You just wrote your first draft of the first essay you will write for this course. Going off your personal reactions to the writing process, respond to Lamott's essay. Use your initial reactions to respond to the following questions. Remember to provide examples and quotations to support your points and to respond to what previous posters have said.
Lamott says that perceptions most people have of how writers work is different than the reality of the work itself. She refers to this as the "fantasy of the uninitiated." What does she mean by that?
Later in the essay, Lamott refers to going through many experiences as a writer and coming to a place where she "eventually let myself trust the process - sort of, more or less." She is referring to the writing process, but why does she write "more or less?"
Is Lamott's essay useful? Or not? Explain. Share some of your writing experiences. Do you feel any closer to "trusting the process?"
Lastly, did your impressions of your essay match up your reviewer's feedback? What would you guess might Lamott have to say about that?
I look forward to reading your responses
1. Anne Lamott, earlier in her essay, exposes that all great writers in the past and present have started off with "shitty" first drafts before writing a "masterpiece" of literature art. Her own vocabulary to this idea is referred to as the "fantasy of the uninitiated". She means that readers who love their favorite books by their favorite writers are so intelligent, that they could right away, publish material that could right away be phenomenal after a single writing session. She later states, "writers you love who write beautifully and have made a great deal of money, and not one of them sits down routinely feeling wildly enthusiastic and confident. Not one of them writes elegant first drafts" (Lamott pg. 1). Her claim is formidable because a lot of readers like ourselves believe in the "fantasy" that all knowable authors of great books and/or other essays can easily perfect a written tale from just one attempt. In the following, Lamott says, "They do not type a few stiff warm-up sentences and then find themselves bounding along like huskies across the snow" (Lamott pg. 1). Her metaphor suggests that all writers make mistakes and are not perfect; even they will edit or evaluate their writing before getting it published, possibly.
ReplyDelete2. Throughout Lamott's experiences in writing, she is adapting to a reliable or well associated writing process to use throughout her writing career. When she mentions that she would trust the writing process "more or less", she refers to herself still having mixed feelings about the writing process. This may be the case for Lamott because she announces, "when it was time for another review, the whole process would start again, complete with the fears that people would find my first draft before I could rewrite it" ( Lamott pg. 3). This statement is relatable because Anne finds the process as a continuous cycle for her because she cannot go a day without being paranoid that viewing her first draft is going to come off as "shitty" to the critics and the readers and that she is given no choice but to rewrite it.
3. Anne Lamott's essay was a useful tool to feel better about opening up a essay to valuably interest your readers. I stick to this feeling because I many times, have felt that my opening draft is not the best and is to be edited or evaluated. Although, most of the time I have been told by my parents, teachers, and readers that "this is a good start". Comments like those give me more confidence in my writing. But sometimes, when I am writing I feel the same way Lamott feels, "Eventually I'd go back and sit down at my desk, and sigh for the next ten minutes" (Lamott pg. 2). I do that only when I am not sure if what I want to write down is good or good enough or the best and most of the time I get up and talk out what I think is best to write down. I am in my second year in college and there are still many ways to handle writing, therefore I will improve in the future and know that I will get better as a writer and be fully active in the "process".
4. I truly enjoyed the Tuesday class activity in reading and sharing our essays amongst our classmates and be giving comments and some editing to other papers. The feedback I was given was remarkable and well reflected towards what I wrote in my essay. I do admit like my editor did, that there is still room for some improvements, but that is what every first draft will be like. The best comment I was given in my essay was that, I was very optimistic and that gave me more motivation to rewrite the essay. Anne Lamott would surely approve of such an activity because it is a good working environment for fellow writers to share their experiences and give honest suggestions and ideas to make a benefit out of their writing. Lamott probably wishes she would have done this during her career in writing.
I think that Ryan Drago puts this is great words to sum up what Lamott says about the "fantasy of the uninitiated". Ryan writes "She means that readers who love their favorite books by their favorite writers are so intelligent, that they could right away, publish material that could right away be phenomenal after a single writing session."(Drago) Lamott talks about how everyone has to write multiple drafts in order to be fully happy with what they are writing.
DeleteLamott Is referring to the many readers that never give writing a chance. To these people the art of writing is blissfully done, an act of providence. This is how the term"fantasy of the uninitiated"comes about.She then goes on to talk about Her struggles as a writer she faces. Lamott also includes other writers she talks with. She quoted one writer as saying "it's not like we don't have a choice, because you do you can either type or kill yourself". To me this show's a true understanding of struggle. Do to the struggles in the writing process. Lamott developed what she calls a "shitty first draft". The beginning of the bird by bird approach as she learned from her father.
ReplyDeleteThere is a lesson to this process that allows a writer the ability to gain trust. It builds on it's self as a development and with it creates confidence. The term "more or less" refers to a continued struggle to focus. She still probably has the times were she's in the mirror studying her teeth, but she knows her process works.
I do find this to be a useful tool. I have used this method in my past and will again. I fully understand the thought of creating something from the bottom, working it over and over till it is complete and polished. Although it is not always possible to have the time it takes to reach greatness. Writing always Improves each time it's drafted.
I did feel the views of my essay reviewer, and my impression matched well in class. That being said there is always room for improvement.
I saw Ryan's take on the first question asked, and think we had different views on fantasy of the uninitiated.
When Lamont talks about the “fantasy of the uninitiated” I think she means everyone assumes that great writers just have it in them I mean they do but no one just starts out with an amazing story but since the process isn’t watched or talked about very often everyone just assumes amazing writers just think things up and throw them on the paper and boom they’re published which is never the case. When Lamott talks about trusting the writing process more or less I feel as if she says more or less because she isn’t one hundred percent trusting of the process but is comfortable enough to submit what she has worked so hard to put on paper. Lamotts essay is useful in the sense that you feel relief that you aren’t the only one that panics when it comes to writing and her approach on it was very natural and not really to professional if that makes any sense almost like she wasn’t a writer but someone just giving you advice on writing I don’t think I’ll ever “trust the process” but it makes me a lot calmer about the fact that everyone has a little part of them that doesn’t trust it and I’m not alone. My impression of my own essay was way different from my reviewers due to the fact that I wasn’t very sure of my essay and if it met up to the standards but my reviewer was impressed and very nice about giving her opinion. I feel Lamott would say that my first draft wasn’t to shitty but shitty enough to make a great final draft :)
ReplyDeleteI agree with Daishanette that "Lamott talks about trusting the writing process more or less I feel as if she says more or less because she isn’t one hundred percent trusting of the process but is comfortable enough to submit what she has worked so hard to put on paper." I think that is a great way to put it when she talks about trusting her process "more or less".
Delete1.Anne Lamott talks about how people perceive the process of writing. Lamott refers to this as the "fantasy of the uninitiated" because people tend to think that writing comes easily to successful writers but in fact it can be quite challenging for them. Lamott states "People tend to look at successful writers, writers who are getting their books published and maybe even doing well financially, and think they sit down at their desks every morning feeling like a million dollars, feeling great about who they are and how much talent they have and what a great story they have to tell;that they take in a few deep breaths, push back their sleeves, roll their neck a few times to get all the cricks out, an dive in… but this is just a fantasy of the uninitiated"(Lamott p.1).What I think Lamott is trying to say is that people tend to think that writing comes naturally to some, which it does, but everyone who has written something has thought about it and edited their writing for it to come out the final product they are happy with.
ReplyDelete2.Lamott talks about the writing process that has proven successful to her in past writing experiences. She writes "I would eventually let myself trust the process--sort of, more or less." Even though Lamott tends to find her process helpful it seems like she still has mixed feelings about how she wrote her food reviews for California magazine. Lamott would write a very long( usually longer then it should be) first draft with a "self indulgent and boring beginning, stupefying descriptions of the meal"(Lamott page 3). Lamott then goes on saying how she would use "lots of quotes" from her "black-humored friends that made them sound more like the Manson girls than food lovers, and no ending to speak of"( Lamott page 3). She then refers to having the same process and fears that someone would find her first draft before she could rewrite it.
3.I think that Anne Lamott's essay "Shitty First Drafts" is a useful tool to writing because she tells of the actual writing process in honest detail and not just what is perceived by people. Lamott writes about how even great writers don't sit down at their desk and feel "wildly enthusiastic or fully confident"(Lamott page 1). In my personal experience I try to write a little bit everyday (mostly music) and I understand that creativity usually takes time and that's what writing is. The process differs from person to person and it shows people not to get discouraged when it takes a little bit longer than usual.
4.The impressions I had about my essay pretty accurate for the most part, I enjoyed the activity and the pier editing. I got some great feedback of what I did well and what I can improve on. Ryan Drago stated 'Lamott probably wishes she would have done this during her career in writing." and I agree it helped and was an enjoyable learning environment.
1) The people that Lamott is referring to is the average reader. Someone who can look at a book and not know or appreciate all the time and effort it takes to write it. In their mind they assume that writers can just sit and write a best seller in a couple hours, rather than the long days or weeks it takes to really write and rewrite something good.
ReplyDelete2) What Lamott means by “more or less” is that she does have her routine or process that she goes thru every time she writes. She knows the process and knows that it works for her. But she also feels that at any moment the process will no longer work and she will be left with a mess. She trusts the process but has to keep herself in check too.
3) I do feel that this essay was useful. It emphasizes the fact that an essay can’t be perfect the first time. So don’t worry about making a first draft important. In one of my other classes (EMS 111) I had to do a paper on a subject of our choosing to demonstrate good communication skills. I had a topic picked out so for my first draft I just put down things I wanted to say and topics I wanted to cover and hoped they stuck. After some revisions and proper placement I turned in the first draft. My instructor had many issues with it so I took it and completed a final draft that was much better.
4) My impression of my first draft was that it was a good first draft. With just some small tweaks needed to make a good paper. The feedback I received did not match up with this. The feedback I received was about making my paper more of a story than an essay. Lamott would say in this case that first drafts are meant to be bad, that is why they are first drafts.
1) In this essay Lamott tries to explain that the perception that writers are perfect and only write perfect papers is false. Although there papers eventually come out great it is because of the writing process. She describes this as the, "fantasy of the uninitiated." This basically means that inexperienced people in the field of writing might think that all the professionals just produce perfect pieces however, in reality it takes a lot of work along with many attempts.
ReplyDelete2) When Lamott says said " I would eventually let myself trust the process--sort of, more or less," she is really saying that she trusts it. The sort of, more or less part comes from her worries inside that her first drafts may be found or even sent out and with that happening she will be viewed as a bad writer. If anything this is even more reinforcing however because it means that even though she is scared of this risk she understands the importance of a first draft so she takes the risk anyways.
3) I do feel that this essay was useful as it showed that even the professional writers need to write drafts. This made me realize that I need to accept the writing process because if I don't I will never be an effective writer.
4) In my opinion my first draft was solid in that it got all my ideas across. This was also true with my feedback as it was generally positive along with comments on how clear the idea was. If Lamott was to read it I think she would ask for more detail as her main thing with her drafts is to toss as much detail as she can into her drafts.
Q1. "Lamott says that perceptions most people have of how writers work is different than the reality of the work itself. She refers to this as the "fantasy of the uninitiated." What does she mean by that?"
ReplyDeleteA. What I think Lamott meant is when people, who don't have experience or certain knowledge about writing, assume that every time a "writer" gets behind his or her desk and do what they do best, it's automatically a best seller.. In reality, it doesn't work that way. Writers go through a process before the story, or essay is the best it can be. "Now, practically even better news than that of short assignments is the idea of shitty first drafts. All good writers write them. This is how they end up with good second drafts and terrific third drafts." (Anne Lamott, "Shitty First Drafts" PG.1)
Q2. Later in the essay, Lamott refers to going through many experiences as a writer and coming to a place where she "eventually let myself trust the process - sort of, more or less." She is referring to the writing process, but why does she write "more or less?"
A. Lamott writes "more or less" because, she feels the writing process is trustworthy in making a better essay or story, but there's always that feeling of people seeing the first few stages of your project and thinking it's crap. "Then, a month later, when it was time for another review, the whole process would start again, complete with the fears that people would find my first draft before I could rewrite it." (Anne Lamott, "Shitty First Drafts" PG.2)
Q3. Is Lamott's essay useful? Or not? Explain. Share some of your writing experiences. Do you feel any closer to "trusting the process?"
A. I found that Lamott's essay is useful, when talking to people who don't know the writing process, but as a writer myself I found it relative. I trust the writing process, but like every other writer that follows the writing process, I have my doubts and fears about my work in it's early stages.
Q4. Lastly, did your impressions of your essay match up your reviewer's feedback? What would you guess might Lamott have to say about that?
A. I thought I did well on my essay, but then again, so did everybody else about theirs. The feedback I got from my reviewer was exactly what I told myself the essay needed. My essay is pretty clear when you're trying to find the moral or story to it, it just lacked details here and there. As for my guess of what Lamott would probably say about my essay, is that it's a terrific third draft (that was a joke have a sense of humor). Lamott would probably be impressed from what I've done with my "shitty first draft" to the "good second draft".
1) Lamott says that perceptions most people have about how writer’s work is different than the reality of the work itself. Everyone thinks that the great writers just sit down and can start writing a great story or essay on the first shot. Well that’s not the case. Lamott refers to this as the “fantasy of the initiated” This means that even though everyone thinks the great writers don’t need first drafts or can just sit down and write a great story, its just a myth. No matter how good or bad of a writer you are, you will always need to write a first draft just to get your ideas and thoughts on paper. “All good writers write them. This is how they end up with good second drafts and terrific third drafts.” (Lamott pg. 1)
ReplyDelete2) Later in the essay, Lamott refers to going through many experiences as a writer and coming to a place where she “eventually let myself trust the process sort of more or less.” She is referring to the writing process, and she says “more or less” because if you trust the writing process and how it works you will be a better writer. But there is always that part in you that will doubt it and think that your story is terrible or crap.
3) I think Anne Lamott’s essay is useful in explaining what the writing process is and how it works. I trust the writing process and understand that my first draft is going to be shitty and is just for getting thoughts on the paper. And that it will improve my second and third draft.
4) I thought my essay was pretty good for a “first shitty draft” because I just got all my ideas on the paper. I knew what was bad about my essay and what the reviewer was going to say I needed improvement on. If Lamott was to read my first draft I think she would say I needed to improve on my introduction and the buildup into the heart of the story. But I think she would be impressed by the improvement from my first “shitty draft” to my final third draft.
1.) Most people perceived writers' work ethic as being different from the reality of the work itself. The author of the essay "Shitty First Drafts," Anne Lamott refers it as the "fantasy of the uninitiated." The meaning behind this phrase is people are delusional into seeing the false truth. This false truth that they sought to believe is how successful writers have their way of writing as being easy and having to routinely feel "wildly enthusiastic and confident" (Lamott p.1). But, that's not the case. There are writers who undergo a similar experience that we all seem to struggle in. As to what Lambott pointed out, "Not one of them writes elegant first drafts" (Lamott p.1). Like herself, she states, "...the only way I can get anything written at all is to write really, really shitty first drafts" (Lamott p.2).
ReplyDelete2.) We all come to write essays through the writing process, however; with Lamott, she had experience it a way of coming to a place where she eventually let herself "trust the process-sort of, more or less." Those words alone are interpreted as having an admixture of feelings about how she writes. The lesser she feels to write, the more frustrated and fearful she is;That's where "panic would set in" (Lambott p.2). She gets self-conscious of her writing by compiling her thoughts with negativity stating, "I'd try to write a lead, but instead I'd write a couple of dreadful sentences, xx them out, try again, xx everything out" (Lambott, p. 2). In spite of that, the more she feels to write, she is calm and fixated on getting the words onto paper. For her to make that happen, she has "to write a really shitty first draft of, say, the opening paragraph. And no one was going to see it" (Lambott, p. 2). Overall, the phrase "more or less" is like a light switch; Your mind either goes on or off when you write whether you feel that you got it or you don't.
3.) I find Lamott's essay or so to say, her advice useful. I agree that it's best to start with a "shitty first draft" since that draft will be revised and that revised piece will later become a final draft. The writing may start terrible but, it will become better through the writing process. For instance, when I was writing my first draft for my exam essay, I knew that it will be proof read however, I was a bit self-conscious that I will be judged by how I write. Still there was a part of me that said it's going to fine as long as the final draft is less-terrible than the first one. Hence, going through the process, is like "bird by bird;" You have to go one by one--outline to rough draft to revision to final draft in order to reach an excellent essay.That's why I come to trust the writing process in situations like this.
4.) My impression of my essay did match up parts of my reviewer's feedback. The whole peer-editing went well. I knew there were mistakes I had made and wordings that needed to be change and fix. Nonetheless, I had thought that I didn't wrote any default settings but, the reviewer pointed out that I did; I was relieved to hear about it. I would imagine Lambott agreeing to this kind of process since she had done it herself.