Writing With Confidence

Sometimes it seems hard to have complete confidence in my writing. My idea of what sounds good hasn't always coincided with what my high school teachers thought. So I adjusted my writing style to meeting their expectations, thus getting good grades. And so far, this has stood me well, even here at university. But now I am told by Donald Murray (2005, p. 202) that "writing is [not] a matter of simple right or wrong, that writers [do not] follow strict rules that cannot be broken." This makes perfect sense, and actually it makes writing a whole lot easier and less restrictive. But old habits die hard. I am tempted to structure my writing, write according to teachers' rules, and essentially squelch all freedom and creativity. The same feelings occur when I have someone read my draft. I want a critical response where all the problems are pointed out, so that I can conform to some outside standard about what I want to write. I want a black and white answer: is it excellent or is it a failure?

But a refreshing alternative is available. There is power and credibility in my own writing, in my style, and in my opinion on my work. Donald Murray (2005, p. 206) confirms that "I am my most powerful reader. It is my brain, my soul that is on the page and the final draft must be the product of my mind and my heart and mine alone." I need to unleash the creative flow of my writing, without second guessing myself or worrying that it is not good enough. Yes, there is a place for being open to criticism and improvement, in fact it should be welcomed, but not at the expense of confidence in my own ability to communicate with words. What I write is the spawn of my thinking, my imagination, and my soul, and that is not to be taken lightly. All writing is valuable - refinement and adjustment merely polish and reveal the treasure that was intended.