First Things First: Writing Strategies

Remember all the years you spent earning the academic credentials for your current position? Consider what you are expected to know and be able to do to fulfill your job responsibilities. For those who are expected to write for publication, what part of your credential-building academic experi- ences was dedicated to preparing you as a writer? The English majors among us would seem to be likely suspects for deep, rich, writing back- grounds. However, in collecting non-scientific data on this assumption, I am not convinced the English majors spent enough time writing while earning their credentials. So, those who have chosen academic career paths are forced to discover writing in order to meet scholarly productivity expectations. A curious book by Goldsberry is worth reading. The author is a professor of English at the University of Hawaii, a Michener Fellow, and an instructor at the Maui Writers Retreat. The Writer\u27s Book ofWisdom: 101 Rulesfor Mastering Your Craft reflects Goldsberry\u27s 25-year quest to collect the best advice for writers. The book, based on the premise that all writing is storytelling, is divided into three sections: Approach, Language, and Craft. The rules apply to all types of writing