Emotions and the Writing Process

I did not initially know how to react to the “Moderate Emotions” chapter. I suppose in one sense I had failed to consider how drastically emotions affect our ability not only to write but write successfully and efficiently. Now this is not to say that I was blind to the impact our emotions can have upon writing. Rather I am not entirely sure I thought it was really possible to fully control or moderate emotions. This unexpected and unregulated aspect seemed more like a natural part of any person’s life.

Therefore, why does it get special attention in this book? However, in all actuality, why wouldn’t it? Emotions undoubtedly play a crucial role in daily lives, our decision-making process, our attitude and more. Why wouldn’t it be a key factor in our daily habits as writers?

Therefore, what I appreciate about this chapter is the way in which Boice breaks this process down for us and offers some useful advice. If I do have some type of drastic interruption in my writing, I do tend to abandon the process all together. In fact, I usually have to turn to some other medium, such reading or—even less productive—watching tv—to clear my mind of the stress associated with this new interruption. More importantly, by taking this route, I impose a significant break in my routine. My productivity drops dramatically. Boice, however, proposes a way to account for these interruptions and work through them in order to maintain efficiency and productivity. Although the reason I am drawn to this idea is not because it is radically new, rather, Boice, through its inclusion in a book dedicated to advice for new faculty and teachers, seems to suggest the great importance it can have on an academic-oriented lifestyle. After all, we, as writers and teachers, have to be largely self-regulated and self-motivated. Our routines are not typically dictated by an 8-5 work day, nor are they directly overseen by a supervisor. For the most part, we are left to our own devices. So, in this respect, I find Boice’s comments useful, in that they offer yet another way to tackle the many challenges we face as writers and instructors.