Writing about Writing

One of the neat elements of National Blog Posting Month is that you are able to join groups of like-minded bloggers. I have joined a group of teachers, one of feminists, one for writing prompt suggestions, and I just joined one for people who write about writing.

And then I realized, I don't write about writing very much at all, which is odd for a writing teacher. I suppose that I talk about writing all day long, and when it comes to blogging, I'd rather post photographs of dogs in clothing.

One of the reasons I joined NaBloPoMo is to give myself a reason to write everyday. I don't want to just post photos of dogs or links to photos of dogs (although you may find that I cheat occasionally). I want to use this as an opportunity to actually write something other than marginal notes on my students' essays.

And that is I what I want to think about today. Why is writing--something I think of as vitally important in my life--such a chore? Why do I have to give myself an assignment to fulfill in order to get anything done? Last year I tried to do the novel writing month, as I said in yesterday's post. When I quit, I told myself I'd finish writing my story on a "saner" schedule. Have I even looked at my story in the past year? No. I needed the "due date" to make me write.

My students swear that assigning reading and writing makes it odious and unpleasant. Well, I think assignments also make reading and writing possible. Some of us won't do it any other way.

My assignment for this weekend? See if I can find A Field Guide to Abby, and revise and add to it by at least a page.