So where was this book when I was in my creative writing class last fall? The very first chapter alone in this book I think would have helped me. I always seem to have a lot to say, until it is time to put it on paper. I seem to write as I would speak and that is not always conducive to the English teacher’s forte. That is what I loved about Elbow, write to just write. Who’d a thought?

In reading the first chapter I had to stop there. I needed to try the free writing exercise for myself. I sat down and just began to write. I actually wrote the word “write” about six times before the words just started to flow. When I was finished I found myself lighter on words and surprised on what resulted. It was not just gobblety guck it was actually decent. By no means nothing to turn in for a grade but was still worth re-reading.

To say the least I enjoyed my reading of Elbow and his idea’s of writing. It makes me think that even though I have always enjoyed writing I never really opened myself up to just write. When I find time to sit down and write for pleasure and for grade I am always self editing. I think that I could find much more success in just placing the words on the page in full, then go back and edit. This will be a hard thing to break I am sure.

I have always had a joy of reading, but writing has been something that I have found that I liked to do through time. I fortunately have had great English teachers that have encouraged me to continue on with my writing and actually opened my eyes to the fact that I could write. I wonder though what my writing would equate to now had I read Elbow earlier.

I think that before you can teach how to write, YOU have to be able to write. With this book I think that an individual wanting to teach writing could start a good foundation on their skills.