Allen Reading Response

Before You Read

2. I do know professional writers have to go through the same processes that normal writers have to go through, but I think professional writers add their own "steps" in as well. I definitely know that professional writing is not easy, its very hard! Its hard because they have the "professional" expectation. And if they accidentally plagiarize they will "Go to jail. Go directly to jail. Do not pass Go and do not collect $200."

Summary

In the reading "The Inspired Writer vs. The Real Writer" Allen compares professional writers to normal writers, such as college students. Allen's purpose is to prove those who think professionals have it easy wrong. Allen explains how professional and scholarly writers also have writers block and forget to add certain things and so on, just like normal people do. Her point is that everyone has room to improve their writing. 

Synthesis

This article is explaining that professionals too have problems with writing. Berkenkotter and Murray may agree with this, but Murray does not want writers to copy his way of writing. He wants them to find their own writing steps/skills. Allen explains that this is the way others learn how to find their own strategies. 

Questions

2. Allen wants real writers to practice inspired writers skills and strategies to improve their writing. She calls this connection.

3. I think collision is you and the person revising your paper agreeing on the problem that is being revised. I do not think this is plagiarism. I do think your person revising your paper and then you leaving all of there revisions without collision is plagiarism. You are having your paper revised by someone, that doesn't mean they are right. And if someone goes through your paper and fixes things and adds their own sentences without your collision, that is plagiarism.

2. I do agree with Allen that all writing is connection. I think scholars would suggest that everyone can improve and learn. I think they would say writing is something that is always changing and always will.

Thoughts

I thought this reading was very beneficial to people who think/thought professionals had it easy. The truth is that people who become professional writers were normal college students once too, they just tried really had and improved the best they could to get where they are now. And those achieved professional writers are still improving and learning.