My Writing Process

Marotta, Giulia. "Unknown" 9/3/2012 via pixabay. Public Domain Dedication License. 

         Each person's style and method of writing are as unique as they are. But generally, there are major categories that writers can be grouped in.

         So, what kind of writer am I you might ask? 
Throughout my studies at the high school level, I never felt I was one that could plan out every inch of my story, or narrative whatever it had to be for the particular assignment, before I started writing it. I was much more of a "Heavy Reviser" than a big time planner. This process usually was the effect of last minute essay writing. Procrastination was a dear friend to me throughout many of my essay projects.

       So then what did this mean for my writing process?
I would often start just typing whatever came to mind. My mentality was, and still sometimes is, "as long as I have a first draft done." This would often lead to extensively long essays that didn't make a lick of sense to anyone but myself. Then there came the revisions. This took a bit more time than it should have.

 I still write in this manner, but tend to start out with more solid ideas of where I intent the piece to go rather than just making it up on the fly. This has significantly helped minimize the number of drafts I need to go through to end up at my finished polished work. But I cannot ignore the fact that often letting my mind wander allows me to come up with ideas I would never have originally thought of.

So I guess my writing is a bit like an unexpected rain fall, that when it leaves, there are a lot of flooded streets with a lot to clean up.

    There are always benefits and drawbacks to every game plan.
This process does allow me to come up with some great new ideas and allows me to make connections that I would not have originally thought of. But it sometimes does become more of a lengthier process and when it comes to crunch time, can become quite a burden.

Also, reviewing my work can be strenuous since I am never the one to want to delete information. Without the aid of a classmate or helpful parent, I often hit a wall with what I am willing to edit in the paper. This become extremely frustrating for essay with word limits, such as college application letters.

    Change is not always a bad thing...
My writing can always use work and change since it is never going to be 100% perfect. It makes you think if there is such a thing as a perfect paper, story, essay or any other piece of writing. Different opinions are what make us all so unique and what make writing so interesting.

I can work on more time management in my essay writing. Time management has been a bit of struggle for me since I want to put a lot of time and effort into every activity I do.With all the other school events, classes, and my extracurriculars, the time adds up.

Working on assignments as soon as they are handed out is also a goal that I have given myself for college. So far I have been doing better with that goal, but I continually have to stay motivated to get projects done.




Reflection 
"My Writing Process"
Reading through other people's systems makes me feel less guilty about my procrastination habits. It seems that it is a pretty common struggle that occurs amongst high schoolers. Throughout my senior year of high school I have been hearing how college is so much harder than high school. I know that everyone has had different schooling experiences in high school, but this has honestly scared me for this up coming year. Knowing that I am not the only one going through this hard change and facing the same challenges makes me feel like college is something that I can accomplish, and even excel in.
Starting in a new environment, with new teachers, and new classmates will hopefully help motivate me into making new study and work habits. Now study groups are becoming more of a possibility, especially since I am living with other students who are going through the same struggles that I am (i.e. chemistry).
Reading Evan's evaluation on his writing process reminded me too much of my own. When I read someone else's version of what I am doing, it makes me question my sanity. Obviously doing all the work at the last minute cannot be smart or efficient but yet I continue to do it anyway. This post, once again made me realize how I need to change my studying and working habits.

My procrastination is something that I can transition out of just like the rest of my high school schedule and life.