Analysis Of Andrea Luns Attitude Towards Writing

Some people may be able to make a cup of tea, get out their journal, and write until their pen runs out of ink. However, for other people, they may open a Microsoft Word document and stare blankly while their cursor flickers. These scenarios may be due to the writer’s attitude towards writing. Often these attitudes towards writing were shaped early in a writer’s life. Frequently, people were pressured, especially in academic settings, to have correct grammar while simultaneously having catchy intros and fluid transitions. One may think that without these things they are a “bad” writer. However, this is not the case. There are not perfect writers, only experienced writers.

To gain insight regarding experienced writers, I had the opportunity

Wardle and Downs clarify this statement by saying that writing is used to make meaning. I believe this is very evident in Lew VanderMeer’s writing. On a weekly basis, he is writing two sermons in hopes to share meaning found in the Bible. To do this, he is always focusing on the audience in writing. When developing his sermons, he is considering what is going on in people’s lives. “What might they be, not only interested in, but maybe need to hear.” Included in Naming What We Know, Andrea Lunsford writes that “writing addresses...audiences”

Often it is failure to come up with content. Authors of any experience level struggle with writer’s block. Through his own experiences, VanderMeer has come up with ways to overcome writer’s block. First, his advice is to pace yourself. He will set a deadline-or follow one he was given-to make sure he has enough time. While he believes he is more creative as deadlines approach, any college student can agree with him that it is not smart to wait until the last minute. Next, he advises writers to walk away sometimes, but continue to think about it. Then, when inspiration does strike, he will “jot it down. Even while I’m driving, I’ll jot things down.” His approach to writer’s block is one that I think other writers can learn from. While I asked him how he avoids writer’s block, he said “avoid” wasn’t the right word, because he still has it. He preferred to say, “how do I avoid having it become a severe detriment.”

I agree that often these roadblocks can be discouraging to writers. However, we also have tools like revision to help. When I asked Lew VanderMeer about the importance of revision, his response was simply that it is “very important.” He knows that it is “not wise to go with the original.” He begins by writing on legal pads and then does all his brainstorming, organizing, writing and rewriting on them. Especially since he claims that his is not tech savvy, writing this way allows him to see all of his work and then condense