Teaching Thinking By Peter Elbow's A Way Of Writing Processing At The Same Time

The writing process is both complex and interesting at the same time. There are many ways to write and the process is different for everyone. In this essay, I will explain my found writing process and analyze my process alongside Peter Elbow’s Teaching Thinking by Teaching Writing, Alvarez’s Writing Matters, and Stafford’s A Way of Writing. My first step in writing begins with choosing the right location. Usually I choose my office or bedroom, but sometimes when I stick to a routine, I become distracted easier. Mixing up my area breaks the routine and helps alleviate all of the surrounding distractions. When choosing a location, I look for quiet, tranquil places where I can be alone. Places like my backyard or a secluded area at the park are …show more content…
According to Peter Elbow, there are two ways to write, first order and second order. First order thinking “is intuitive and creative and does not strive for conscious direction or control.” First order thinking is when you write without censor. Its off the cuff, meaning whatever comes to mind, you write. Second order thinking is “conscious, directed, controlled thinking.” Second order thinking is when everything you type goes through a filter. Anything your writing is processed and then put down on paper. These are the two ways Peter Elbow says to go about …show more content…
They both have different views on time. Alvarez says that writing needs a “special time.” She sets up a private time where she doesn’t let anything get in her way. She locks herself up until she finishes, no matter the cost. Stafford uses time to his advantage. He goes throughout his day “fishing” for ideas using his receptivity. He lets them flow into his mind anyway they can through visual or his senses. Once he gets his ideas, he jots them down to later implement them into his writing. My views differ between them all. I like the idea of Stafford’s “Fishing for ideas.” I also like Alvarez’s dedication to her writing, letting nothing deter her from her work. I also see where Elbow is coming from, being able to write freely and also focused. I believe that integrating all of these views can make a huge difference in my writing. I believe that following my own path will help me become a better writer. Now that I’ve learned about other ways to write, I can view them how I want. I can take bits and pieces of their ideas and combine them with my process. “A writer is not so much someone who has something to say as he is someone who has found a process that will bring about new things he would not have thought of if he had not started them.” (Stafford, A Way of