Learning to write without a teacher may be effectively done and enjoyed.
It has been done in groups of from 5 to 17 participants. Basically, the members each commit to reading the writing of a member then to coming together with the other members to share their feelings about what they have read. Hearing what others have felt as they read your works has proven a great help to improving one's writing and a powerful experience in itself.
Any Questions? I'll clarify one doing without being asked.
Every member reads one specified piece of writing of one member of the group. Then in a gathering of all the members each member tells about how she felt as she read the piece. This telling of feelings is done at nearly every meeting of the group.
The bit below is about what I have learned from my experience and from Mr. Elbow. It is something that I might offer at an appropriate moment in the gathering of my group.
Every member reads one specified piece of writing of one member of the group. Then in a gathering of all the members each member tells about how she felt as she read the piece. This telling of feelings is done at nearly every meeting of the group.
The bit below is about what I have learned from my experience and from Mr. Elbow. It is something that I might offer at an appropriate moment in the gathering of my group.
On the horizon, a Final Draft
Once you have some writing from which it seems you can coax some coherence, you may be close to the point at which to edit and turn out a final copy.
Take 15 minutes to make your meaning clear to yourself.
You might let yourself consider an outline or plan.
Sum up what you have into a genuine single assertion of what your meaning is. Not easy, but possible. Remember that your assertion must actually assert something that can be quarreled with.
You have grown your meaning and specified it to yourself clearly. Good for you. Your efforts and good thinking will give you a good chance to do some truly powerful writing.
by Richard Sheehan
or Mago Bill