Chris M. Anson’s Habituated Practice Can Lead to Enrichment speaks on how repeated practices can lead to automaticity which he defines as retrieval of information that doesn’t require conscious attention. Anson uses the example of shifting gears or breaking for a stop sign. He notes that practiced drivers can do those tasks while addressing other things, and not focusing 100% of our energy on changing gears.
He mentions that application of habituated practices can also occur during the writing process, but can be misapplied by novice writers. Novice writers may revert back to their habituated practice and write a five-paragraph-style essay they learned in high school. Anson also mentioned how proficient authors may also struggle with breaking their habits because they’ve practiced a certain genre for years, and may struggle using their abilities in a new genre. Anson explains that even skilled writers may struggle being “flexible enough to think about how a text will be understood by a broader range of readers.”
According to Anson, in order to break habitual practice a writer needs to be willing to break down those habits by practicing other writing situations with metacognitive or rhetorical awareness. “Such awareness is said to help writers study and reflect on what they must do in their own writing to succeed by standards of the community”
While habitual practices can lead to enrichment, I believe it may lead to negative consequences for writers. They may get bored and lose passion for their writing. Writers need to continue to grow and learn, and when an author is stuck in a continuous cycle, they may miss a different perspective. Overall, I believe that habitual learning is convenient and helpful in both ways of life and writing. Writing in a specific genre will continuously expand knowledge on that category of writing. However, as I become more confident, I may need to be wary of becoming complacent and “habituated.” I will always try to bring focus and awareness to my writing.
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