Wednesday, April 21, 2010

Push Hands: Balancing Resistance and Revision

I thought this piece was something every writer should read. Skinner has found a way to communicate all the comments I have ever received from an English teacher into something that is comprehensible. Grammar has always been something I found confining. Even to this day I have difficulties putting my creative thoughts into specific structures. Skinner shows that revising one’s work truly helps a writer understand their work. Athough we would all like to think that our ideas are organically ready for the world, Skinner shows that revising is what makes a writer greater. This piece encouraged me to embrace revision, rather than fear it. However, I thought it was important that he still mentioned how some advice can certainly be bad advice. Overall, I think Skinner’s argument for revision holds true. Resistance is not an uncommon feeling, but should be taken with a grain of salt.

1 comment:

  1. You capture really what I liked most about the essay as well. That he recognizes the revision and does not cal it illegitimate it, but sees it as a natural response that writers just have to work around.

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