When I moved to Seattle, I took up running. I wanted a way to exercise that was cheap and allowed me to explore my surroundings. The only problem with this grand idea is that I hate doing it. I love discovering new things along the way and how I feel after I am done, but I dislike the physical act of running. It is painful, exhausting, and boring. I have similar feelings about writing; it too can be painful, exhausting, and boring. So when I discovered that running with a buddy makes the experience less painful, sometimes even enjoyable, I decided to give it a shot with writing, too.
While I cannot always convince a buddy to witness my whole writing process, I have noticed that having another person to brainstorm with helps me to clarify my thoughts about the subject at hand. With this clarity, writing that first draft becomes easier and more approachable. Once I actually write something, having someone to ‘critique my form’ and give me feedback about my writing saves me the struggle of guessing how successful I was. The more I use the buddy system, the more I am able to enjoy writing in the same ways I enjoy running; I am beginning to love what I discover along the way and how accomplished I feel at the end.
Great news! Writing buddies don’t have to be people you already know. Check out the Virtual Writing Center or your campus’ in-person writing center to find other students who would love to support you and your writing.
Megan Bixel
Virtual Writing Center
Antioch University
