Week Twelve: Writing with Style

As writers we have a lot to learn.  At least I know I do.  At a recent conference I heard several veteran writers in Higher Education say that they too always worked on improving their writing.  So I am hoping that I am not alone on this one.

John Trimble in his book Writing with Style: Conversations on the Art of Writing now in its 3rd edition he addresses some basic strategies that help a writer improve writing style and practice.  I admittedly have not read it yet but it is at the top of my end of semester reading list.  The reason I bring this up is the writing process as a graduate students is in my experience one that takes ownership by each author.  I need to take responsibility for myself as a writer and challenge myself to continue to grow as a writer.  Starting with books like Trimbles.  At this point of my academic journey I have identified the following steps that I need to pursue to improve as a writer.

• Practice writing in different styles.  To be an effective researcher and scholar each writer needs to develop different styles to use to address the different media types available.  The style I use on this blog (a rather non-academic approach) is not even remotely the same as the style it would take to be considered for an academic journal.  To improve as a writer I need to practice writing in different media and have experience writing through different "lenses".
• Accepting feedback.  On a run this evening I saw a sign in the football weight room that read "Pain is weakness leaving the body".  This is not a unique sign to this campus or to this weight room but it got me thinking about feedback and writing.  As writers we need a tremendous amount of feedback to develop good work and publish professional materials.  As a graduate student is we had a mythical "weight room" I think this sign would read "Feedback is key to weakness leaving your work".  It is important to learn to embrace feedback.
• Build a network.  In a recent conference session I heard a speaker discuss her network of writing friends who promise to critique and be honest about each others work.  Even though I am early in my academic career I find myself on the lookout for people who might fit this mold.  Folks who I can benefit as much or more than could benefit me.  It will take the help of others for me to learn and grow to my potential.  I too want to pay that forward to others.  Now is as good a time as any to get that process started.
• Write every day.  I heard it recently said that writing is a habit that needs to be practiced.  This applies to graduate students too.  While it is not easy to write additional work than is expected of us it is important to keep the writing muscles sharp and practiced.

Remember that what lies ahead might be a challenge but it is worth every minute.

Materials to support writing:

Belcher, W. L. (2009). Writing your journal article in 12 weeks: A guide to academic publishing success. Los Angeles, CA: Sage.

Bolker, J. (1998). Writing your dissertation in 15 minutes a day: A guide to starting, revising, and finishing your doctoral thesis. New York, NY: Henry Holt and Company.

Graff, G., Birkenstein, C., & Durst, R. K. (2009). They say/I say: The moves that matter in academic writing : With readings. New York, NY: W.W. Norton & Co.

Trimble, J. R., (2010). Writing with style: Conversations on the art of writing (3rd ed.). Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall.