Styling Your Writing

Mixing and Matching Academic Writing Techniques to Create Something Uniquely You

Jen McConnel

• Publisher: Routledge
• Year: 2022
• eBook ISBN: 9781000578515
• Topic: Languages & Linguistics
• Subtopic: Teaching Languages
• Index: Languages & Linguistics

This text helps developing writers in the academy and beyond think through their writing process and develop strategies for styling their writing to meet the demands of a wide range of goals.

The book imagines writing as an assortment of "outfits"— bundles of styles and strategies through which one approaches a writing purpose, such as writing focused on experimentation and growth or writing focused on a professional task. By assessing the outfits writers feel most and least confident in, and examining how to be more at home in the outfits that matter to them, this book helps students develop both specific skills and their overall identity as writers. Readers are guided through before-, during-, and after-writing strategies and techniques, including: freewriting, outlining, visual planning, and composing in multimodal forms. Readers are also introduced to the importance of setting clear writing goals and sharing their work in a variety of ways, both in preparation for classroom success through peer review and writing center visits, and beyond the classroom in virtual and in-person spaces.

This book serves as a core or supplemental text for writing courses at the undergraduate, graduate, or high school level, or as a writing guide for individual readers.

1 FINDING YOUR STYLE

DOI: 10.4324/9781003244653-2

FIGURE 1.1 The Looks. Graphics from ©Sketchify via Canva.com

From Shakespeare to ZZ Top, it is a truth universally acknowledged that the right clothes for the context can make or break you. If you know what look you want to convey, you are more likely to be taken seriously (or humorously, if that’s what you are going for).

Writing is very much the same way. You can dress up or dress down your writing, as this first year college student suggests:

“Academic literacy is like a fashion show because it’s as structured, yet open-ended, as a fashion show. For example, a fashion show takes culturally unique fashion trends based on templates (the human body) and structures it in a way that's orderly, standardized, and commercialized in pursuit of new fashion trends, discoveries, and outfits. Similarly, Academic Literacy takes language that’s culturally unique based on templates and standardizes it in a way that’s orderly and for the purpose of completing assignments, discoveries, or publishing papers.”

But it’s not just the writing itself that can have an identifiable style. As a writer, you make choices every day about the way you approach your words, and it can be helpful to think of this as the way you style your writing self.

Let’s think about this another way. Imagine you are a runner (and hey, you might already be one!). When you are getting ready to start training for a race, what do you do? Running is a great metaphor to consider for this conversation, because while it is true you don’t NEED a lot of fancy gear to run, you still do need to develop a plan and get the resources you need lined up, including time.

Even as minimalist as running can be, it is important to get the right basic gear, the look that fits the task, before you start seriously training. For running, that means shoes that fit right and feel good for your gait, clothes that are comfortable and you can move in (bonus points for things that are sweat-wicking, too!). How does this metaphor extend to your academic writing? What gear do you need to style a successful “look” as an academic writer, no matter where you are in your academic career?

Maybe you don’t have any idea yet, and that is okay: that’s part of training, too, figuring out what works for you in this moment and building the internal and external factors around your writing that encourage you to keep going even when things get tough. But before you can start training your writing brain, before you can pick the right shoes tor the moment, you need to have a better understanding of your current approach to writing.

What's in Your Writing Wardrobe?

This short quiz will help you identify the way you currently style your writing. Think of it as the first step to your own personal writing consultant, like a fashion subscription box. Are you feeling flowy or formal? Freewheeling or fancy? Take the quiz to find out!

1. How would you describe your approach to writing for school?
   1. It’s like texting an ex: tedious and something to be avoided.
   2. It's like learning to sculpt: you need the right supplies, instructions, and patience.
   3. It’s like training for a marathon: the more you work, the easier it gets.
   4. It’s like ironing: it takes time and patience, but the final look is worth it.
   5. It’s like trying meditation for the first time: at the end of it, your own thoughts may surprise you.
2. How do you feel about writing OUTSIDE of school? (Choose as many as apply.)
   1. Writing is personal.
   2. Writing is creative.
   3. Writing is a process that takes time and effort.
   4. Writing is a means to an end.
   5. Writing is transformative.
3. Imagine someone tells you academic writing is like riding a bike in a long race. How do you feel?
   1. Worried about taking a risk and falling off.
   2. Eager to build your own bike and paint it your favorite color for luck.
   3. Ready to start training for the race,
   4. Confident that you can do it, and you hope the race is today.
   5. Ready to see how the experience of the race changes you even after the finish line.
4. Which statement do you most agree with today?
   1. Academic writing is like laundry because it is never done, and no one likes doing it.
   2. Academic writing is like experimenting in the kitchen because when you’re brainstorming for ideas, you grab anything and try to make it work, just like adding new spices to food.
   3. Academic writing is like running because it’s hard in the beginning, but once you get momentum and find a good pace it becomes easier.
   4. Academic writing is like waking up early for work; it may be hard to get going, but you know you just have to do it, since other people are counting on you.
   5. Academic writing is like a boardwalk because of the long journey before you reach the final destination. Although the walk might be lengthy and stressful, once you get to the end, you’ll see the view was worth it.
5. How do you feel about academic writing today?
   1. Cozy and comfortable sharing your ideas.
   2. Creative and capable of producing something new.
   3. Driven and ready to put in a lot of work.
   4. Professional and focused on the final product.
   5. Exploratory and open to possibilities.
6. How do you WANT to feel about academic writing?
   1. Cozy and comfortable sharing your ideas,
   2. Creative and capable of producing something new.
   3. Driven and ready to put in a lot of work.
   4. Professional and focused on the final product.
   5. Exploratory and open to possibilities.

Take a moment to tally your answers. How many B’s do you have? How many E’s? Let’s look first at the type of answer you have the most of. If your answers are evenly spaced, read through the following style descriptions to see what resonates. And remember, we all have a range of looks in our writing closets.

The Quiz: What's Your Look?

A. Comfy Pajamas

If you answered mostly A's, I’m guessing you wish you could put on your metaphorical pajamas and get as cozy and safe as possible when you think about writing. There is a certain vulnerability in sharing our words, and that vulnerability sometimes feels intimidating. Writing is probably not your first choice for an activity, but that might be because you have learned to be incredibly concerned about the kind of feedback you will get or what kind of response people will have to your words. You know that words have power, but you do not always feel comfortable wielding them. Grab your slippers, make a cup of tea, and settle into a cozy chair before you start; writing, whatever it takes to help you feel secure and safe. Chapter 2 focuses on strategies for when you want to reach for your writing pajamas.

B. Painting and Gardening Clothes

If you answered mostly B's, you are probably ready to dig into a creative approach to your academic writing projects. You know that writing is both a process and a creative endeavor, and you are willing to try different approaches each time you write to see what you are able to produce. When you are in the mood for messy, playful Creativity, reach for this look before starting to write. Chapter 3 focuses on ways to choose your gardening clothes for any writing project.

C. Workout Gear

Writers who have a lot of C’s on this quiz are often ready to get down to work, no matter what it takes. You put on your power pants today because you are ready to start training! Like the professional wear folks in the next section, you know that writing takes hard work, but you are not: as focused on your final product as you are on improving and beating your personal record whenever you lace up your shoes. You are willing to train for as long as it takes to write something you can be proud of, and you put in a lot of work behind the scenes, trusting it will show up on race day. All that training adds up, and you also find time to have fun along the miles. Chapter 4 will help you pick out your training outfit when your writing really needs you to get to work.

D. Professional Wear

If you answered mostly D’s, you are likely ready to approach your writing projects from a polished, professional mindset. When you pull out the professional look, you can be sure that things are going to get done. You’ve got a to-do list, a clear block of time, and the confidence in your skills to get the work done. You might find it hard to spend time in the writing process, since you just want to finish the work already. You know what it takes to earn the grade you want, and once you’ve finished a piece of writing, you don’t usually go back to it. Writing is important to you because it is one of the things you know you have to do to be successful, and you are motivated to make sure the work gets done. Chapter 5 will give you more wardrobe choices for the writing you are ready to share with others.

E. Adventure Outfit

If you answered mostly E’s, you’re ready for a writing adventure. When you reach for the adventure outfit, you are reminding yourself that it’s all about the jou...

Table of contents

• Cover
• Endorsements
• Half Title
• Title
• Copyright
• Dedication
• Contents
• Lists of figures
• Lists of tables
• Acknowledgements
• Introduction: What Does it Mean to Style Your Writing?
• 1 Finding Your Style
• 2 Getting Comfortable with Writing: Comfy Pajamas
• 3 Getting Creative with Writing: Paint and Garden Clothes
• 4 Building Your Writing Plan: Workout Gear
• 5 Getting Focused with Writing: Professional Wear
• 7 Sneakers and Suitcoats (Putting Together Unique Looks)
• Index