Jayde Perdomo Perdomo 1

Professor Vasquez

ENC 1101

October 29, 2019

Writing restraints and rules can give writers what is known as writer’s block. Writer’s
block is the inability for a writer to come up with a new idea or a continuation of an idea. “Rigid
Rules, Inflexible Plans, and the Stifling of Language,” by Mike Rose discusses the cognition
behind writer’s block. Mike Rose states that what makes a good writer is practice and
mindfulness (Rose 789). People aren’t born good writers and it takes a lot of practice to be
comfortable with writing and to become a skilled writer. Even skilled writers write rough drafts
so the writing process in and of itself shows that no piece of writing is perfect the first time or
most likely even the second time. People can experience writer’s block when they are
hyperaware of every possible error they are making because they are not following writing
‘rules’ that were instilled at a young age, such as making sure to include a grabbing sentence and
including three main points in an essay (Rose 791). It’s important to let the essay flow and form
by itself because that is when brilliant concepts can form.
My thinking about writing and rules has changed after reading this selection. When I am
writing an essay with the sole purpose of fitting the writing requirements or making sure I have
everything that a standard essay ‘should’ include, the essay feels lackluster and forced. The
selection has enforced that it’s important that I not overthink what I am writing when I am
writing it and instead focus on correcting my essay when I am proofreading and editing it. This
article did change my perspective on writing rules because when I was younger each response or
essay, I wrote was in the same format and included the same elements. As I have become a more
experienced writer, I have learned that not all essays have the same theme or message so it
makes sense they wouldn’t all be in the same format. Although I believe it is important to teach
children the fundamentals of writing so later, they will be able to grasp the larger concepts, good
writing does not have one specific formula. The article by Mike Rose opened my eyes to the fact
the believing writing should happen one way can inhibit other, interesting ideas for writing to
take place and develop.
 Perdomo 2

Work cited
Rose, Mike. “Rigid Rules, Inflexible Plans, and the Stifling of Language,” Writing about
Writing: A College Reader. 3rd ed., edited by Elizabeth Wardle and Doug Downs,
Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2017, pp. 787-802.