Defensiveness

It's so funny, going back to school, starting a new profession, and learning to write a whole different way again. I remember seeing someone online (probably one of you lovely bloggers out there) talking about how when students have to tackle a new subject, their writing skills tend to deteriorate initially as well. That is, when you're tackling something hard and new, it's hard to write up to the level of skill you learned for another context.

I completely feel myself doing that; it's harder for me to avoid problems in legal writing that I know I routinely avoided in historical writing. But even more so, I've regressed in terms of my reaction to feedback!

I think by the time I left academia, I'd got pretty good at not taking feedback personally (or, I should qualify, not taking *reasonable* feedback personally. Petty, nasty feedback is something else entirely). I whole-heartedly subscribe to the idea that if someone reading your work makes a comment in which they appear not to "get" what you've written, what to take away from that is that your writing in that section needs to be clearer. But now that I'm working my way through a new style of writing, when people give me feedback on something - say, suggesting that I need to emphasize X - my automatic response is, "That's not what I meant! I wasn't talking about X at all!"

I may be older than many of my fellow students, but I am not older in studying the law, and I react to setbacks or criticism just like the newbie-est of new students. It's a little weird.

Comments

[jo(e)]

Of course, the fact that you have this level of awareness suggests that you are not like the other new students at all.

[Janice]

I was about to note what jo(e) already identified. Yes, you're learning a new style of writing but you've already identified the most important lesson: that you can adapt to the new style's demands, given time.

[Dr. Crazy]

I was about to note what Jo(e)said, and then Janice's support of it. Here's the thing: students who are not you don't realize the regression. The fact that you're noticing the regression is actually a HUGELY ADVANCED THING. When I teach writing, one of the things I try to teach (sometimes more successfully than others) is for the writer to notice that regression and for the writer to give himself or herself a little bit of break for it. If a writer sees that he or she is regressing, that's actually really positive - it means that he or she is in tune with the process and that he or she will move beyond that point. Far more troubling is if a writer thinks that he or she has it all figured out, because he or she has succeeded in other writing situations.

In other words, NK, sure, you're learning, and sure, you have more to learn. But the fact that you're recognizing regression means that ultimately you'll progress faster. You're great! Do not doubt that!

[Courtney at Blogging Matilda]

This post couldn't be more on point with what I am experiencing right now! I always thought I was a semi-sufficient writer. Now at 30 and beginning my 3L, I have realized just how badly I write in law school. I am now having to re-learn to write, and it is incredibly frustrating!! Hang in there!

[life_of_a_fool]

everyone else is right, but I do hope you continue to write about these processes. The combination of you having previous experience, being in a new setting, and being self-aware and articulate about the transition is really valuable, I think. For you, but also for me! and others still trying to figure students out, and how to connect to them and help them gain this recognition.

[Seeking Solace]

NK, it took me a couple of years after law school to become a superb legal writer. It takes time and practice. You will make mistakes, but you will evolve into a phenomenal legal writer. This is the time to lay the foundation.

I know it's hard. I was rather defensive in the beginning as well. I think the transition to legal writing is hardest on those in the humanities. It's different and goes against what you know.

The best advice I ever received from an attorney was to write like Hemingway. Problem is, I can't stand Hemingway!

I know you will be fine!!!

[New Kid on the Hallway]

Thanks, everyone! You guys are very kind.

[Michael]

Accepting feedback is always a delicate issue and different people have different mechanisms for dealing with it. Providing you're sufficiently receptive and can balance up feedback from different sources with your own self reflection and act on it where necessary, I think you're doing a good job. I think it's also important to remember that feedback, constructive or otherwise, isn't always necessarily accurate.

Nice blog, btw: I've added you to my blawgroll over at Law Actually.