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-->"all I have to do is to write down as much as I can see through a one-inch picture frame" (p.16) "to figure out a one-inch piece of my story to tell" (p.17)

--> "We are just going to take this bird by bird. But we are going to finish this one short assignment" (p.19)

-->"You don't have to see where you're going...You just have to see two or three feet ahead of you" (p.17)

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--> A reminder that when the assignments/writing seem daunting and you are overwhelmed, take it step by step.

You don't need to see the finished product to put meaningful work into the assignment.

Also, know that you are not alone if you feel like you are spiraling over the workload, it is more common than you think!

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key message: sometimes when getting started with writing, quantity over quality

thesis: "For me and most of the other writers I know, writing is not rapturous. In fact, the only way I can get anything written at all is to write really, really shitty first drafts."

where this advice is useful: right nowwwwwww omg rewriting the literature review has been a big mental barrier because during the semester, we did it in pieces and I personally don't want to do that again.

"but because by then I had been writing for so long, I would eventually let myself trust the process"

"and no one is going to see it."

other thoughts:

"you can either type or kill yourself" as harsh as it is, this is sometimes how it feels when writing. like the mental barrier is so large, I could live forever without wanting to write this, but I HAVE to

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Thinking about the entirety of a project and each step you have to make is entirely too overwhelming for anyone. They elaborate on how quickly our minds race and can make us feel anxious and doubtful about our work. I feel this advice is very applicable to the stages were all in now being at 10% of the program. Looking ahead at everything we have planned, it can feel very overwhelming. But, by breaking it down and looking at the workload week by week, we can more easily remember that we have more time than it feels and that we have support from our mentors, labs, and the program, and that we aren't doing this research alone.

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Key message of the chapter:

Perfectionism doesn't allow you to be fully yourself, which is setting yourself up for failure.

Not allowing for risk taking which sometimes makes your work better

Thesis statement and/or the most compelling, illustrative quote from this chapter

"we need to make messes in order to find who we are and why we are here- and by extension, what we're supposed to be writing" ... "perfectionism on the other hand, will only drive you mad."

Where you see this advice being useful in this journey:

"awareness is learning to keep yourself company. And then learn to be more compassionate company, as if you were somebody you are fond of and wish to encourage."

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"He might give you the courage and stamina to write lots and lots of terrible firsts drafts. And then you'd learn that good second drafts can spring from these, and you'd see that big sloppy imperfect messes have value. "

"tidiness suggests that something is as good as it's going to get."

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Key message: writing is hard

Thesis: Don’t take your first draft too seriously and use it as a way to make your writing easier.

Quote: “Very few writers really know what they are doing”

Other thoughts: I thought the nihilistic tone was funny. Especially when you consider the juxtaposition between school assignments and suicide.

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Quote: "I know some very great writers, writers you love who write beautifully... not one of them sits down routinely feeling wildly enthusiastic and confident. Not one of them writes elegant first drafts" (pages 20-21).

I think this quote highlights that nobody, even very experienced writers enjoy drafting, which is refreshing. This also illustrates how hard work and bad 1st iterations are commonplace during the writing process. This points to the need for lots of editing and setting enough time aside to properly draft and edit.

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"Not one of them sits down routinely feeling wildly enthusiastic and confident. Not one of them writes elegant first drafts"

I think there is a misconception that you are supposed to be perfect from the start or you will not have a meaningful peace of work.