Elbow 1-47

Reading Elbow was refreshing for me. I am not one to feel comfortable doing outlines before I even begin writing. How can a person outline something that hasn’t gotten a chance to fully mature during writing processes? I am one to feel uncomfortable writing without editing. His method of writing is a sharp contrast to the majority of the texts and teachers who insist first upon order before writing can proceed. Order can stifle creativity. Writing blocks usually occur with the stress and anxiety writing brings. Beginning writers could benefit greatly using these methods. It is harder to undo habits once formed. My child’s teacher in middle school sent home a paper for parents to review and sign. Her writing methods were similar to Elbow’s. She called it the 5 step writing process. The student first writes without and attention to editing or revisions. The following steps asked for the students to revise the writing and the 5th step called for a polished work free of mistakes. This is an excellent way to introduce students to feel free to express themselves and be creative first and worry about mistakes and such later. I’m wish that I would have scanned the paper prior to sending it back so I could share it with the class and keep it for future reference. If other teachers would follow that lead I feel that individuals would have an opportunity to become better writers with less stress and inhibition. I found myself going back and correcting glaring errors even in this blog. I am making a conscious effort not to but the habit is engrained and will be difficult to break.