Practice: Inventory Your Writing Life

We all have writing lives. Even if you think yours is on life support, you probably do much more writing than you think. Conduct an inventory of your writing activities, and reflect on how your experiences might enhance the writing you’ll do for class assignments. To get started, use the following prompts:

  1. Create a list of everything you do that involves typing. Be sure to include typing on phones, tablets, and computers.
  2. List everything you do that involves handwriting. Include everything from grocery lists to notes taken in class to personal letters.
  3. Identify the purposes and audiences of each activity you’ve listed. For each item, indicate why you do it or what you hope to accomplish by doing it (purpose). Then indicate who reads it (audience). In some cases, such as shopping lists or class notes, your audience will most likely be yourself.
  4. Identify activities that involve locating information. For each activity on your list, indicate whether you read sources (such as newspaper or magazine articles, Web sites, blogs, or books), search the Web, collect information through observation, or talk to others in the course of carrying out the activity.
  5. Review your list to identify writing activities that might prepare you for academic writing. Look for activities that involve accomplishing a purpose; thinking about the needs, interests, and experiences of your readers; or collecting information. Consider how carrying out these activities might help you succeed at academic writing assignments.