Annie Dillard Discussion Questions

1.) If I am heavily involved in my writing then my position or level of comfort matters little. If I am stuck and can't thick of the right words then I start noticing the hardness of the chair or the strain of my sitting position. The more I try to get past the distraction of discomfort the less likely I am to produce anything. I like to bite my nails if I have writers block. If I like a particular topic I can just delve right in and start writing without any routine. If the topic is a sour one I try to gather my thoughts by pacing. It seems any type of movement helps me.
2.) I think the "bearing walls" which dillard refers to are generated by both the writer and social construction. This depends on what is being wrote though. In fiction writing I think the author has more of a creative license with these walls and is able to structure it to fit their goal. In essays/ papers for school I believe the walls are more socially constructed. The audience in this case usually has a format in mind and would like it to stick pretty closely. I don't so well with knocking out those bearing walls right now with my writing. I used to better but after years of being out of school I have only been writing for enjoyment without revision.
3.) I am the inchworm. My process of writing fumbles around lost and most of the time doesn't quite make it anywhere in the case of writing structured papers. I can also use bee's but in a different sense to explain my writing process. The swarming bee would describe my writing process when given an opportunity to write about a subject I like. I will attack it with ferocity but just once. Most of the time I haven't pushed myself to do the revision.
4.) I do share Dillards mystical view of writing. For me writing is an extension of my soul. My own personal journal is my greatest possesion. Although I don't have the right colors on my palette to paint a picasso I feel empowered every time I put pen to paper and let my hand express my heart.
5.) I think the vagueness goes back to the mystical view she holds. Something mystical is intriguing but not fully explained.