Letter to ESC 724

I've never considered myself to be a serious writer, though I do feel like I can coherently string a few words together when needed. I am the designated editor for every essay written by my friends and family, and I am always confident when sending back beautifully refurbished versions of their work. But that confidence disappears when I'm staring at a blank screen, forced to write an original piece from scratch. I take great joy in reworking someone else's writing, whether it's that of a peer or a student - but getting my own words out on paper proves to be more difficult.

My writing process includes a ton of procrastination, at least a dozen open tabs in my browser, and the television on mute. I'm usually highly caffeinated and mindlessly snacking on something full of carbohydrates or sugar. It's not a pretty scene, but it usually helps me get some thoughts on paper. 

For me, the hardest part is getting started. Whether it's a research paper, a letter to a friend, or something just for me, I seem to have the most trouble when I'm forced to take my ideas and make sense of them. That first step of organizing my thoughts into a logical and sensical presentation is often overwhelming enough to make me leave any writing project to the absolute last minute - much like this blog assignment. 

I have found that this is true for many of my students as well. They are often intimidated by the length of a writing assignment, and can't imagine how they will be able to get even just a page or two written. I think that sharing that initial feeling of insecurity will help me be a better teacher of writing, and connect with my students in a very genuine way. I hope that as a teacher of writing, I will be able to calm the nerves of my students. I want to show them, through example, that writing can and should be a form of expression and communication rather than the only way that they know it - as a formulaic five paragraph essay about something unimportant to them.