Working with Beth on the rewrite of my “Bloodchild” essay has taught me some valuable lessons on the writing process and on my own habits as a writer. My first instinct whenever I get a writing assignment is to think about it briefly, assume that I don’t have anything to say that could spawn a good essay, and then avoid it until the last possible minute. I put it off so long that I don’t give myself time to start with a small idea and follow it to a conclusion that can lead me to longer essay. My original “Bloodchild” essay started the same way, as did the rewrite. I didn’t have an idea for an entire essay right off the bat, so I got stuck and avoided it. When I met with Beth, we discussed the small ideas I did have, and she helped me unpack them. Going through that process allowed me to nurture those ideas and continue to expand on them, which did lead me to an idea for an essay. I don’t have more ideas now than I did before, but by allowing myself time to think through those ideas, I was able to develop them into an essay and realize that they were more sophisticated then they first appeared. This has been a valuable learning experience for me, and has taught me that I need to allow myself time to go through that process.
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