Writing Short Is Harder Than Writing Long

Most of my students would vehemently disagree with the statement that writing shorter is harder than writing longer. Most of them struggle with getting ideas, organizing them and then putting them onto paper in a coherent manner.

I've rarely had that problem. Ideas come easily, categories appear and the words flow on the the page. It's what I'm good at. As we go though various processes, my students are getting better at this. I find myself struggling a bit more than usual.

My problem isn't the writing though. It's focusing on one thing, I have so much to say, I don't know where to begin.

And then there is the fact that this is only my second year. Part of me thinks that I don't know enough yet to have an opinion. Another part of me thinks that there are tons of other second year teachers out there who are going through the same things I am. And that if I don't start now, I'm going to find myself being a fifth year or tenth year teacher who still isn't blogging.

I might as well start now.

(And try to write short.)

Related topics: Reflective Teacher

About the author 

Michelle Boyd Waters, M.Ed.

Michelle Boyd Waters is the founder of reThink ELA, where she creates research-informed resources that help middle and high school English teachers build stronger communities of readers and writers. After teaching secondary English for 10 years, Michelle has continued working alongside educators and students as a university composition instructor, writing center director, teacher consultant for the Oklahoma Writing Project, and mentor to new teachers. Her work brings together classroom experience, literacy research, and writing center pedagogy to create practical resources that support authentic reading, meaningful writing, and student voice. Through reThink ELA, she helps teachers create classrooms where both students and educators can thrive.

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