Self Critique of Writing Progress

Progress My writing level at the beginning of this course was basic. In my earlier education, I had written some but not at any extensive level. I wrote short papers for school and put down my ideas without thinking about order or presentation. Some of my paragraphs and sentences would run on and I did not always complete thoughts that I started. This was because I did not really have the discipline to sit down and examine what it was I had written.

I was too much in a hurry to finish and hand in an assignment. I had no interest in editing or in self-critiquing. The changes and improvements that I have made as a writer over the last few weeks are here: I now see that a lot of ground can be gained if I just slow down and think about what it is I want to say. For example, I see that one paragraph should be about one main idea.

And thoughts should link up like in a chain, so one leads to the next -- each paragraph joining together with transition words that help the reader to go with the flow of the writing. Also, going back over words that I have written and looking to make sure everything is ordered and correct and that sentences are complete is a good way to successfully accomplish a writing goal.

Thus, the biggest improvement I have made over the last few weeks is that I am no longer in a rush to get through a writing assignment. I see that it is much better to sit down and think about what I want to say first and try to recognize what my main point is. I do not worry about losing words or forgetting ideas because once that main idea is identified I can just start building from there.

For that reason, I am happy to say that collecting my thoughts and putting them in order is what has helped me change as a writer in these last few weeks. However, I still recognize that there is work to do. But by also recognizing my strengths and weaknesses, I know where to concentrate on that work. My strengths in writing are in my ability to maintain a flow.

I like to keep a flow going when I write because this, to me, is like the tracks or rail of a train: it is what keeps the cars going where they should go. If the flow is interrupted it is like the train running off the tracks. It is difficult for it to get going again. The same seems to be the case in writing: when the flow is lost, the words just meander and never get the reader to where he or she needs to go.

The writer is like a track layer and a conductor -- he has to think about so much when putting his work together. With that said, I still see my main weakness as wanting to let the train go off the rails at times. It requires strict discipline and attention keeping everything going at the same time -- so what helps me is to take a break for a few minutes and come.