Your Place on the Writing Development Trajectory?
The writing growth curve is a metaphorical model that describes the development and improvement of writing skills over time. Similar to biological growth curves, it showcases phases of slow initial progress, rapid improvement, plateau or maturity, and sometimes decline or stagnation.
Unlike the physical growth curve, which charts biological size or development metrics, the writing growth curve focuses on learning and mastery. The initial phase, often referred to as the "lag" period, is where foundational skills form without rapid output increase. This is followed by a rapid improvement phase, or the "log" phase, where skills and habits solidify. After this, there is a plateau, or "stationary" phase, where growth slows due to reaching proficiency. However, unlike biological growth, the writing growth curve can be heavily influenced by practice, instruction, and feedback.
Comparatively, the bacterial growth curve has four phases: lag, log, stationary, and death. The writing development process mirrors this, with a slow initial growth phase followed by rapid improvement, a plateau, and potentially decline if skills are not practiced or evolve little.
For new writers, the writing growth curve may seem daunting, but they are at the beginning of the curve. As they progress, there is always something new to learn. Even for writers who have passed the initial slope and are starting to level out, there is always room for improvement. This is evident in the case of Stephen King, who, like any writer, started as a beginner and had to practice and improve.
It is essential to note that the critique group is not a platform for perfect writers. The aim is to improve and help others improve. Some writers may claim their writing style is non-negotiable and is their "voice." However, resistant writers who refuse to improve and are in a critique group for ego stroking rather than improvement are not the focus of the group.
When starting in a critique group, a writer may discover they are making novice mistakes, such as filtering, not anchoring the character in the setting, using echoes, being redundant, and overusing dialogue tags. As a writer applies what they learn, the number of things to learn may decrease. Suggestions to obvious errors are not applied by these resistant writers.
The writing growth curve may always have a slight upward slope, implying there is always room for improvement. Unlike physical growth, which eventually stops, writing growth can potentially always occur, no matter how long a writer has been doing it.
In conclusion, the writing growth curve models skill development over time in phases analogous to biological growth phases but focused on learning and mastery. The physical growth curve tracks biological size or cell population changes with defined physiological stages. Both curves share the broad structure of initial adaptation, rapid growth, plateau, and potential decline, though they apply to very different domains.
As a writer embarks on their journey, they should remember that the critique group is not a platform for perfect writers, and the speaker will never join the perfect writers club. Instead, it's a place to learn, grow, and improve, one step at a time.
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Did you know that a twelve-year-old boy has already caught up to his grandmother in height? He is expected to reach a height of approximately 6'1′′. The boy's mother, on the other hand, is shorter than him.
[1] Bacterial Growth Curve. (n.d.). Retrieved June 20, 2023, from https://www.britannica.com/science/bacterial-growth-curve [2] Growth Curve. (n.d.). Retrieved June 20, 2023, from https://www.britannica.com/science/growth-curve [4] Human Growth Curve. (n.d.). Retrieved June 20, 2023, from https://www.britannica.com/science/human-growth-curve
Engaging in education and self-development through writing can significantly contribute to personal growth. The writing growth curve, a metaphorical model of skill development, offers opportunities for constant improvement, regardless of the writer's initial proficiency or length of experience.
Unlike physical growth curves, which eventually stagnate, the writing growth curve can continue its upward trajectory indefinitely, fostering continuous learning and mastery.
