Types of writer and types of writing

Presentation to the iCeGS writing away day by Tristram Hooley

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There is nothing to writing. All you do is sit down at a typewriter and bleed. Ernest Hemingway
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Free writing
Pick up a pencil or put your hands on the keys.
Start writing. Whatever comes into your head. Doesnt have to be on topic. You just have to write consistently for 3 minutes.

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How often do you write?

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Use of time
Writing takes too long Too many notes

Little or no planning

On the last minute

How do you divide up your time?

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Planning styles
Planning writers make detailed notes use notes to create an outline of possible content write a first draft according to the plan Generative writers gather ideas from reading and some use of notes

begin to write early in order to generate ideas

write the first draft quickly and structures it as ideas occur

Planning Tips
All writers need to set deadlines for the completion of key stages analyse the task and brainstorm initial ideas make focused notes on information gathered

Planning writers
create a plan from your notes write a first draft

Generative writers write a first draft from your notes create a plan from the draft and review structure

refer back to your plan to review structure

Write early, write often

Beginning early makes the final task much more manageable
Writing is a craft that has to be practiced

Revision is easier than filling a blank page

Expressing your thoughts and ideas in words can enhance their development

Types of writing
Each come up with one different thing that we might write.

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If you don't have time to read, you don't have the time (or the tools) to write. Simple as that. Stephen King
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Audience and genre

Gatekeepers: the guardians of the genre

What you have to say

Genre

Who are you talking to?

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So key skills include

Researching audience and gatekeeper expectations Empathy with readers Familiarity with a genre Analysing the features of a genre Working within constraints

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Thankfully journals are easy

They tell you what they want (journal overview). They tell you how they want it (journal style guide). They tell you who the audience is. They tell you who the gatekeepers are (journal editorial boards). They show you examples of what they have published in the past (every article in the journal).

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Regardless of genre
Clarity Brevity Purposefulness Accuracy Consistency

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Features of academic writing

Context Thesis Navigation Evidence Counter-argument Conclusion

See http://myweb.uiowa.edu/egand/Six%20features.pdf

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Tristram Hooley
Reader in Career Development International Centre for Guidance Studies University of Derby http://www.derby.ac.uk/icegs t.hooley@derby.ac.uk @pigironjoe Blog at http://adventuresincareerdevelopment.wordpress.com

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