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March 03, 2008
Editing
Over this last week I have continuously been asking myself the same question:
Why is it SO much easier to edit other people's work and NOT your own?
The Thursday before we left for Spring Break we had group peer editing. I think it's a great idea, and I definitely feel like I benefit from other people's suggestions and ideas. HOWEVER. When reading Jaclyn and Jay's papers, I was full of ideas. About everything - in my head - I knew what could phrased better, what was awkward, what made sense, what didn't make sense. I understood their papers.
I would like to know how this skill can be taken and applied when editing my own work. When I read my paper, as I have done TOO many times by today, it seems fine. I don't think its particularly good. But I don't know where to GO, what to DO. I don't see how to improve what I myself have written.
This is very unfortunate, don't you think? It's almost as if I am being stubborn by not changing so much.
But I'm trying, I am! I'm really not a stubborn person. Well, only when it comes to politics...
Tell me I am not alone?
Posted by amyljb at March 3, 2008 01:53 PM
Comments
No you're not alone, but when you've exhausted your own ideas the best thing to do is take a break, focus on something else for a while and then come back to it. There isn't a whole lot of time to do it now, but next time you're having trouble with this, post something in the ctools chat or do an early blog. I'm sure a lot of us would be more than happy to help if we can.
Posted by: sutkowi at March 3, 2008 09:27 PM
You're not alone! I'm going through the exact same thing. I know that my paper needs work, but I don't know what to keep, what to cut, or how to rephrase. For whatever reason, it's always easier to see how to fix someone else's work.
Posted by: brownjn at March 3, 2008 10:38 PM
I completely understand!!!!! Goodness, it can be tough. Sometimes I find it helpful to just take bits a pieces of the paper at a time. Then going back over the whole thing at a later time can seem less overwhelming! I just know your paper turned out great!
Posted by: cwdavis at March 4, 2008 12:27 AM
I definitely agree with you, Amy! It's sooooo easy for me to edit and critique others' papers...but when it comes to my own...I hate it!
It's so hard to look at your own work, knowing the time and effort you put into it, and then try to fix it even more. It's definitely hard when you feel like you've used up all of your ideas and brainpower too!
Posted by: aykrysc at March 4, 2008 03:00 AM
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