In the article, Directions: Write, Read, Rewrite. Repeat Steps 2 and 3 as Needed, Susan Sontag provides her thoughts on the connection between reading and writing. Specifically Sontag makes three main arguments. First, reading and writing are joined and we can use this process to make our writing better. Second, reading can be used as a motivation for writing. Finally, that writing can be used as a method of escape, joy, and elimination of the ego.
Sontag states that reading and writing are related. In Sontag's view, "[T]o write is to practice, with particular intensity and attentiveness, the art of reading." Sontag's point is that reading is an inseparable part of writing, that they are one and the same.
Sontag asserts that we write to read
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what we have written, to measure its quality, then to rewrite with iteration. In other words, to read your own work is to be the introductory and toughest judge of quality we'll face. Even if the prose comes out fine, she then advocates that it usually could be even better with rereading. However, she's quick to say that this isn't always the case. For one thing, that sometimes it comes out perfect the first time. For another, that writers must not necessarily strain for quality. For example Sontag quotes Dr. Johnson saying, "What is written without effort is in general read without pleasure," But she dismisses the idea that one can't have good work without a matching effort. She confidently emphasizes that some content was made without considerable effort but still a pleasure to read. The observation that Sontag makes is that even if it's our prose is a mess it's our freedom to try to make it better. More, clear, deep, eloquent, authoritative. She reminds us that writing is a process of liberation, to bring words from our mind. She also suggests that we can take pleasure in reading the quality of our own work. Furthermore, Sontag insists that rewriting doesn't have to be an uncomfortable thing. She states, "though the rewriting — and the rereading — sound like effort, they are actually the most pleasurable parts of writing." In other words, Sontag believes that the best part is after you already have words on paper and to start to work on revising. Although she also makes the claim that, "[Writing is] a series of permissions you give yourself to be expressive in certain ways." Basically she's making the recommendation that we must strike a balance.
That when we think it's going well, to keep writing and not to reread.
In addition to her main argument Sontag believes that often reading almost always the motivation for writing. Though she says that others do deny this, that these people see themselves as a "writer, not a reader." Simply that some see reading and writing as incompatible. Sontag denies this while also giving two reasons why she thinks that some might make that claim. First, out of a worry that their voice will be influenced, to which she believes is a vain and shallow concern. Second, that it could be out of lack of time, she insists it's a pleasure she could not avoid.
Finally, Sontag states that it's common today to think of writing as a self-expression. That we can't write about other's authentically, only ourself. Sontag degrees when she writes, "Why wouldn't you write to escape yourself as much as you might write to express yourself? It's far more interesting to write about others." In making this comment, she suggests that we can use writing for escape and elimination of the
ego.
...e does not discuss what she is writing, while she is writing it. She is afraid that if she speaks of it, it will wear out her idea. She says, “If you want to be a writer, I have two pieces of advice. One is to be a reader. I think that's one of the most important parts of learning to write. The other piece of advice is: Just do it! Don't think about it, don't agonize, sit down and write”.
states that writing can only be improved through reading. In others words, the relations between
In “Writing to Learn: Writing across the Disciplines,” Anne J. Herrington finds different sources stating that writing is to be taken serious. Janet Emig says, "writing represents a unique mode of learning-not merely valuable, not merely special, but unique” (1) meaning that writing is far more essential than we ought to make it seem. Anne Herrington wants educators teaching in economics, history, chemistry or any other subject to guide their students into understanding why progressing their writing skills will be more helpful to them. At the end of the day, it all comes down to the educator; whether he/she wants their students to use writing as a way for students to adapt to different disciplines.
In this day and age, writing is being portrayed through various mediums, such as film and television. Some of those portrayals depict writing as both good and bad depending on the situation that is present. Authors such as, by E. Shelley Reid, Kevin Roozen, and Anne Lamott all write about important writing concepts that are being depicted in films, like Freedom Writers. The film Freedom Writers shows a positive and accurate portrayal of writing in the sense that the writers should have a connection to what they are writing about, writing is a form of communication, and that writing does not have to be perfect the first time.
...s among what appears as un-related items are involved opening the minds of readers to think more about what they are reading. This broadens the horizon for newer methods of writing, and at the same time it provides not just a lesson in writing, but also a lesson in reading and thinking. It helps readers to open their minds about the things they read even it is a strange way of going about writing. Although the technique and structure of her work is very peculiar, it is a lesson on reading, writing, and thinking. Without writers like Susan Griffin, new methods of writing such as the one she used would never exist rather relying on the more mundane methods. New avenues would not be explored, because connections not normally analyzed would never be presented such as comparing the past and present, public life and private life, an individuality and collective living.
Many people think that reading more can help them to think and develop before writing something. Others might think that they don’t need to read and or write that it can really help them to brainstorm things a lot quicker and to develop their own ideas immediately (right away). The author’s purpose of Stephen King’s essay, Reading to Write, is to understand the concepts, strategies and understandings of how to always read first and then start something. The importance of this essay is to understand and comprehend our reading and writing skills by brainstorming our ideas and thoughts a lot quicker. In other words, we must always try to read first before we can brainstorm some ideas and to think before we write something. There are many reasons why I chose Stephen King’s essay, Reading to Write, by many ways that reading can help you to comprehend, writing, can help you to evaluate and summarize things after reading a passage, if you read, it can help you to write things better and as you read, it can help you to think and evaluate of what to write about.
Although the greater picture is that reading is fundamental, the two authors have a few different messages that they seek to communicate to their audiences. “The Joy of Reading and Writing” depicts how reading serves as a mechanism to escape the preconceived notions that constrain several groups of people from establishing themselves and achieving success in their lifetimes. “Reading to Write,” on the other hand, offers a valuable advice to aspiring writers. The author suggests that one has to read, read, and read before he or she can become a writer. Moreover, he holds an interesting opinion concerning mediocre writing. He says, “Every book you pick has its own lesson or lessons, and quite often the bad books have more to teach than the good ones” (p.221). Although these two essays differ in their contents and messages, the authors use the same rhetorical mode to write their essays. Both are process analyses, meaning that they develop their main argument and provide justification for it step by step. By employing this technique, the two authors create essays that are thoughtful, well supported, and easy to understand. In addition, Alexie and King both add a little personal touch to their writings as they include personal anecdotes. This has the effect of providing support for their arguments. Although the two essays have fairly different messages, the authors make use of anecdotes and structure their writing in a somewhat similar
It is fascinating to me to read the articles “Why I Write,” by George Orwell and Joan Didion. These authors touch on so many different topics for their reasons to writing. Their ideals are very much different, but their end results are the same, words on paper for people to read. Both authors made very descriptive points to how their minds wander on and off their writings while trying to write. They both often were writing about what they didn’t want to write about before they actually wrote what they wanted too. In George Orwell’s case, he wrote many things when he was young the he himself would laugh at today, or felt was unprofessional the but if he hadn’t done so he would not of been the writer he became. In Joan Didion’s case she would often be daydreaming about subjects that had nothing to do with what she intended on writing. Her style of writing in this article is actually more interesting because of this. Her mind wandering all over on many different subjects to how her writing came to her is very interesting for a person like me to read. My mind is also very restless on many different unneeded topics before I actually figure some sort of combined way to put words on to paper for people to read. Each author put down in their articles many ways of how there minds work while figuring out what they are going to write about. Both of the authors ended ...
The point the author, Russell Baker, is making in his essay, “Writing for Myself,” is quite evident. When Mr. Fleagle, Baker’s English teacher, assigned an informal essay to be completed as homework, Baker immediately became baffled by the daunting task. Though reluctant to start, Baker knew that it he had to swallow his animosity toward writing and select a topic to write on.
A successful writer is he who is able to transmit ideas, emotions, and wisdom on to his readers. He is cable of stirring emotions and capturing the reader's attention with vivid descriptions and clever dialogues. The writer can even play with the meanings of words and fuse reality with fiction to achieve his goal of taking the reader on a wonderful journey. His tools are but words, yet the art of writing is found in the use of the language to create though-provoking pieces that defy the changing times. Between the lines, voices and images emerge. Not everyone can write effectively and invoke these voices. It is those few who can create certain psychological effects on the reader who can seize him (or her) with inspiring teachings, frightening thoughts, and playful games with the language. These people are true writers…
There are many factors that can influence a person’s reading and writing. For most people, it can be an author’s work. Some may reference the text that was most significant for them in order to base their own work on it. When I work on my writing, I think of a particular poem that stands out for me. The poem Repetition by Phil Kaye reminds me of what I aim to avoid in my style of writing.
Fifty years on from Susan Sontag’s innovative Essay “The Imagination of Disaster”, which incorporates the use of disaster films as analogies to argue that “from a psychological point of view, the imagination of disaster does not greatly differ from one period in history to another”, but on the contrary “from a political and moral point of view, it does”, Jean Baudrillard exchanges a similar set of concerns in his more recent essay ‘The mirror of terrorism’. He forms his essay on the ideas that the Western media is becoming the basis to advance how we are entering “the era of simulation and hyperreality” with “reality TV”. John C. Gilmour’s ‘Fire on the earth’, also relevant to Sontang and Stockhausen’s bald claims, contends that Anselm Kiefer, a german sculpture and painter, seeks to
Reading and writing has always played a vital part in my life. From toddler to adult, pre-elementary to college, I’ve managed to sharpen both skills to my liking. However, even though it significantly helped, schooling was not what influenced me to continue developing those skills into talent. Many different things shaped and influenced my learning, and now reading and writing have become the safety net of my life. I know that even if I have nothing else in the future, I’ll still have my talent and knowledge. To ensure my success, I hope to further develop those skills so that I may fulfill my wishes.
Literate arts is what makes the world more creative and everlasting with inventions. Mae Jemison once said,“The difference between science and the arts is not that they are different sides of the same coin even, or even different parts of the same continuum, but rather, they are manifestations of the same thing. The arts and science are avatar of human creativity.” Literate arts are a way for us to express ourselves; they are ways of communication such as poems, songs, or artistic works. In a transcript of literature arts Miller says that reading and writing do not determine a person’s behavior, they majorly reflect on what people are going through in life. Human life is expressed through communications; through this, people come to learn
There are many different types of events that shape who we are as writers and how we view literacy. Reading and writing is viewed as a chore among a number of people because of bad experiences they had when they were first starting to read and write. In my experience reading and writing has always been something to rejoice, not renounce, and that is because I have had positive memories about them.