2. Becoming a Mindful Writer

I've never really considered myself a great writer. I just accepted the fact that it comes naturally to some people and I'm just not one of those people. But in the book, "Mindful Writing" that I'm reading for my Writing 150 class, it mentions how everyone is a writer. Whatever we do in life and for the rest of our lives we will be writing whether we like it or not. It's inevitable. Brian Jackson, the author/narrator of this book, talks a lot about rhetoric and all of the components of being a persuasive writer. He talks about pathos, logos and ethos and ways to use those three strategies in our writing. When Jackson talked about pathos--the emotional appeal of writing--he explains that emotions are evoked by telling stories and calling your audience to action. It reminded me of how in the church, especially with missionaries when they are teaching an investigator and invite them to do something, they often ask, "will you commit to doing..." because people are more likely to act when they make a commitment. Becoming a skilled writer is a process, a process that requires action which Jackson is inviting us to do.