Question

According to Trimble, what is “unconscious writing?” What are some of the problems he associates with it? How does a student move from unconscious writing to “genuine writing?” What does this “breakthrough” signify? Finally, what role does empathy play in Trimble’s idea of genuine writing?

Answer 1

Unconcious writing and problems associated with it

According to Trimble, Unconcious writing is written by a writer who writes without keeping his readers in mind. This type of writing is very self oriented and is not written for the readers. In these type of writings there is a private system or no system for punctuation. They are not a proof readed pieces and they are not considered to be a writing but just a piece paper on which writer has simply noted down his/her thoughts.

Moving from "unconcious writing" to "genuine writing"

All it takes for an unconcious write to become a genuine writer is a few moments of reflection on what the writing or reading process ideally involves. The success of the communication typically involves that how a reader is receiving it and thus it is important that the writer must communicate with its readers, they should write for their readers and for themselves. Their writings should never be self oriented and their writing should such that the readers feel that the writer is talking to them and communicating directly with them.

This breakthrough signifies that just like an infant's realizes that a world exists beyond themselves similarly the novice also realises that their is a world - reader- exists out there beyond himself, slowly goes on to develop an awareness of himself from readers vantage point.

Role of empathy in Trimble's idea of genuie writing

As discussed above that for a good writing, it is important that communication happens directly with the reader. Empathy plays an important role in genuine writing. If a writer is able to put himself imaginatively in the mind of the reader than than it will really imrove the way the writer communicate with its readers.