Both Pigg’s article and Berkenkotter’s observations of Murray show that writing is repeated a lot, it is an internal process centered on the writer’s own thoughts and discovery. Pigg highlights invention as a phase of "figuring out what to say," which involves exploring and clarifying personal ideas, while Berkenkotter therefore describes Murray’s writing process as repetitive, involving drafting, revising, and reflecting which underscores that writing is less about it being perfect but more about ongoing internal dialogue. We create and process our own self-reflection, discovery, and clarifying what one truly wants to communicate when writing. Connecting this to Berkenkotter's observations of Murray, we see an understanding that writing is not just about producing polished texts but also about engaging in a dynamic process of discovery. Both of these perspectives give away that writing fundamentally relies on drafting, revising, and discovering, rather than just external expression. This makes the process more dynamic rather than boring. The person I think I am going to choose for Major Project 2 is one of my best-friends (Sierra). She has always loves writing, and writes her own stories a lot. Sierra and I growing up would write together a lot, making imaginary stories up and creating a "book," so I have been able to see her writing process first hand throughout life. Personally, understanding this research helps explain the writing process, helping me better understand that struggles and revisions are natural parts of the writing process and actually helps create meaningful work. Secondly, it encourages patience and reflection, much like my journaling I reflected on in the last Major Project. I am also reminded that invention is about engaging deeply with my ideas and that growth as a writer comes through mistakes and creativity. Recognizing that even experienced writers go through these recurring processes allows me to try my own writing with more confidence and openness, knowing that discovering our internal work is essential to producing authentic, well-thought-out content.
This reflection demonstrates Outcome 4: Decision Making & Production by showing how understanding the writing process—particularly the importance of drafting, revising, and internal discovery—informs my approach to producing meaningful work. By connecting Pigg’s and Berkenkotter’s insights to my personal experiences and choosing Sierra as a subject for Major Project 2, I am making deliberate decisions about my focus and method of production. Reflecting on how writing involves ongoing internal dialogue and exploration has helped me decide to embrace the drafting and revising stages as essential parts of my process, rather than viewing them as obstacles. This awareness influences my decisions during production, encouraging patience, reflection, and openness to mistakes as part of growth.
Additionally, integrating coursework that emphasizes the iterative nature of writing—such as revising drafts and engaging in self-reflection—demonstrates my ability to make informed choices about my process and to produce authentic, thoughtful content. This metacognitive approach shows my capacity to decide effectively how to approach my project, ensuring that my final product is a reflection of intentional decision-making rooted in understanding the writing process.
1.
I have contacted my friend Sierra who I have chosen to interview, and she has expressed how excited she is to participate and help me with my project. My plan is to FaceTime her at the end of this week or during the weekend, depending on her availability because she is busy with volleyball and school as well right now. I am excited to ask her my questions as I know her answers will give me really good insights into a creative writers mind. Sierra is willing to spend as much time as needed during the interview which is helpful because I want to really cover all aspects of her writing process thoroughly. Her being one of my closest friends helps me be able to deep dive into her mind and her be vulnerable to me about her writing process, and how she uses self-expression in her writings. Throughout our lives and longtime friendship I have always known her as a reader and writer so there is a lot to her story. Teachers would always say how talented she was at writing and she was always in honors in English. She primarily writes for fun, using her imagination to craft stories, which means her writing is very creative. She does not write professionally but engages in storytelling as a personal hobby and always turns to her stories if bored, emotional, or when she gets a spark. This background influences some of the questions I ask; which focuses on her inspiration, creative process, and how she develops her ideas. I plan to prepare the question order beforehand that encourage her to reflect on her writing habits, sources of inspiration, and the role of imagination in her storytelling. I am excited to deeply learn more about her process and how her passion for writing shapes her creative output. I am so excited to interview her and profile a writer.
2.
Hi Rayanne, I really appreciated your summary of Lamott and Sommers’ perspectives on revision. The quote from Sommers about "good writing disturbs: it creates dissonance" is very powerful because it highlights how writing can often challenge or provoke thought in the reader. I really enjoyed how you explained how Lamott describes her first draft as vomit and that she just puts in whatever she thinks, and then she goes from there. I think we need to also see our first drafts as terrible, just like Lamott. It made me think about how I might aim to incorporate more of that thought process into my own work to help me get my deep thoughts out. One suggestion I have is to maybe ask in your interview how they balance wanting to create something that surprises or challenges the reader while still making sure their writing is clear. Do they have any special strategies for doing that? Also, I wonder how their personal background influences their view on revision. Do they see it more as a necessary struggle or a creative opportunity? I think your questions are thoughtful and will make your interview very insightful!
Hi Maurice, I really appreciated your insights on Lamott’s and Sommers’ ideas about their writing processes. The quote you highlighted from Lamott about “shitty first drafts” really stood out because it emphasizes that even professional writers start with messy drafts, which helps everyday writers and students that not every beginning is perfect and there is always time for revision. It’s reassuring to know that the writing process involves a lot of revision and growth, and that embracing mistakes early on is actually a healthy part of developing good writing. Your summary of Sommers’ concept of “re-vision” as ongoing reflection was also very clear and helpful and it made me think about how revision is more than just fixing errors, but about deepening and restructuring ideas to find their strongest form. One question I have is: how do you think your personal experiences influence your approach to revision? Do you find that certain challenges or successes shape how you revisit your drafts? I also wonder if you could consider asking your interviewee how they stay motivated to keep revising or how they decide when a piece is truly finished. Your questions for the interview are well thought out and should definitely generate meaningful responses. Super excited to see how the interview goes!
This reflection demonstrates Outcome 4: Decision Making & Production by showcasing how you can actively plan, prepare, and refine your interview process to gather insightful information about writing and revision. I exhibit decision-making skills in selecting Sierra as my interviewee, recognizing her as a relevant and knowledgeable source, and in planning the timing and content of the interview to maximize depth and understanding. I believe my thoughtful preparation of questions reflects the ability to produce meaningful dialogue that encourages reflection on creative processes, inspiration, and revision strategies.
Furthermore, the inclusion of peer feedback reflects an ongoing decision-making process to improve your inquiry technique, demonstrating your critical engagement with the content and your awareness of how to deepen the investigation. My reflection also highlights the ability to adapt your questions based on the interviewee’s background and responses, indicating a flexible and strategic approach to production. Overall, this work illustrates the capacity to make informed decisions, plan effectively, and produce a structured, purposeful interview that contributes to the understanding of writing processes.