Bret Anthony Johnston, Anne Lamott, And Stephen King

She comically writes about her struggles with the inner critics telling her their opinions on her writing. Lamott advises that in order to get to a well written final draft, it is imperative to silence inner critics in order to begin the writing process. Lamott uses her own experience as a food critic to describe how she would attempt to begin her writing process but could not produce anything useful. She then shares her key to overcoming this block: to just start writing. Lamott’s entire essay is focused on this idea.

Whether while writing an essay or a birthday card, we have all struggled to find the proper words to illustrate our thoughts or feelings from time to time. Upholding the occupation of a writer would multiply that struggle tenfold. An occupation that depends on interesting, fluid pieces of writing every submission requires an adequate number of attempts and patience. Lamott expresses that writers “all often feel like we are pulling teeth” (Lamott), which proves the difficulty of writing is still there no matter the level of writer behind the work. Lamott also emphasizes that a writer “has to start somewhere” and shares her friend’s ideas in her writing to simply “get something - anything - down on paper” (Lamott). Lamott, and the other writers mentioned in this piece, carry incredible track records, while still admitting that perfection did not come initially, or even easily. Thus, proving that the Shitty First Draft has a place in any writer’s notebook or Word document. Lamott’s admission to struggling to properly begin a piece of writing surprised me, given of her success. I could not imagine a woman of her accomplishments stressing out over a food review, yet I felt relieved that someone of Lamott’s title relates to an amateur writer like myself. I often put off my writing as well when I cannot articulate a proper introduction. I do every other possible homework, or shy away from homework in general because the

Lamott 's effective persuasion was greatly due to her reflection on the writing process that writers go through and at the same time informing her audience the importance of first drafts. Most people assume that accomplished writers can easily write something they could be proud of, but that is not the case. According to Lamott, all good writers write a not-so-good first drafts and “this is how they end up with good second drafts and terrific third drafts” (Lamott, 191). For the most part of a writing process, mistakes will be made and it will most likely not contain everything the author wants to say. Lamott addressed new writers that the first draft is where writers assemble their ideas making it the most important step to a writing. Lamott pointed out many times that first drafts will not be

The standard impression most people have of writers is that they can sit down and just let a perfect composition flow from their heads onto paper. In her writing career, Lamott has observed how “writing is not rapturous. In

The book “Bird by Bird” is published in 1994, telling readers on how to write or improve their writing. Anne Lamott has publised books and articles as the food reviewer of California magazine before it folded. The fact that the writer has a lot of experience makes the audience believe that what she is saying is most likely true and would believe what Lamott had experienced is a normal occurrence as a writer. Looking at Lamott’s style of writing, it is really easy to see that she is a funny person as she joked about how she knew one person who writes “elegant first drafts” (Lamott Par. 1) and how she and her writer friends doesn’t like the person much. She also mentioned the false thoughts about successful writers doesn’t go through the really awful drafts of a rookie writer.

Everyone knows what writing is to one extent or another, but we all have different definitions of how it should be done and varying degrees of seriousness about the art. We all have a process of writing, but each is unique to ourselves and our own experiences. Annie Dillard and Stephen King are two well known authors who have published many pieces, two of which describe how they view the writing process and let their readers get a peek of what goes on through their minds when they write. These two pieces are Dillard’s The Writing Life and King’s “What Writing Is.”

In "Shitty First Drafts", Lamott talks to us about how, no matter what she is writing, she writes out her shitty first draft. This draft is her starting point, a way to get ideas down on paper. She comments that all good writers do this first bad draft and continue their efforts into a second and final draft. By doing her first initial writing, she is getting the creative juices flowing, writing for the sake of writing something. Lamott also talks about how even when she worked at as a resturant reviewer she did this shitty first draft, which shows the importance of using a first draft for whatever you are writing.

Fortunately, writing is a skill that can be both taught and practiced to a point

First, staying focused as a writer can sometimes be a challenge. Writing is one of those things that usually takes time, especially when it comes down to a big assignment. However, a writer has to be able to overcome and persevere to stay focused through the process and finish it. Welty writes, “Still illiterate, I was ready for them, committed to all the reading I could give them” (Welty 6). As long as a writer can stay focused and key in on the subject, they will be able to compose a great piece work no matter what it is.

The idea that one just sits down and knows what and how to write or in many professions, is just a view I feel most have. As individuals who do not excel in outside professions besides their own, we have, as Lamott says “a fantasy” of how others handle their own work. In her own words she refers to “her” view of other writers and their own process. Through her own insecurities she has created this “fantasy” to explain why she is unable to start her own writing endeavors.

I find writing challenging, but rewarding. I have discovered that the greatest difficulty in writing is the thinking and logic that occur prior to the actual writing. Settling down and thinking deeply for long periods of time is difficult, and is often not very enjoyable. However, it is through this thinking that ideas are formed and developed. This is why I learn a concept better if I write about it. I appreciate that at the end of a writing project I know I can clearly articulate my subject and offer valid support for it. Writing can be arduous, but as an essential form of communication, it is profitable to be able to do it

The expression “practice makes perfect” could not be any truer. Writing along with any other activity or hobby, is something that can be improved. Over time the creative writing process becomes second nature, and without even realizing every essay, paper or simple paragraph will end up having the same format. Many strategies can improve a persons’ writing, but for me the act of brainstorming, outlining, and peer editing have immensely benefitted me as a writer.

Being an effective writer in the workplace can have a major impact on your career. Many business owners will not even consider people for jobs unless they have good writing skills. It is one of the most important traits a person can have in the business world.

Writing has always been something I dread. It’s weird because I love talking and telling stories, but the moment I have to write it all down on paper, I become frantic. It’s almost as if a horse race just begun in my mind, with hundreds of horses, or words, running through my mind, unable to place them in chronological order. Because I struggle to form satisfying sentence structure, it takes me hours, sometimes even days, to write one paper. It’s not that I think I’m a “bad writer,” I just get discouraged easily. Needless to say, I don’t think highly of my writing skills. When I was little I loved to both read and write. I read just about any book I could get my hands on, and my journal was my go to for my daily adventures. Although it’s

Writing can be very hard especially for first time writers. There are a lot of things and process that they need to undergo in order to master the art of writing. However, it will be hard for them also to accomplish their writing task if they don't have the attitude towards writing just like most writers do.