Writer’s Statement

Flight 1010.57

Imagine that you will be flying an airplane for the first time. You’ve done your research and put in hours of practice, but you are still unsure of what to expect. You’re nervous, but luckily your instructor knows that this is your first trip and guides you through your journey.

You’re excited when you find out that your years of practice paid off and that you’ll be flying Flight 1010.57. You enter the training room confident in your flying abilities. However, when you arrive, you’re surprised to hear that you’ll need to let go of old ways to be a good pilot and have successful trips. Naturally, you’re reluctant to let go of old habits so your first few flights have some turbulence.

Early on, like the pilot, I struggled to let go of old habits like “dressing up” my papers. My reluctance to let go proved to be a barrier to success in my first few one-pagers and essays. There was no substantial improvement in my writing until I made a conscious effort to move away from solely writing in an “academic” tone. When I started to incorporate aspects of my personality into my writing, I was impressed to see my writing come to life. 

One of the ways I was able to overcome writing in only an academic tone was to start my papers through free writing. When free-writing, I do not feel pressured to use fancy words and allow my thoughts to flow naturally. By doing so, I can write in a way that sounds like myself and incorporate my personality into my writing. As the semester progressed, I found myself beginning each essay with a free write, which I think helped develop my “writer’s voice.”

Another part of letting go of my old habits was understanding that feedback is a valuable tool. I learned how to handle constructive criticism and apply it. I saw improvement in the flow of my “Meditation on Place Essay” after accepting the feedback of my classmates after Workshop. Workshop also taught me how to analyze writing through a “writer’s eye.” By participating in Workshop, I learned how to give and receive feedback effectively. I learned how to analyze the author’s decisions and how to provide helpful feedback. Additionally, Workshop taught me how to learn from others’ successes and challenges by using their feedback to improve my writing when applicable. 

On a similar note, when I took you up on your advice to use BC’s writing resources like the Writing Center and the Online Writing Lab my writing became more clear and concise as a result of their feedback. 

Sure there is still some turbulence when it comes to my writing. However, I am confident that my writing skills have improved. I am pleased with the skills that I’ve gained from this course, and I know that they’ll be handy in putting together clear and engaging essays for my next flights here at BC and into my career.