Correction and Perspective

I have been ruminating over the concept of separating out the good from the bad.  Being able to recognize what is bad and letting it go while holding on to the good.  How to parse through and how to recognize what works well and what does not.  I have had several reviewers and their comments have helped greatly in allowing me this clarity.  As I have made changes I have found that when I change one paragraph I often need to then change the others because one train of thought leads me to one place and changing a few words then changes that thought and before I realize my paragraph leads somewhere new.  Now sometimes this new place is better and worth all the work it takes to change the other paragraphs to match but sometimes it is just different, not better.  So I change it back.  

Dr. Christie in class encouraged us to write our prospectus over again without using the previous draft for reference.  I have done this with several sections and I realize that the important part of my argument sticks while some of the other material fades away.  This exercise helped clarify my thoughts on my topic and gave me concrete footing in my argument.  However, I still need to work quiet a bit on my actual writing and expression of ideas.  It is here that I have been sorting the good from the bad.  I often see much more bad than good in my own writing; however, seeing my writing from this critical perspective often disables further writing and I find myself like a sailboat without a breeze. 

I met with a professor this week to talk about my project, to gauge interest in my subject and get feedback of my approach.  He commented that I was a good writer and therefore would be easy and enjoyable to work with.  I had quite a bit of difficulty taking in his statement, since I have long thought critically of my writing abilities.  However, I aught to take in positive critisim just as I do negative criticism, so that I can have a balance view of my writing.  I have a freedom in personal writing that I have not yet been able to lay a hold of in academic writing.