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How I Have Changed as a Writer

Introduction

Growing up, I always had a passion for writing. A pen and a notebook were my first true best friends. When I was six, my favorite auntie got me my first diary and pink gel pen for my birthday and told me to put down my thoughts on paper. Since then, I have always had this fire to keep writing. Initially, I would write for fun and simply because I wanted to improve my language and score good grades in school. But over time, that changed. I began writing more passionately and on subject matters that certainly interest me. At some point, I considered making writing a profession. Undoubtedly, over the years, I have transitioned significantly as a writer. This essay discusses how I have changed as a writer over the years.

A Boosted Vocabulary

One of the most significant changes I have gone through as a writer is that I have improved my vocabulary base tremendously. When I began my writing journey, I used to have a poor vocabulary. As a matter of fact, my vocabulary was rather limited and vague. However, I have adopted a strong vocabulary that has made me rather proud of myself. I attribute the boosted vocabulary to the guidance and mentorship that my English teacher gave me. Mrs. Robinson nurtured the art of writing; she gave me extra coaching, which helped me improve my writing skills. Additionally, my vocabulary has improved because of the books I have been reading. Whenever I came across a new word, I did not hesitate to Google its meaning. As a result of my boosted vocabulary, I have boosted my confidence and can communicate and write effectively.

Starting to Write

The aspect of writing that I found difficult is starting to write. When I started writing, I would be anxious that it would cripple my writing ability. Although I love and enjoy writing so much, I would freeze as soon as I opened a blank Word document on my computer. I struggled to find the correct words to start my writing. I would write words and delete them, fearing that I was not doing a good job. Eventually, I learned about a condition known as writer’s block. It is a condition that writers suffer that makes it difficult for them to write. Even the most accomplished writers suffer this condition. Eventually. I came t learn it is a defense mechanism that the brain undertakes when one is worn out. I learned to write only when I am in a correct state of mind. It affected me at first, as I would go days without writing. But now, I have found a way to get around it, and I manage it the best way I know how to; taking a well-deserved break. Nowadays, I start. With time, I have realized that once I start writing, the rest always follow, and things tend to fall in place. When I feel short of ideas, I tell myself that the ideas will start flowing once I have started. Essentially, it is just to start.

Originality in College Writing

In all honesty, I believe that originality is the main characteristic that makes good college writing. Before joining, college, I never took text originality with the seriousness it requires. I thought that as long as I had written the text from scratch, it did not matter whether the text was original or not. But clearly, this is far from the truth. College writing is academic writing, meaning that the text must be original as possible. I learned that for text to be original, one must read through various texts and research, make sense of the information, and write text based on that analysis. This is also a good way to avoid plagiarism in college writing. Seeing that plagiarism is one of the gravest mistakes in academic writing, students should avoid making the mistakes as it can lead to academic discontinuation or worse consequences. A survey conducted on graduate and undergraduate students over the course of three years (2002-2005) by Donald McCabe of Rutgers University revealed that 36% and 24% of undergraduates and graduates, respectively, admitted to paraphrasing from internet sources without incorporating footnotes (Husain, Ghayth, and Omer, 167). Even from my college experience, I have encountered teachers canceling students’ essays based on plagiarism. This is a common issue that college students struggle with. Now that I realize how grave a mistake writing non-original work is, I have become committed to producing high-quality and original work. As a result, I have become more competent as a writer and my confidence has increased significantly. Because I know what makes good college writing, I have become more committed to the learning process. Every day I continue to learn and strive to be the best writer that I can be.

Conclusion

In closing, becoming a good writer is a journey. One will go through tough situations that mold one to become the best version of themselves that they can be. My transition as a writer has been tremendous; I have boosted my vocabulary and struggled to begin to write. Along the way, I have realized that originality is what makes good college writing. While I am not there yet, I take every day as a learning opportunity. I will continue to be dedicated to the process so that I can become better with every day that passes by.

Works Cited

Husain, Fauzilah Md, Ghayth Kamel Shaker Al-Shaibani, and Omer Hassan Ali Mahfoodh. “Perceptions of and attitudes toward plagiarism and factors contributing to plagiarism: A review of studies.” Journal of Academic Ethics 15.2 (2017): 167-195.