If I'm really fired up about the piece then I'm a heavy reviser. I start by coming up with a very basic outline in my head. This step is just to ensure that I don't let my idea run away from me. My next step is to sit down at the keyboard and start writing. When I feel this way about an assignment it doesn't take long for me to get it all out on paper. I then spend alot of time revising. I usually ask someone else to read it over and give me feedback if it's an important piece.
If I'm not inspired by the assignment then I can be more of a procrastinator, or a heavy planner. Writing something without inspiration takes me a long time. It's an uncomfortable process, and I almost never feel satisfied with the end product. If I'm not excited to write then I mess around for a long time trying to brainstorm an idea and structure that are exciting to me. Then I usually get frustrated and either:
A) Put the assignment off in hopes that the psych will come to me (Procrastinator)
B) Decide to get it over with and struggle through it using a lot of planning and brainstorming (Heavy Planner)
If it's a minor assignment then I turn in an uninspired piece. If it's an important assignment then I spend a long time revising it and sometimes re-write it completely.
I like to write, so I usually put a lot of effort in, and come up with something that I'm proud of. I compensate for any initial lack of inspiration by spending time thinking and planning until I come up with an idea that I can run with. The weakness of my approach is that I sometimes don't find inspiration no matter how much I plan or brainstorm.
One way that I've found to get around this is to try and view the assignment from a different perspective to make it more interesting for myself. I'll look for aspects that could spark my excitement.
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| Unsplash. Forest 10/27/2014 via Pixabay. Public Domain Dedication License |
Reflection:
I read and replied to Lauren's post "My Writing Process Sucks", and Betsy Volk's: "My Writing Process". Lauren's post about procrastination made me reflect on something that I feel I've learned in the last few years: school work isn't always the most important thing. There's value in being able to get some of the less interesting things done quickly and being ok with imperfection, and even in electing not to do things that feel like busy work.
I've recently been having a bit of an existential crisis about spending this part of my life in school. I often feel that I'm here because it's the societally accepted thing to do. Could I be learning more working and adventuring right now? This crisis is compounded right now because I'm questioning if I'm in the right major and trying to figure out what I want to do. The skills that I identify as being most important (social skills, confidence, real problem solving, risk taking, etc.) are ones that can't really be taught in a classroom.
That being said, I am doing a lot outside of classes that does feel important. The social skills that I'm gaining from living in a college town are invaluable, and my job at Compost Cats is an incredibly rich learning experience for me.
At this point it seems like the benefits outweigh the negatives. I will stay in school and continue to seek out opportunities for growth outside of the classroom, and search for meaning inside the classroom.
I read and replied to Lauren's post "My Writing Process Sucks", and Betsy Volk's: "My Writing Process". Lauren's post about procrastination made me reflect on something that I feel I've learned in the last few years: school work isn't always the most important thing. There's value in being able to get some of the less interesting things done quickly and being ok with imperfection, and even in electing not to do things that feel like busy work.
I've recently been having a bit of an existential crisis about spending this part of my life in school. I often feel that I'm here because it's the societally accepted thing to do. Could I be learning more working and adventuring right now? This crisis is compounded right now because I'm questioning if I'm in the right major and trying to figure out what I want to do. The skills that I identify as being most important (social skills, confidence, real problem solving, risk taking, etc.) are ones that can't really be taught in a classroom.
That being said, I am doing a lot outside of classes that does feel important. The social skills that I'm gaining from living in a college town are invaluable, and my job at Compost Cats is an incredibly rich learning experience for me.
At this point it seems like the benefits outweigh the negatives. I will stay in school and continue to seek out opportunities for growth outside of the classroom, and search for meaning inside the classroom.
I can definitely relate to you about inspired writing. If a topic does not interest me, I struggle to begin as well. However, sometimes I might over plan and over think the subject. As you said that you like to write, I like to write as well, and I used to be very good at it. Now, I always put forth my best effort in order to satisfy myself.
ReplyDeleteI like how you considered looking at your assignment in a different perspective if you are not interested in it. While I was reading your post, I was thinking the same thing. When I do not enjoy a topic, I have to relate something to love or adventure in order for it to intrigue me. I think your method of changing your perspective could be very helpful in ending your procrastination.
I absolutely agree with you! Getting inspired is the hardest part for me too. I find that research is very helpful because it gives me a place to start. For example, if a prompt asking me to analyze a literary work, I like to research the author and find out where they come from and possibly why they chose to write what they did. I hope this helps you too.
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