Writing habits and identity

INITIAL WRITERS STATEMENT: LETTER ENGWRIT112-SPRING 2026 OVERVIEW: The Initial Writers Statement asks you to describe the writing habits, routines, and beliefs you currently hold and bring to the course. While all writers go through a process in order to produce a finished product, not all writers are aware of this process. The writing process occurs in concrete activities (generative writing, drafting, reflecting) as well as in more incidental momentsthe ideas we have that pop into our heads as were eating dinner, walking to class, or just about to fall asleep. Writers also may be unaware of where their perspectives on writing come from (early schooling, past teachers, family, friends) and how those past experiences shape what they are able to do with writing. The Initial Writers Statement is an opportunity to begin to describe all of this to yourself and to me. ASSIGNMENT: For this assignment, you will be tasked with writing in the epistolary form. In other words, youll be writing a letter! This could be a letter addressed to : yourself (past/ present, future), a friend, a teacher or mentor, a fictional character, or anyone else youd like to address it to. Youll notice how your register might change depending on who the letter is written to that is great! Lean into voice in this assignment. Whatever helps you write about yourself/ your writing history most naturally! Here are some questions you might consider answering as you think about + describe who you are as a writer right now: What are your writing processes? Walk your reader through the steps you take/ routines you have/ mindsets you come across when you sit down to write. Which past experiences shaped this process and what you like or dont like to write? Tell a story of a writing experience youve had this could be the first thing you ever wrote, or something you wrote recently. What did it feel like? Amazing? Terrifying? Neutral? Where were you? How did the setting feel? In your opinion, what is good writing? Where did you learn these notions? Have these notions changed over time? How would you describe your current writing identity or style? What are you hoping to learn or change? What are you hoping to maintain, practice, or keep? DETAILS + DUE DATES: DUE: TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 10TH at the beginning of class time printed out and handed to me. Write 1- 2 pages double-spaced (250-500 words) but there are no official length parameters for this assignment. Make sure your name, my name, the course title & section number, and date are listed in the top right corner. This assignment will be graded for completion! A.k.a – as long as you do it, youll get all the points! This assignment will be included in your course portfolio grade at the end of the semester (15%)