Read, Write, Respect

Have you ever listened to girls talk before? Somehow the conversation will begin with our favorite coffee shops and end in our most embarrassing moments while skiing. I don’t think (generally) there is anything wrong with this. It is nice to have freedom to change topics at the drop of a hat. While reading about brainstorming lists, female conversations and how one thing leads to another came to mind. This probably happens in male conversations as well, but since I’m female I know for a fact it is a common occurrence in my life. I like how the book encouraged not being too picky while trying to come up with ideas. You can always remove things so be creative with topics.

“If you don’t have the time to read, you don’t have the time or tools to write.” -Stephen King

 I found this quote to be helpful. Often I will open an article and not get to the end, or a book and not finish. Also, when life gets busy, reading gets pushed to the back burner. This quote will probably be one I keep on hand to remind me reading is essential to successful writing. I’ve found sometimes the most helpful articles for me to read are ones that make me feel defensive or uncomfortable. Such articles help me recognize areas where I may not have an open mind or areas I need to grow in.

Matt Walsh is a blogger who, in my opinion, posts about extremely controversial topics. When he first started out he seemed interested in others' thoughts and humble while sharing his beliefs. He now states his opinion fiercely and I’m afraid he has lost the art of truly hearing another person's opinion if it is not in line with his own. In chapter 22 avoiding logical fallacies was discussed. This section encouraged the quality of being able to recognize and admit flaws in our writing or certain statements. I believe it is crucial to be open to constructive criticism and change in writing, but also have solid opinions.

The main take away for me from these chapters are respect others when writing, don’t shy away from being a little messy in the beginning, and the fact that I need to be aware of how the writings or opinions of others can shape my writing for the better.