Blog Eight - The Teacherless Writing Class

Many times I have wondered, "What is the point of a teacherless writing class? Aren't we studying to be teachers? Are we putting ourselves out of jobs by teaching this 'teacherless' writing?" Chapter 4 of Elbow's text gives us some additional introspection as to what he means by a "teacherless" writing class, "But writing is also a transaction with other people. Writing is not just getting things down on paper, it is getting things inside someone else's head. If you wish you improve your writing you must also learn to to do more business with other people. That is the goal of the teacherless writing class," (Elbow 76). I don't know about you guys, but I'm starting to get some mixed messages- not only from Elbow, but from Williams, as well. What is this we once heard about "writing for the sake of writing?" Shouldn't we write without the thought of our reader, only to let the chips fall where they may? I would say that this concept Elbow describes is one that I agree more with. It requires writing to be purposeful and directed, rather than self-indulgent. Yes, there is value in writing pieces only for self-viewing, but I believe writing to be like many other art forms: if you keep it to yourself, the world cannot enjoy its beauty.

Elbow then goes on to walk us through the set-up of a teacherless writing class. One of the segments that spoke to me the most was "Advice to the Writer on Listening: Be quiet and listen." So many of my peers make excuses or apologize for their writing. I have never understood this, simply for the fact that everything I put "out there" is a representation of me. Why would I want something in the literary atmosphere that lacks my personal style or flair? Sure, there are pieces I'm happier with than others, but ultimately, one's work should always be signed with personal excellence. I believe the listening phase of writing is one that is instrumental because it allows the writer to take in what they wrote and then do with it what they will, without outside instruction or criticism. "Above all, never say what you want your writing to do, how you want your readers to respond. You'll destroy any chance of getting trustworthy evidence of whether you did it," (Elbow 101). This, for me, shows the opposite side of listening. One of the best indicators of whether one's work is understandable is if someone entirely fresh to the topic comes and reads the paper. If it requires explanation, it needs rewritten. By allowing the reader to tell the writer what they need from the piece, and the writer simply listening, they are getting responses that are un-coached (intentionally or not) and can most benefit their writing.