by Nara Kim

Writing is like paint on a blank canvas. The artist goes through various stages in order to paint a single piece of artwork. A painting that is satisfactory will not just materialize from the beginning. As an initial step, artists should think about the topic they want to draw. The idea of drawing and painting does not always come to mind. Sometimes, it comes out of intuition, but usually it can be earned after thinking long and deeply. Once the idea is there, then the artist gets ready to draw through the process of sketching the basic structure and shape. After that, there’s modifications through the process of erasing and redrawing several times and a little more added detail; finally, the artist can get their favorite base of painting. Then, through a suitable combination of water and paint, each space is colored with a light color. Waiting for it to dry, the artist adds another medium and eventually dark colors. After such a long and tedious process, eventually a piece of work is completed. 

I think the process of writing is the same. You don’t just begin with a complete article. First, writers decide what they want to write, then they sketch out some ideas, think through the content, and finally complete a first draft conducting a preliminary investigation. After just on draft, there is usually plenty to work on, such as structure, organization, sentence usage, and even grammar in writing. Just like a painting, there is no way that an article can be written immediately and finally. After several drafts followed by a polishing process, the writing will be complete. A recursive process of re-reading, re-thinking, and re-writing benefits quality writing. 

For good writing, the Chinese essayist, Gu, Yangsoo, from the Song dynasty claimed,

“Read a lot, write a lot, and think a lot.”

The first step of good writing is a lot of reading. If artists want to produce a good artwork, they have to study a lot of other good artworks. The more you look at many good artworks, the more you get an eye for understanding what makes art good. Writing is the same way.  If you read more and more, you will gain a better understanding of writing—its structure, perceptions of content, and personal reflections. Also, if you want to draw well, you have to practice, which is the same for writing. The quality of writing can be measured by the ability to shape and develop the structure, content, and prose of a piece.

Moreover, when artists think deeply about, interpret, and analyze other artists’ works, these interpretations will form a philosophical basis for artists to think at a higher level about art, which will ultimately help their own artwork. This concept can also be applied to writing. Consistent reading and thinking can lead people to have a stronger capacity for critically analyzing their writing. Profound comprehension skills will eventually, absolutely have an effect on the writing they produce.

As a WIP TA, I want to introduce students to the value and meaning of effective writing. I want students to see themselves as artists with words, able to draw their own learning, their own ideas in writing.