WS102 Week 11: Identifying Strengths and Areas for Improvement in Your Work
Reflecting on Growth as a Writer
Over the past ten weeks, you have explored worldbuilding, character development, satire, theme, and collaborative storytelling. Now, it's time to step back and evaluate your growth as a writer.
✔ What skills have you developed?
✔ What aspects of writing do you excel at?
✔ Where do you still want to improve?
📌 This week, we’ll focus on:
✔ Identifying your writing strengths.
✔ Pinpointing areas for improvement.
✔ Reflecting on how your writing has evolved over the course.
I. Why Self-Reflection Matters for Writers
Great writers never stop learning. The ability to critically assess your own work is essential for improvement. This means:
✔ Recognizing what you do well, so you can lean into those strengths.
✔ Identifying weaker areas, so you can actively work on them.
✔ Learning to revise effectively—knowing what to cut, refine, or expand.
📌 Craft Takeaway: Writing isn’t about being perfect—it’s about growth. Every story, every draft, every experiment builds your skills.
II. Case Study: The Color of Magic (Part 3)
📖 This week’s reading: The Color of Magic (Part 3).
Pratchett’s Discworld series is a great example of continuous growth in writing. While The Color of Magic is the first book in the series, later books refine his humor, worldbuilding, and character depth. Even established authors improve over time!
🔹 Discussion Topics:
✔ How does The Color of Magic compare to other fantasy books you’ve read?
✔ What strengths does Pratchett showcase in his writing?
✔ How does his style evolve over the course of the book?
📌 Reflection Question: How has your writing evolved since the start of this course?
III. Discussion: 3 Areas of Improvement, 4 Areas of Strength
📜 Prompt:
Every writer has areas where they excel and areas where they can improve. This discussion is a chance to reflect on your progress and receive support from your peers.
📌 Discussion Questions:
✔ What 3 areas of improvement have you identified in your writing?
✔ What 4 areas of strength do you feel most confident in?
✔ How has your writing evolved over the past few weeks?
📌 Requirements:
1️⃣ List 3 areas where you want to improve and explain why.
2️⃣ Identify 4 writing strengths that you feel most proud of.
3️⃣ Respond to at least one peer, offering encouragement or insights.
🔹 Example Post:
"One area I want to improve is pacing—I sometimes rush through scenes without enough buildup. Another is dialogue; I feel like my characters don’t always sound distinct. Lastly, I struggle with endings, and I want to learn how to make them feel more satisfying.
For strengths, I think I’m good at creating unique worlds, using strong imagery, developing emotional moments, and writing compelling first lines. I feel like my ability to set a tone has improved a lot in this class. How do you all approach pacing in your writing?"
📌 Craft Takeaway: Self-reflection isn’t about judging yourself—it’s about understanding where you are and where you want to go
Conclusion: Growth Through Writing
📌 Key Takeaways:
✔ Every writer has strengths and areas to improve—this is a lifelong process.
✔ Reflecting on progress helps you set goals for future growth.
✔ Learning from peers can provide new insights and motivation.
📚 To-Do This Week:
📖 Part 3 of The Color of Magic by Terry Pratchett
✍ Participate in the discussion on strengths and areas for improvement
Next Week: What Your Writing Means to You
As we approach the final week, we’ll reflect on why we write, what stories mean to us, and where we want to take our craft in the future. 🚀