritize personal time. I often felt like (and sometimes still do feel like) I need to always be go-go-go and always be productive. What I’ve learned is that I need to prioritize sleep and find a method for time management that works for me. I avoided all-nighters like the plague and set expectations for myself–regarding my school work, personal life, and work life–to make sure that in all areas I had an attainable sense of who I wanted to be and what I needed to do to get there. And, probably most importantly, I (shamelessly) asked for help whenever I needed it.”

Photo of Nellie

Nellie says...

“I am a non-traditional student/tutor and can empathize with the difficulties of that transition. My advice would be this: we all come to academia in our own time. Life experience is its own form of education and real-world skills will improve your academic skills.”

While I have been a near-constant student, my mom started a master’s degree this year after being out of school for about 25 years, and I have watched her transition to being a student and writing again. There’s a bit of a steep learning curve when it comes to time management, figuring out how much you can/should work, how many classes you should take, things like that, but while last semester she had me read all of her papers, this semester she hasn’t asked me to read any. She still struggles with writing, but she’s gotten some academic confidence back.

It’s hard to juggle school, jobs, family, and life, and just because we’re the tutors doesn’t mean we don’t struggle with it too. However, there are resources available when it comes to writing beyond us here at the Writing Studio.

Photo of Emily

A Blog Post By Emily Pierce

Emily is a second-year Master’s student in Literary Studies. Her research focuses on multicultural literature of the American South, and she is currently writing her thesis on Lillian Smith and Foucault. Out of the various projects people bring to the Writing Studio, personal statements are her favorite. She loves watching people grow into better writers and is excited to be working in the Writing Studio for her last semester.

So You Think You’re A Bad Writer…. (Part 1)

In the Writing Studio, we hear students say things like “I’m a bad writer” or “I’m not a good writer.” You may be one of these students. Writing insecurities are common, even for those of us who work at the Writing Studio. Since our focus at the Writing Studio is to make better writers (rather than better writing), I turned to my fellow tutors to see how they respond to hearing “I’m a bad writer” or “I’m not a good writer” in an appointment, what they think makes a good writer, and how they combat their own writing insecurities. Here are some of the highlights:

A person is holding a pencil tighly and the led is breaking and there are shavings all over an empty page.

 

Photo of Nellie

Nellie: “‘Good writers’ are writers who write regularly and often. Anyone can be a good writer. If we focus on what’s working well in your work and tinker with the things that are not, your writing will definitely improve.”

Photo of Nicole

Nicole: “Good writers take interest in their writing and in their growth as writers. If you’ve come to the Writing Studio (or even just visited the website!) than it doesn’t seem like you are a bad writer at all! Rather than focusing on whether you are good or bad at writing, it is more productive (and less self-critical) to identify areas where you want to improve. Take it topic-by-topic, paper-by-paper, and overtime you’ll begin to see measurable change into how you feel while writing and how you identify as a writer.”

Photo of Bailey

Bailey: “Lots of people struggle with writing – especially when it comes to certain writing assignments like rhetorical analyses, synthesis papers, etc. This doesn’t mean you’re a bad writer. However, if you really do know that writing just isn’t your thing, there are plenty of tips and tricks to help you create strong writing anyways. What makes me a good writer is that I review the assignment guidelines often and I make sure to incorporate things in my writing that directly correlate with the guidelines. I make an outline and a game plan for myself so that, even when I’m feeling like my skills aren’t great, I have a sense of direction. ‘Being a bad writer’ does not have to equate to ‘producing bad writing.’ Even those who struggle a lot can learn how to use the conventions and formulas of academic writing to their advantage.”

Picture of Jennifer

Jennifer: “Not true! A writer is anyone who writes; elementary school children are writers. Good writers can form coherent thoughts. From social media posts to class notes, you likely write every day. You are a *good* writer. Just like any other skill, becoming a great writer takes practice. A way to becoming a better writer is to work with a tutor to identify your writing strengths and weaknesses.”

Photo of Calabria

Calabria: “I remind myself and others that my work doesn’t need to be perfect the first go ’round. I just need to get my thoughts on the page. I just need to get started, and the flow will gradually increase as I get further in the writing process. A good writer is someone who accepts the idea of revision. A good writer also gives themselves time to revise, so that means you can’t wait until the last minute and expect the results to show your best work. Cut yourself some slack, and just get started. And ask for help when you need it.”

Photo of Tyler

Tyler: “Organization, argument and voice.”

Photo of Karen

Karen: “‘What do you mean by that? Can you explain?’ Usually when they start to explain they actually pinpoint difficulty with specific parts of the writing process, which I can help them see as skills they can develop and work on. To me, I think a good writer is someone who understands that writing is a craft. A good writer is someone who is willing to practice and to learn.”

 

 

How do our tutors handle their own writing insecurities?

Photo of Bailey

Bailey: “If I’m feeling insecure or inadequate, I use questions to guide my writing. This way, even though I might not be producing my best work, at least I know I’m meeting the goal of answering important questions. Sometimes I use the guidelines to come up with questions. For example, if the guidelines require “a strong thesis statement” but I can’t come up with one, I’ll give myself a strong research question to answer (that can I can hopefully turn into a thesis statement later).”

Photo of Nicole

Nicole: “I keep a list of areas I want to improve on and/or feedback that I’ve received about my writing. I’m mindful of those challenges as a writer. But, I also have to tell myself all the time that I’m in school to learn and grow, and that it is OK if it isn’t perfect today or if this assignment isn’t the best writing I will ever do. I give myself time (or at least try to…) and try to tackle my writing insecurities a little bit with each session. When I look back on old papers, or feedback from former professors, I realize that I have chipped away at some of those challenges that made me feel so insecure.”

Photo of Jennifer

Jennifer: “Writing insecurity is real, and it’s something we all face. I think two steps to becoming a more secure writer are to practice daily writing, and be vulnerable! Ask peers or a tutor to read your writing.”

Photo of Calabria

Calabria: “I tell myself it [the work] doesn’t have to be great, but it does have to be complete. At least that’s what I say to get started. I also remind myself that Edgar Allen Poe wrote an entire essay on how to write poetry, which really helped me see that poetry, or written work, isn’t all just ‘spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings,’ basically no one gets it right the first time.”

Photo of Tyler

Tyler: “Read and revise! I spend a lot (honestly, maybe too much time) of time rereading passages until they sound exactly how I want them to sound; then I work on making sure they flow and that the organization makes sense. It’s really all about practice — I know my weaknesses, and practicing revising my own writing helps me to better understand the ways in which I can work against those in my initial drafts. But also.. grace! You’re going to mess up. Not everything is going to be perfect. That’s fine. That’s just writing. That’s why we write ‘rough’ drafts.”

Photo of Karen

Karen: “Oomf. This is a tough one. I think one thing that helps me is stepping back from the idea of ‘writer’ as my identity. When I put so much pressure to preform in order to ‘prove myself’ or my worthiness, this actually creates a block of creativity and a stifling of inspiration. Instead of thinking ‘ugh! I can’t do this! I’m not a real writer!’ I step back and think, well, I need to write this. What are the steps I know I need to take? Have I done adequate brainstorming? Do I need to go back and look at my outline?

In tutoring sessions, when the “I’m not a good writer” bit comes up, I usually say this: “There is no such thing as good writing, only good editing. Good writers put forth the effort to revise, learn, and grow.” This is echoed by what many of my fellow tutors are saying here. It’s important to remember that when it comes to writing assignments, you can only do so much with the time and the resources you have at your disposal (like the Writing Studio!), so give yourself a little grace.

-A blog post by Emily Pierce 

Photo of EmilyEmily is a second-year Master’s student in Literary Studies. Her research focuses on multicultural literature of the American South, and she is currently writing her thesis on Lillian Smith and Foucault. Out of the various projects people bring to the Writing Studio, personal statements are her favorite. She loves watching people grow into better writers and is excited to be working in the Writing Studio for her last semester.

Final Week Hours

The last day for fall semester appointments is December 6**.

However, we will be open during exam week for face to face, 15-minute, walk-in sessions, so come on by for those last-minute questions!

Our exam week schedule is:

Monday 12/9: 10:00 am – 2:00 pm
Tuesday 12/10: CLOSED FOR STUDIO MEETING
Wednesday 12/11: 10:00 am – 2:00 pm 
Thursday 12/12: 10:00 am – 2:00 pm 
Friday 12/13: 10:00 am – 2:00 pm 

**We will re-open for spring appointments on Monday, January 27.