Oak City Clarinet

I’ve decided to embark on a journey of writing. I’ve had this fear for quite some time about my writing and I want to actively work to get over that fear. I started reading Wendy Belcher’s “Writing Your Journal Article in Twelve Weeks, Second Edition: A Guide to Academic Publishing Success” and in it she says that writing alone breeds these sorts of feelings. She advises that you write publicly, with friends, through a blog, etc. I’ve decided that I want to turn one of my semester papers into a journal article and I am taking those first steps today.

I want to invite anyone who feels so inclined to read what I’m writing, send me encouraging words, criticism, feedback, etc. I just need a way to keep myself accountable and keep pushing through the process.

Each day of this journey I will post a new blog with that day’s work for all to see. The goal is to get better at writing and you can’t do that if you do not write.

Week 1, Day 1: April 22, 2022 

The workbook had three writing exercises about feelings associated with writing. The last part of today’s work was a schedule of writing. I will be editing this in more detail tomorrow.

My Feelings about My Experience of Writing: 

I’ve always been very nervous to write a paper. Term papers are generally not too difficult, but I never know if what I am saying or working on has any merit. Is what I’m discussing worthwhile? Do people care? Is my language not scholarly? I have so much anxiety about writing that I generally don’t do it unless it is for a class. 

Common Elements in My Negative Feelings about Writing: 

I am afraid of how people will perceive my intellectual work 

I am afraid I have nothing new to say (also dealing with intellectual work) 

I am afraid I am not smart enough to write a scholarly article or paper 

Common Elements in My Positive Experiences of Writing: 

I am always proud of myself when I finish a particularly long paper 

I do enjoy researching and forming my own thoughts and opinions about that research 

I enjoy being knowledgeable about a subject – even if people aren’t interested!