Everyone approaches writing differently. That's why writing didactics experts like to talk about different types of writers. These differ, for example, in that some writers approach their writing task in a very structured way right from the start, do a lot of research, set up an outline, and then write down one point after the other, while others write at first and gradually develop their structure and research desiderata parallel to the raw text. Or one classifies so-called patchwork and multi-version writers, who write different parts of the text or several versions of the same text section according to their mood.

I am of the opinion that our tendency towards one or the other type of writing is changeable and strongly depends on the respective writing task. Sounds illogical? It isn't.

Let's agree that everyone has certain basic chaotic or structured tendencies - and that very few people are one hundred percent spontaneous or organized, but rather mixed types. Which side we show and how we act depends on the situation or task with which we are confronted. If this is basically true for every area of life, it should also apply to writing projects, right?

And that's the point, because not all writing projects are the same. I remember, for example, how structured and well-planned I approached my first writing projects, small term papers of 5 to 10 pages. Before I had written even one sentence, I already knew in detail which information I wanted to put in which chapter and in which order. Typical structure follower. But that's not particularly difficult for a ten-page text. Fast forward to my final papers: The structure-following felt forced, imposed by my advisors, who wanted to see an outline and a synopsis from me so that I could submit the thesis. Instead of working through the outlines, which I felt were pulled out of my fingers, I would have preferred to have had the freedom to explore the depth of the topics in parallel, writing, researching and structuring with a rebellious spirit that created structure. I compensated for this in my writing by wildly jumping between chapters as well as sprawling digressions at the outer edges of the object of investigation.

The anecdotes of a humanities scholar are admittedly not the measure of things. So back to the hypothetical factual level.

Your own writing type depends on many factors

Let us note that the size of a text may cause us to approach it differently than usual. A structure-loving person may discover his or her chaotic tendencies in large writing tasks, while a "go-getter" may decide that it is better to work out outline structures in advance.

However, one's own motivation and inner attitude towards the topic also have a strong influence. For example, a particularly troublesome chapter tempts one to continue working at a different point during each writing session, and someone who has their inner critic breathing down their neck may rewrite sentences, paragraphs, and perhaps even entire chapters several times, even though this is actually uncharacteristic for the person in question.

Another influencing factor is the content of the text in question. For a paper with a theoretical focus, it may be very easy to proceed in a structured manner, because the individual aspects and results already develop during the research and literature work. On the other hand, those who work with data sets or independently developed systems, models, and test series may not know what results await him or her until well into the writing and working process. The character of a text type may also deceive our self-image as writers: Those who often write technical texts with IMRaD structure¹ see their structuring side encouraged, while those who write creative texts or essays are more likely to be encouraged to write at random.

What conclusion can be drawn from this? One's own writing type depends on many factors and changes depending on the writing task, writing environment, and not least personal writing experience. This actually has only advantages, after all, each approach has certain merits. Those who embrace their multiple writing personalities instead of suppressing them remain flexible and can optimize their writing and work process in the long run.

¹_{IMRaD refers to an outline structure of scientific texts in the STEM and engineering sciences. The abbreviation stands for "Introduction, Method, Results and Discussion".}

Want to learn more about writing types and writing strategies?

Here you find a selection of literature:

Bräuer, Gerd (2009): Schreiben. In: Gerd Bräuer SCRIPTORIUM. Ways of Interacting With Writers and Readers. A Professioal Development Program. Freiburg i. Brsg.: Fillibach. S. 57–70.

Girgensohn, Katrin (2007): Schreibstrategien beim Stationen Lernen erweitern. Arbeitsmaterial für individualisierte Lernformen in Schreibseminaren.
[http://www.zeitschrift-schreiben.eu/cgi-bin/blog/wp-content/uploads/2007/11/girgensohn_schreibstrategien-beim-stationen-lernen-erweitern.pdf; Mar 22, 2011].

Ortner, Hanspeter (2000): Schreiben und Denken. Tübingen: Niemeyer. (= Reihe Germanistische Linguistik 214).

© Crispin-Iven Mokry

Consultant for writing didactics

Name

Sharon Király

Send email

Send encrypted email via the SecureMail portal (for TUD external users only).

Contact Information

Organization Name

Writing Center of TU Dresden

Writing Center of TU Dresden

Address work

Visiting address:

Fritz-Foerster-Bau, Raum 139 Mommsenstr. 6

01069 Dresden

Show map of this location.

Address postal

Postal address:

TUD Dresden University of Technology Technische Universität Dresden
Zentrum für Weiterbildung
Projekt Schreibzentrum

01069 Dresden

work Tel.

This post appeared on the occasion of the December 2022 Writing Center Newsletter. This and other newsletter issues are linked in the Writing Center Newsletter Archive.

© TUD

Name

Writing Center of TU Dresden

Send email

Send encrypted email via the SecureMail portal (for TUD external users only).

Contact Information

Address work

Visiting address:

Fritz-Foerster-Bau, room 571 Mommsenstr. 6

01069 Dresden

Show map of this location.

Address postal

Postal address:

TUD Dresden University of Technology Zentrum für Weiterbildung/Career Service
Schreibzentrum

01062 Dresden

work Tel.

The Writing Center of the TU Dresden (SZD) supports students and lecturers with offers for planning and writing various texts in studies such as vouchers, protocols, seminar papers and theses and for teaching academic writing in teaching and supervision. All information about offers and possibilities of support can be found in the areas for students and teachers.