Here’s a little list that is swirling in my mind…
- If I didn’t write myself I wouldn’t know how critical positive feedback is to the life of a writer. This weekend I received emails from three different people in response to a couple of different writing projects. One was from an editor who pushed me to write on a topic outside of my comfort zone. I was nervous submitting my work to her. I was thrilled to receive positive feedback from her. The other two were in response to a revision I made in one of the opening scenes of the YA novel I’m polishing. I’ve been trying to get this particular scene right for years. (Unfortunately I’m not exaggerating! It was one of the first scenes I wrote when starting this project back in 2010. Finally, finally, finally I think it’s closer to reading true.) If I didn’t write myself I wouldn’t know that sometimes positive feedback is enough; there doesn’t have to be a teaching point or a nudge during every single conference.
- If I didn’t write myself I wouldn’t know how hard it is to paragraph. Paragraphing is one of those things that looks straightforward and linear. However, if you spend much time writing, you soon realize there are about a million and one possible ways to paragraph. It’s not as simple as writing a topic sentence, three supporting sentences, and a closing sentence. In fact, I’m not sure I ever write five sentence paragraphs! I’m realizing paragraphing is one of the significant ways I revise.
- If I didn’t write myself I wouldn’t know sometimes you have to write nothing to get to something. There are times, many more than I care to admit, when I have no clue what I’m writing or whether the words make sense. The writing seems meaningless. If I weren’t a writer I would simply quit. I’d give up and spend my time doing something else. However, since I keep writing through the nonsense, I find on the other side is usually something quite good that I never would have found if I didn’t slog through the mess.
I’m pretty sure there is going to be more along these lines. I can’t wait to see where this thinking leads.
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Our group and you keep my writing coming. I always hear that monster telling me to just forget it, and then there is BONS. I may not keep up with my writing, but when I return, it is such a sweet reunion–like reading a good book, reuniting with a good friend, realizing that writing keeps my soul alive. I’m thankful for BONS. This picture is so sneaky–we’re all smiling and working so hard at our meeting–if everyone only knew all the stories. And it’s in my kitchen!!!
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If I didn’t write myself, I wouldn’t know that sometimes the only thing to write about involves confronting the tough stuff in life. If I didn’t write myself, I wouldn’t know how anxiously writers await just one kind word of feedback.
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I agree – writing myself is what helps me with students every day. I get the peaks and valleys and understand when students struggle because I struggle as well. Thanks for a great post! I am excited for the weekend when I can think about this some more! now back to revising lesson plans for tomorrow – day two of the new year!
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Slog through the mess… I love that line! I feel like I often do that daily– with most areas of my teaching! Making ourselves vulnerable to our students–as they see us slog through the mess of writing–makes such a difference… Sometimes I get busy and place my own writing on the back burner… You’ve inspired me to keep at it!
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Yes, only through living the writer’s life ourselves can we help our students see the value in doing so as well. I am going to try to start a writing group amongst my sixth grade colleagues – I really believe it will help us become much better writing teachers….fingers crossed that they feel the same way, too.
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If I didn’t write, I wouldn’t know how many ways there are to say ‘almost’ the same thing, & I imagine you found that out writing this. It’s a good list to begin, Ruth. Thank you for sharing & for nudging us. Perhaps that is a way to share with my teachers?
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…how true and how important…slice has really taught me about positive feedback…it is something that I want to bring to my staff this year…and the paragraph thing- I’m so glad that I’m not the only one, someone once told me that paragraphing is just a break for our eyes and that if we look at it like the reader has to get up and go to the restroom every once in a while and then they can find their place easily…it really never is the topic sentence and the three details is it !!!!
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We write and tell story to define the nature of truth and keep meaning in the moments of our lives. To write can be to breathe on paper, or in cyberspace in the digital era,
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What a great list and such validation for the need for teachers to be writers! I look forward to reading more additions to your list as they come to mind. Congratulations on the feedback you received this weekend!
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If I didn’t write myself, I wouldn’t know how fabulous this post is. Each word so true…
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Ruth- so true! If we don’t wrote ourselves, how can we either emphasize or support our students? Can’t wait to read more of your writing and wish you the best!
Lisa
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