Luc Santos

11-27-2019

English 990

Professor Standford

Throughout the semester in this English 990 class we have learned about many writing

techniques that top writers/authors use in order to perfect their written piece. In this paper, I am

going to dissect a few of the main topics that we have learned and how they should be applied to

everyone’s writing. Also, I am going to explain how I have used and added these techniques into

my own writing, allowing me to write at a higher level, elaborate on my ideas and give a better

representation of myself.

One of the most commonly talked about issues throughout these three articles “Time,

Tools and Talismans,” “Shitty First Drafts,” and “The Maker’s Eye”, is the importance for you to

know and understand your best writing or editing times. There are so many distractions that can

take away our focus and not allow us to dive into what we are writing. This may come from

background noise, Tv’s, coffee shop chatter or family members. In understanding when your

quiet time is, it is very important to understand when your brain is in a writing mood. Being that

these times do not always overlap, it is crucial to be aware to yourself and when you feel like you

have the most creative or informative thoughts. This varies for everyone, and something we
become happier with over the years. When you can find this time for yourself, you will find the

writing process to be much easier and allow you to develop better thoughts and ideas.

As Mihaly Csikszenzentmihalyi refers to finding the “Flow”, When you are able to find

this flow, you have found this “state of intense concentration” as she has referred to. Enabling

yourself to do this allows you to fully apply yourself to the exact moment you are in. You are not

distracted by anything, and your mind is working fully on the topic at hand. By reconstructing

the environment so that there is nothing taking your focus away you will be able to flow in your

writing, developing a deeper connection between yourself and the text.

One of the next very useful pieces of information I found was in the article from Anne

Lamott, Shitty First Drafts. In this article she breaks down the need to have a rather mediocre

first draft, which allows you to continue to a draft of better grammar, editing, and word choice.

When Lamott explains for a horrible first draft I was originally caught off guard, thinking

to myself, why? After reading her article and understanding the process it all began to make

sense to me. As she states, “You just need to get it all down”, down on the paper. When you do

this, you are giving yourself a base and something to work from. You’re building the foundation

to the future draft that will be edited with a fine-tooth comb and bring it to perfection.

Throughout the editing process you will see parts that of course, you will remove. From here,

you can continue to change, add or subtract until you have found your perfect draft.

I believe “Shitty First Draft’s” and “The Makers Eye” fall on the backs of each other

well. One describing how to get started with your draft, and the next explaining how to go about

the editing process, explaining how the best of the best do it. In understanding these two articles
you can put together the knowledge and information to create a masterpiece. Donald Murry

explains the techniques that you need to apply when editing your own draft, “The writers of such

drafts must be their own best enemy” in stating this, he is explaining the depth you must go to

edit your own writing without being too kind to yourself, and not editing it to the full potential or

standard that is necessary.

In conclusion; I truly think all of these articles give a reader the understanding of what it

takes to become an amazing writer. From the start of the journey when you are finding your

peace and quiet, to your best writing time, to the end when you are editing your soon to be

masterpiece. Taking all of this information in and adding it to any of your future writing can

tremendously help you reach the next step.

Personally, understanding the process of writing a “Shitty First Draft” has allowed me to

approach me writing differently. I no longer go into a paper or assignment with this

overwhelming feeling of needing to put my absolute best self out there on the first draft. Rather,

I have found that I can spill all of my thoughts and information down, then come back and assess

what it is that I like, and what I don’t. from there I can start my editing process one step at a

time. Taking all of the good information and leaving the nonsense out. I have found in doing all

of these steps of revision and I able to see my thought more clearly, therefore helping me

develop and understand my own writing that much better.

 Reflection on my English 990 experience

Throughout this semester I have taken some wonderful courses. One of which being

English 990. Going into this class I felt as if it would be a breeze, and oh boy was I wrong!

Before this class I felt like I could write my thoughts or needs out fairly well. But now after this

English 990 class looking back and reflecting, I have grown to become a much deeper, more

thoughtful and intelligent writer and reader. I truly have learned so much that I am going to be

able to apply to my business and simply living at a higher level of education with my newfound

love for writing and reading.

This class challenged me in numerous new ways. Learning everything from teaching me

how to annotate and understand the material I was reading at a deeper level to the numerous

revisions of a paper until you have found your masterpiece. Then finally, my favorite; the editing

process. Where you get to go back over your work and look at every word and punctuation with

a magnifying glass. Finding any and every problem and perfect it until you have your very best

written piece possible. I have gained so many amazing techniques that will be so widely applied

to my life and I am so excited to continue to use them and perfect my new craft.

My perspective on reading and writing has completely changed over the last 4 months.

The deeper and better understanding of the writing and editing process has allowed me to feel

more confidence in what I am doing, therefore enjoying the process that much more. Learning

myself and my best times for writing or editing has helped me tremendously. I no longer feel this

overbearing stress when I see an upcoming research paper. I feel joy and excitement to embark
on this new journey, and simply test myself to see how well I can comprehend the topic, then

write my best piece possible. I truly and thankful for all that I have learned in this class and with

the help of Professor Standford, and all of the students doing the peer reviews, which is very

unique and a fun twist to editing papers/getting an outsider’s view! I feel like I am ready for

English 1010 and will hit the ground running next semester when the time comes.