One might wish they could simply learn one way of writing, and it would apply to all genres or contexts. Nonetheless, writing is a fluid beast that we must try to tame – but will never completely master.
Contrary to popular belief – writing is unnatural. So says one of our authors Shirley Rose. We do not enter this world with the innate capability to spew out a rainbow of cohesive words onto paper. Instead, we have to wrap our minds around it vigorously and with conscious effort. With each new idea, the writer faces the fact that they will never be able to fully grasp the art of writing that ever changes depending on viewers, setting, or place of work.
The best way towards success, says our following author Kathleen, is to ditch the idea that one has learned all they will ever need and begin habituated practice. One can practice by revising and editing their work, switching up their writing tools, or changing their usual writing locations for a fresh outlook. Another great way to practice is by going over the piece with classmates or teachers, attaining feedback, then revising.
In addition to practicing, we must change how we approach each style and context with careful re-strategizing, says Shirley Rose. Sure, some writing strategies will help in different writing contexts, like drafting multiple versions of one’s work until satisfactory, frequenting a unique quiet location that helps one concentrate, or using tried and true transitional words. However, when it comes to writing new content with varied genres, one must use what they have already learned but apply it differently.
Thus, it is a blessing and a curse to be armed with the knowledge that one must constantly be adapting to the writing matter at hand. Humans love hard and fast rules and mastering the game as quickly as possible. Now that we know total mastery is out of our reach, the pressure to attain that lifts away.
Nonetheless, writers want to be engaging, dynamic, and successful. With practice, that, at the very most, is indeed within our reach.
Teachers who understand this information can use it to help their students further by not using one context of writing to judge all other examples. Furthermore, it is heartening for students to know that all writers never stop learning. Inevitably, when one faces a new arduous problem with writing, it simply means there is something new to learn.
Learning to write will never cease because it is a journey with no end; with each new context that arrives, there are new ways to go about it, but practicing writing habits can significantly help.
