NECTFL 2014 * BOSTON, MA.

FACING OUR FEAR OF WRITING

By Mónica Mulholland, Ph.D.

George Mason University

Fairfax, VA

March 29th- 3:30-4:30

AGENDA

* Brief intro on “writing agony”

* How to turn this agony into productive writing

* Process Writing in stages

* Techniques & Practice

* Samples from Nuestro Blog

A PRODUCTIVE WRITING ATTITUDE

1. Tolerance: To err is human, we

learn by making errors.

2. Manageable expectations: Go for

“Good” rather than “Superlative”.

3. Discipline: Practice makes perfectly good

4. Involve the Multiple Intelligences Howard Gardner’s Theory (1983).

Linguistic

Logical-mathematical

Visual

Musical

Bodily-kinesthetic

Intra-personal

Interpersonal

5. Turn down the volume of the Inner Critic

Denise Jacobs, “Creativity Evangelist”, describes the Inner Critic as an aggressive and mean troll.

PROCESS WRITING IN STAGES:

* Write in class (composition notebooks).

Holistic grading (IB type): Content,

Style, Language

* Review following instructor suggestions.

Students might have to submit a second

draft

* Post on blog

* Read and respond to a classmate

* Out-of-the-classroom replies (i.e. from

Argentina)

TECHNIQUES & PRACTICE

1. Observation

What surrounds me?

2. Personal connection

A. Finger prints

B. Object/photo

3. Meditation and Mindfulness

Walking meditation

SAMPLES FROM NUESTRO BLOG

Article from Revista: Conversación sin barreras

“If you are writing without zest, without gusto, without love, without fun, you are only half a writer.” Ray Bradbury

BIBLIOGRAPHYBlanco, José A. Revista: Conversación sin barreras. 4th

Ed. Boston, MA: Vista Higher Learning, 2014. Print.

Bleichmar, Guillermo and Paula Cañón. Taller de escritores. Boston, MA: Vista Higher Learning, 2012. Print.

Goldberg, Natalie. The True Secret of Writing: Connecting Life with Language. Shambhala, 20013. Print.

---. Writing Down the Bones: Freeing the Writer Within, Shambhala, 1986. Print.

Jacobs, Denise. Banishing Your Inner Critic. Creativity. September 20, 2011. Web, March 10, 2014.

LET’S KEEP IN TOUCH!

Mónica Mulholland, Ph.D.

mmulholl@gmu.eduMuchas gracias!