Composing Process

Writing is not one of my favorite things to do. In the past, my most fierce procrastination has emerged when I have writing assignments, especially essays. However, I do believe I am getting better at controlling my procrastination. When a writing assignment is first announced, I usually take it home, read the prompts, and think about it over periods of time. I gather my thoughts about how I want to address the topic, think of different examples I can use, and find some key points that I want to point out or discuss. Occasionally, I write these on a sheet of paper or make a note of it on my phone. When I start the assignment depends on the difficulty and the time I estimate will take me to complete it. In most instances, I have done the assignments in one sitting, except for when I have several questions about the assignment or just want to make sure I am doing things correctly. In this case, I begin writing the assignment and go to my teacher with any questions. I usually give him or her an example of what I have written just to make sure that I'm on the right track. Once I feel comfortable with my understanding of the assignment, I commence writing. I like to sit at a desk while I am composing because it gives me the right posture and the sort of "feel" that I associate with doing homework. Most of the time, I try to write in a place that is devoid of many sounds that can distract me or make it hard for me to concentrate. Thankfully, since I lived only with my mom, I didn't have to worry about background noises such as music, talking, or children cheering (not that I have anything against it, it's just annoying when you have to focus). If I ever do have to deal with sounds, I go to another room or try to zone it out. While I'm writing, I like to use my computer's dictionary/thesaurus as much as possible and have the prompt or guidelines to the assignment nearby. I often read over each sentence or paragraph and try to avoid using the same words, especially transitions, close to each other. The dictionary also helps me whenever I have difficulty finding the right word to express my thought. Whenever I get overcome with writer's block initiating or finishing a paragraph, I try to think it over and over. When that doesn't work, I take a break away from the computer or discuss my problem with someone else. In addition, I sometimes take breaks whenever I've reached a halfway mark or when I am only missing a couple of paragraphs to finish. Once I have completed the assignment, I read it over and ask someone to read it for me. I consider any input, edit if I have to, and do one last, quick check before I send it to the printer. Through this class, I hope to overcome my procrastinating habits, expand my vocabulary, be exposed to more authors, books, and styles of writing, and maybe even increase my fondness of composing. I also hope to improve my writing, but especially my critical thinking abilities.