Writing Workshop #2

There isn't much to do with writing other than critiquing it before going to write again. This isn't a complaint - merely an observation. I don't know if this makes me like writing more or less. Probably more. It must be more.

But I think these two things are so incredibly useful - and time consuming - that it's easy to forget that it's only really two things. Today we did critiquing (writing is to be done at home). I realize how useful critiquing must be for the person whose work you are critiquing. But, me being the center of the universe and all, what matters most to me is how useful critiquing some one else is to me. Critiquing some one else's work is more than helping some one else get a better essay. It's about opening your eyes and mind so they can see what makes good writing rock and what makes bad writing suck. It's having a mind set capable of doing this without thinking that makes good writing.

I mean you can, read and read and read, and watch and watch and watch, and immerse yourself in any bit of pop culture you can find in order to build your library and come up with the best stolen piece of writing ever, but I'm talking about really improving your writing, not making what you have to say worthwhile. What good is all that if your voice sucks and your sentence creating skills prove you to be illiterate?

Writing Workshop #1

We didn't really get that far into the actual writing part of the workshop today, but I can tell I'm going to have a really good time in this workshop. I like the idea of being forced to write the first chapter of a novel, because it's something I wouldn't start on my own and would never have the opportunity to have critiqued. I just need to sit back, relax, and type. I also need to not try really hard to write something fresh and exciting. Like Reed said today "Good writers borrow, great writers steal."