Project 1 Pt: 2

Cory Boggs (English 1510) J. Dehaven Due 2/8/13 (Draft)

Writing about Writing Writing about writing is a difficult for someone that is not particularly familiar with their own process. When I do write it is clearly from necessity. Clearly I must further pursue and advance myself as a writer. I noticed several habits that I have developed during my time as a writer. Many of these negative habits I believe to be relevant to my particular audience (my classmates) in the sense that the majority is in agreement and suffers from similar unproductive practices like procrastination, sloppy use of grammar and incomplete thinking. My claim to my peers to improve the way that we all go through the mental procedure that is writing, is to simply identify what you are proficient in and what you must improve on through self analysis. My personal habits in the writing process are borderline ritualistic. Before I began to write I recorded my thoughts aloud on a recording device, prior to this I immediately began to write my thoughts in a journal. As I look back on my data several things are prevalent in my findings; my behavior seems very spontaneous and in how they are related to one another. In my written recordings I notice the large gap between my choice of writing topics. My initial ideas were in a sense a rubber ball fired in small room (all over the place), of course this is not completely a negative reaction to the writing process. The amount of consideration in my process that I unknowingly put in my work prior to writing is unexpected, I believe this first step is the metaphorical spark of creativity. Because my ideas for writing are found all across the spectrum I believe I subconsciously consider my options in great detail such as: who is my audience, how much base knowledge do I have on this topic, and how interested am I initially in the topic? As I research my findings I also found that I must clear my mind of all thoughts to reach the appropriate level of cognitive ability in order to perform within my own set of standards. The environment that I choose to place myself in plays a large role in the meditative process, meaning that I must not only accomplish any task that may inhibit my ability to reach my writers state of mind such as cleaning my area, using the facilities, and becoming distracted by technology. I must also seclude myself from everything that poses potential of distraction including the temptation of the internet, I over came this by turning on my full screen so that I am limiting my visual sense. After I find that I have adequately fulfilled my mental constrictions I am then and only then able to write to the best of my abilities. My findings have not only opened my eyes to the nature of my thought process, but they have allowed me to improve myself as I write this document. My first obstacle to overcome is clearing my mind, I have done research on how other like-minded individuals choose to overcome this. The research was highly effective in the sense that it is immediately relevant and notably helpful. My way of testing these newly discovered method is to implement them immediately. I have read that listening to music with no vocals may help to reach a meditative state by soothing the mind as it also limits the sense of sound to further prevent chance of distraction. Prior to my self examination and further research, my environment directly affected my work because I would remain in my living area. In this area I could encounter more distractions from completing my work than I could count. In fact my evidence for this is I had planned to write out my rough draft as soon as possible but did not because I remained in my room and was distracted by a visitor for the remainder of my free time. My solution to this problem is to schedule a set time to start, and end working and to seclude my self in my dormitorys study lounge with noise canceling headphones playing soothing slow instrumental

Project 1 Pt: 2

compositions. This method of sensory manipulation if you will, may have proven its effectiveness with the results of this document. (The deciding factor will be the final grade of course.) A general assertion that I may make on the writing process is that to achieve the most accurate translation of ones own thoughts, one must begin by analyzing their own subconscious thoughts and patterns and filtering it for the sole purpose of focusing on the writing task at hand. Looking at this assignment as an auto-ethnography I have found this to be helpful in realizing my own personal defects as a writer. My research has provided me with the information that is unique in its own way, but it is accurate enough so that I may code it accordingly. My recordings show how I spent my collective five hours and five minutes of working on separate days. (Coded results are listed in figures 1 & 2)

Fig. 1

Fig. 2 Recordings Collective time Time writing Time thinking Time distracted 145 min 34 min 55 min Time in preparation

Time (Minutes) 305 min

76 min

Time (Percentage)100%

47.5%

11.1%

18%

24.9%

Project 1 Pt: 2

The results of my study was at first astonishing and at first did not believe until I reviewed my evidence and found it to be accurate. My research from which I attained my data consists of journal entries, and a series of voice recordings. I recorded the amount of time that it took to write my entries, the time I could hear myself read my thoughts aloud as I typed, the amount of time I did not speak or type, and finally the time that I was recording but away from the computer engaged in other activities prior to turning the recorder off. My studies continue as I write, and though this method of research I learn more about my personal writing process as a whole. This particular assignment has been not only helpful in improving my working ritual. It has given me a different perspective of how my brain works as if I am analyzing another person. Are you good at critical reading comprehension but struggling to convey your thoughts in an acceptable manner? To over come ones personal obstacles, you must be able to clearly identify the problem and find a reasonable solution. For example my comprehension ability was hindered by my attention span. To counter act this problem that is rooted so deep in my psyche I had to formulate a realistic plan rather then attempt to change everything about my work ethic. So instead of traveling to the library and reading many different articles about writing, which I never do. I simply took myself out of my living space but remained in a familiar environment for comfort. I also listened to music rather than the ambient noise of people walking by conversing near me. Self analysis has yielded surprising results and should always be examined whenever possible for the purpose of improving ones abilities beyond their believed capabilities. This method of research in my opinion works so well for me because I must be invested in my subject to be motivated to do well, and what is more self investing than learning aspects of yourself that you were previously unaware of and improving on them? I believe that in order to effectively transcribe ones own thoughts, they must know how to control their subconscious thoughts. My findings from this study have definitely sparked an interest in continuing my analysis in hopes of uncovering more and increasing my over all understanding of my person and in turn becoming a more adequate writer and researcher.