curiosity engagement responsibility reflection

Form a community of readers around you

“Don’t be afraid to seek help with writing. Use all the resources available and ask people to read your drafts. Feedback gives you perspective.” —Donovan Castro, student, University of Arizona

Have you ever tried writing an entire essay—blank page to final draft—in a single sitting? Was it your best work? Writing and revising multiple drafts allows you to write in stages, seek feedback, and make improvements. Giving yourself time to seek and receive feedback means that a first draft doesn’t have to be perfect.

One effective way to approach revision is to form a community of readers around you. As Donovan Castro suggests, use “resources”—instructors, librarians, writing center tutors, classmates—to help you gain perspective on your draft’s effectiveness. You might sense that something isn’t working, but you don’t know why or how to address it. Engage another reader who might help solve a problem. As you write in college, be open to readers’ responses and be willing to learn from them.