OK, it's not that easy getting used to academic writing when you are someone who gets his kicks from creative stuff. To be honest, I used to get stressed out a lot when facing an essay. I tend to find ways of letting my creativity slip into my essays. Why? I find it keeps my thinking sharper when my right brain is firing. And that is how I managed to do well on almost all my essays through my program.

But this is MAIS 606, and all the focus rests on the technical aspects of academic writing. In short, on all the stuff I really struggle with. Woohoo! for me, I guess, for taking this on.
And yet... something has happened during this course. It's happened before. In fact, the last couple of courses, now that I come to think of it.

I have started to enjoy the DRY stuff, like revising and editing and APA format.

(Hell, now there's one sentence I never thought I would type.)

How did this happen?

I believe it's a combination of two things. And part of the reason for why I believe I can know this, is that I did not experience this feeling during my first courses. (That presents me with a clue).

Reason 1: Skill

There is no doubt in my mind that I am a much better writer now than even before. Countless essays (OK, they are very countable, but A LOT, OK?!), a lot of work-shopping and exposure to very skilled peers and teachers have all shaped me into a more effective writer. With this last course the presentation skills - which seems to have been the missing piece right from the start - has also been added to my repertoire. What this means is that my self-belief has skyrocketed. I don't feel like feeling sorry for myself because I have to write another 'soulless' essay, because, frankly, I feel more like trying to kick ass with my essay. I have built up enough skills to really believe in myself.
 This explains why this feeling is rather new. The first few courses relied mostly on perspiration. Now I have the skill-set to execute better writing with a lot less sweat, and blood.

Reason 2: Perspective

There is a case to be made for seeing academic writing as an art-form in its own right. I noticed this perspective creeping in when the same obsession began to creep into my editing that I usually experience with my painting, songwriting or fictional writing. There is a sense that I am busy with a Work, a thing that should be more than functional, more than a jump through some hoops. I want my essays to now stand out from the crowd and hit someone between the eyes.

Although I generally try to do that without resorting to such violent metaphors. The less people know I am from South Africa, the better.

Well, that's about it. I am excited about my final essay, and especially about my final project next year.

Eben