Writing, from the perspective of a Poly gal

I find that the older I get, the less capable I am of speaking. More often than not, I must sit down and write about what I want to say before I head to a meeting, have a conference with one of my staff members, or plan what I have to complete by the end of the week.

Well, you must think, you’re pretty old if you have to do all that just to speak. Unfortunately, that is far from being true.

Writing is how I manage to convey anything that I hold in my head. I remember being in the 10^th grade and being tasked by my English teacher to rewrite William Carlos Williams’ “The Red Wheelbarrow” poem about something I could not live without. I don’t quite remember how I wrote the poem, but I do know it was about pen and paper, and the secret conversations I had with the inkblots smudged against a page or my hands.

Not everyone is passionate about writing, and that’s okay. Luckily, the writing center houses tutors who are passionate about writing (at least that’s what I hope), and who can help you in the writing process and hone the skills you need to be confident when you write. We’re not that intimidating, and most of us don’t bite. Maybe most importantly, we’re always happy to see new faces.

Stop by, even if it’s just to talk. You could even ask me how writing got me kicked out of prison.

And, to carry on with the cat theme:

Many Faces from Many Places

You might think all of our writing tutors are studying English literature. Think again! Nicole is studying biology here at ASU. She brought one of her tools into the center today.  It's a butterfly net she is using to catch bugs for her entomology project!

You there! Breathe.

As Paula observed yesterday, it's freak out time. By now, you have a collection of syllabi, each demanding an impossible load of work. Multiply by the number of classes and, well, you probably stopped smiling on Tuesday. Like a freshman told me yesterday, with a grim smile, "College just got real."

Staff suffer, too. (I'm writing this at 4am.) When I got up, I took a deep breath, bracing myself for another nonstop day. That much air felt foreign, for the bottom of my lungs hadn't expanded in awhile. Shallow breathing's a result of adrenaline, which I've been living on like it's espresso. 

At the start of every fall, the road looks endless. We've barely stepped off the porch. Soon, though, after reading some chapters and working some problems, we'll reach the corner. Turn in some papers and take some tests, and we'll be hiking in the mountains. Vistas will open before us, all the way to the ocean. Deep breaths then, and long strides.

And on our trek, we've got friends. Colleagues. Yes, the writing centers, where we bounce around ideas for papers or read them and offer suggestions. Come in; sit down. Breathe.

Five Emotions of the First Week

I came upon a great post recently from ProfHacker.com entitled "Five Emotions of the First Week" which I think is appropriate given the start of the semester was less than a week ago..but here we are already at Day #3. Take a moment to pat yourselves on the back, you have survived so far. Congrats :)

I think the same five emotions run through us as tutors in our respective Writing Centers. The initial excitement of coming back to campus and the Writing Centers after a long hiatus - longer for some, too short for others - or starting out as a new tutor for the first time this semester -- it can be a bit overwhelming at first and you may be caught in the emotional melange. But if I can offer you any kind of advice, it is this - it will get better, it will improve, the sun is still shining. You will find (or regain) a rhythm, a routine, a schedule and it won't be the barely contained, perpetual chaos that you may feel now. This week is a (new) return, a start. And we all need to start somewhere even if it is with feelings of anticipation, regret, and nervousness -- once we have made the initial effort to put one foot in front of the other and walk our intended line can we find relief.

“Almost all good writing begins with terrible first efforts. You need to start somewhere.” -- Anne Lamott, Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life.

With the summer quickly winding down and the start of the semester just around the corner, if you feel like Writer Cat, it's time to stop by and visit your local campus Writing Center! We will be opening the week of Monday, August 27th !