Write with Hospitality

When we decided to put our house on the market 3 years ago, a lot of work had to get done. To prepare the house, my wife and I (and our kids) did a thorough deep clean both inside and out, not to mention the remodeling and love we put into that fixer-upper over the 11 years we made memories there. We also decluttered and organized the house better than we ever have since it had to be ready for viewing in a pinch.

While we had replaced and redesigned so many parts to this house, I think the response I enjoyed most from people who walked through was simply, "It's so clean." I took that to mean that our home was free of dirt and grime, but I also believe people were saying that it was well-organized and homey. We had made our house into a home, and we wanted some new family to grow to love it just as we did.

As a middle school writing teacher, I want my students to welcome their readers into their story and write with hospitality.

If you've ever walked through a house or apartment to consider renting or buying it, first impressions matter. When things are in good condition or look new, when the place is neat and tidy, and when floors are vacuumed and dust is minimal, a family can imagine living there. On the other hand, if the place is a mess, or if there's clutter all around, it's difficult to remain interested, and they may move on.

I tell the students something similar with their writing. It begins with the introduction of their paper, and sometimes the first line of their entire essay or story can make or break it.

First impressions matter.

If I see that the student has taken great care in constructing a thesis or an interesting lead, a desire has been created to read more, and I'll keep an open, positive mind as a teacher throughout the writing assignment. However, if I see multiple errors or trouble with instructions from the start, I will likely notice similar errors throughout the paper, and my attitude may deteriorate.

So students: welcome me into your paper. Write with Hospitality. When you do this, I feel at home. And when I feel at home, I look forward to settling into your paper. If the beginning of your writing is not handled with care, I am not as inclined to consider the space you've provided. So as you revise and edit your first draft, make sure to tidy it up - do a deep cleaning that's noticeable immediately when I enter the door. You wouldn't want a guest to respond like Shaggy here. Now let's get started!

So join me at my new website JustWriteWithT to strengthen your writing.

My original post is found here.