Mindful Reading: Boice pp 72-80

Okay Boice, so prove it:

I'd like to reflect a bit on Boice's use of evidence in this section, not because the strategies for finding balance in pre-writing aren't important, but because I feel I've been commenting on the same set of strategies in all of my blog posts. This repetition is not a deficiency, though. I see it, instead, as a well-planned, well-organized system that demands attention to only a few specific ways of doing. If writers can bring a practice of daily writing, in a comfortable, thoughtful, imaginative, mindful way, all elements of their writing process can be improved. That to me is a wonderfully comforting thought.

At this point in the book (and apparently in his sessions), readers are beginning to demand proof that what he is saying is true. To acknowledge this, Boice presents both quantitative and qualitative evidence that what he is saying about prewriting holds water. Boice's numerical, quantitative, statistical evidence is fine, whatever. I have serious reservations about statistics as a whole (it's a wonder how much stock people will put into a 'fact' if it is accompanied by a number. My skin crawls when people (mostly students) refer to the 'objectivity' of statistics. There is nothing impartial or objective about statistics, anymore than the people who create the systems and rules from which numbers are produced. Statistics are simply another representation of reality, and in my humble opinion, a piss-poor one that smooths over the rich and beautiful complexity of society, humanity, and nature. Alright, down from my soap box I come), but Boice compliments those 'hard' numbers with the qualitative narrative that gives examples of his points. Together, the numbers and the narratives, provided sufficient evidence for me to think that Boice might be on the up and up.

There was one specific point that stuck out to me in the reading for today. Boice once again returns to the idea that we must write ourselves into our prewriting activities (WIRMI note-taking, marginal comments responding to texts, etc). This is certainly something I am going to do in my BDS prewriting activities. Not only will it help me gain a truer understanding of my subject matter, but it will also do a great job preparing me for the actual writing (which I'm sure Boice will get to evenutally :)

********Listening Noes*******

On account of a wonderful little bundle of joy that came into the world yesterday, I am getting a bit sentimental. For your listening pleasure, John Lennon's "Beautiful Boy":

Mindful Reading: Boice pp 50-59

On Note Taking (aka: compiling, organizing, taxonomizing, labeling, etc): 

Just when I thought Boice couldn't be any more relevant to me, he seems to be providing strategies for precisely the section of my writing that I am in most need of guidance. Here's why I appreciate Boice the most at this part of his text: He provides wide-reaching strategies for handling the secondary-sources that are so important for an academic style of writing. At times it seems like the writing that is expected of me is only the secondary aspect of what I'm to be doing. \

I heard it described once (and I'll paraphrase) that the writing should be the by-product of a broader exploration of an idea, topic, or phenomenon. The writing and the publication should are only means for recording the outcome of a researcher's new understanding of a topic. I definitely want to keep this in mind as I continue my Comps process. There're times when I pile up all my books on the table and work through them one by one. This is a no-no in Boice, and it certainly doesn't feel like the process of accumulation is the most important thing when I go about it this way. 

With deadlines looming, it's hard to keep this ideal situation in mind, but I think it goes nicely with the rules in Boice that I will try my best to implement as I go forward in my research process. Especially: 

• Make Conversing with Others in my Field a Priority: I was surprised that this was Boice's first step, but I'm starting to see how all of his rules are working together. Even though there are people very close to me studying in a similar area, when I do get around to reading and writing, I have the tendency to cut myself off from the conversations surrounding me. 
• Read to Write: Instead of simply reading through a text, checking it off the list, and then plowing forward, Boice wants me to have the broader goal of reading for a specific purpose. This makes sense, and I already do it to an extent. But I think there's something more when this is a primary goal.
• Limit Reading Time and Limit Note-Taking Space: This is great advice for me because I usually devote myself fully to interacting with a text (often to my detriment). I'll sit down with a pile of books to get through in a session and I'll find myself only getting through ONE book. Granted I'd walk away with eight pages of notes from that one book, but I'd be exhausted and discouraged because of the effort that went into doing 1/100 of the work that I need to. One page of notes per text is going to be a new-norm for me, as will the 1-3 hour rule (that I will keep flexible) per book.
• Alternate Reading and Writing: This is great advice on many levels. One, it's fresh when you've recently read it. Two, it helps decrease the monotony. Three, it allows you to be productive towards your end goal even when you're immersed in the note-taking stage. 

Which of Boice's suggestions for increasing imagination through note-taking will you incorporate into your own writing process? I'm curious to hear!