I’ve never been good at conclusions. I don’t really end things, they just fade or stop abruptly. It happens with papers and blog posts, romantic relationships and friendships, projects and goals.
I’m never satisfied with my endings. When it comes to a paper, the conclusion is just annoying, even though I know how important it is to tie things together in a cohesive conclusion. Ever since I learned about the basic essay, I always had the most difficulty with the closing paragraph. Red ink would surround the last five lines and I got lots of comments like “weak conclusion.” The papers I write now never feel complete. That’s probably because most of the time, I’m in such a rush to turn something in and forget about it, that the conclusion isn’t even an afterthought. I could revise and revise and revise… and the conclusion still would not feel like a real conclusion.
Oh, and let’s not even talk about starting. I always procrastinate.
La pregunta: What’s your achilles heal when it comes to writing? How do you deal with your weakness?
Starting is my biggest weakness. My procrastination stems from my perfectionist tendencies. I want my ramblings and musings to be perfect from the first word, which is clearly the most futile desire. This is a big reason why I get so stuck in ruts with my blog.
Cindy, please marry me. I love you so much.
Writing is like a box of chocolates: eat ‘em before they melt. Oh wait, that’s not what I was going for. Writing is like a dream differed: you put it out in the sun, get a layaway ticket, and pick up your pack of raisins in 3 weeks. Uh, that wasn’t right either. Pues la idea es esa.
In any case, I like strong endings, be they on paper or with people and projects, nothing beats a definitive closure. Sometimes it works to do the ending first or at least figure out how you want to wrap it up, then the middle gets filled in as needed. I’d say my biggest problem is sometimes working myself into a corner with something I started, finding some sentences too clunky. But it turns out its easy too just scrap it and start over. Works for me.
i have that problem too. i think it’s because i’m a stream-of-consciousness kinda writer and i like to jump right in, instead of outlining. and then i lose steam toward the end or ramble repetitively. but recently i’ve found that spending more time on the intro has helped–because then i’m more clear on what the writing is about and the conclusion comes more easily. the blog posts are another story–i guess i don’t really think through those as much as i should!
Ok I’m going to be very silly here, because I can’t resist it, and say “it must be a latina thing!” I hate conclusions too. No but seriously, perhaps it’s a sub-conscious desire for people to draw their own conclusions from the presented information rather than dictating to them what they are supposed to think? I personally like leaving things open because it leads to new ideas. But unfortunately academia does not agree, so I just force myself through it and practice has made me a little better.
It’s a better weakness, than the people who have their conclusions already and just fill in the data that fits!
BTW- Nice to meet you! Hope to see you around.
Figuring out which transitionary words to use and then making sure I alternate them appropriately without sounding repetitive is the most annoying thing for me when I’m writing. For example, currently, first, second, third, in addition, however, nevertheless, furthermore, and the dreaded “in conclusion,” …
Everyone procrastinates. The key is to start. Even if it’s gibberish, write it all down. It’s all in the editing. I always write with pen and paper. Writing on computer (except for blogging) is not for me. I don’t see how it works for others either.
Personally experience tells me that the body of the paper reveals itself for and foremost. You work from the middle out. People get up in the sequence (beginning, middle, then end) so much that they waste their time. It’s okay to work it out of order.
The intro and ending are the gift wrap. Make it pretty. Down worry, the substance should be in the middle. The intro should get to the point. The ending should be a clear summary. Don’t introduce anything new. Simply sum up.
The result should show what a darn genius writer you are.
My weakness is the first paragraph. By the time I started writing (and I’m thinking about school work here) I had a thesis but that’s the last line of the first paragraph. How to get there was always the problem. Like Pedro, major writing is done with pen and paper as it allows me to focus on the ideas. When I tried to write on the computer I would get too caught up on making every line from the very beginning “perfect”. So, as I stared at the blank paper, feeling the intense pressure of getting that first line just right, I’d panic almost every time.
I usually backed up into my essays/papers. Which means I tended to write my conclusions first. Knowing where I wanted to end up almost always helped me finally get started. It also helped to remember that the first draft was just that, a draft. I’d handwrite the whole thing and then type it up, making small changes here and there, print it out and begin tearing it apart.
When it comes to blogging, however, that’s all stream of consciousness. Whenever I’ve taken the time to truly craft something on paper, nine times out of ten, it never makes it to the content manager.
i am going to write something about this……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
(the dots means im searching for thought ………………………………………………..) …………………………….. coffee, tea, wine and chocolate, strawberries……….. nature has given us the stimulants we just need to put them to use………………. peace…..
In research, I write weak introductions AND conclusions. Content and organization were my saving grace in college. In fiction, I’m great at introductions, but still write horribly weak conclusions.
My favorite part of writing is editing. I like going back and seeing what’s good and what’s crap and tearing it all apart and putting it back together. If I only knew how to write excellent endings.
I was always better at the meat of writing. I would write an introduction paragraph and in the course of writing 9 times out of 10, I had to rewrite the introduction because I disproved my original thesis.
my major issue when writing is editing. i have no trouble beginning or ending any project I begin, my major issue is editing and re-editing, and then re-editing again. it seems as if I am really not satisfied w/ certain pieces of the assignment, thusly I find myself spending more time editing than really creating something worth reading and pulling from. it’s one reason why I truly loathed writing papers|reports during college.
So here I go and face one my biggest fears… placing words in a form of permanent format. You see I can speak with words but its mostly my maneurisms as I converse that gets my point across. The eye contact when expressing feelings and the toouch that may come depending on the conversation. Or the fist pound that may arise to stress a point when I am passionate about my statement. My mother always has pointed out how much I shouls control my “unlady like” hand getures when I converse with others. I know that they arre not unlady like they just are not apropriate for my humble mexican mother that uses her hands to bless others when she makes gestures. I would love to be able to learn how to set in paper what my eyes, arms and gestures accomplish during a conversation and within my me. Did it. This was a first. Glad I did.