Introduction

My name is Matt Yoder, and I am, among other things, a writer. That feels like a bold claim, but if Expository Writing has taught me anything, it's that sounding confident is the first step toward actually being it. And confidence—I am convinced—along with a few other incidentals, is what makes a great writer.

I'm not there yet. In the meantime, I am a sophomore communication major at Goshen College. My concentration is in multimedia communication. After college, I hope to pursue Web design.

When I am not designing Web sites or writing, I enjoy singing, reading, playing board games, skiing, traveling, and making art. I sing in the Chorale and Men's Choir and serve as a copy editor and a Web editor for the campus newspaper, The Record. I also help to plan Morning Song, a worship service for college students.

Discoveries

Like most worthwhile pursuits, writing is a lifelong journey. This semester has proven an important leg in my personal trek, and though I have slogged through the swamps of grammar, climbed the craggy peaks of style, and fallen victim to the mental blisters of writer's block, I'd like to think that I am a stronger writer for the experience. Below are some of the observations I've made along the way:

• Like a good cup of coffee, good writing takes time to brew. If I try to write too soon after getting an assignment, the result is bitter and unsatisfying. I must avoid the temptation to rush and must instead take time to breathe in the aroma of the idea that's simmering in my mind. Only then can I write an essay that is rich with the flavors of language steeped in thought.
• Transitions are the seams that hold an essay together. Without them, the whole thing unravels. As I write, I must consciously weave together the fabric of my ideas, protecting that most delicate thread that is my thesis. Like a poorly sewn garment, a missed transition can expose the writer and lead to embarrassing criticism.
• Style is the child of precision, not its parent. When I can't find the right words, it is usually a sign that I don't really know what I think. Instead of trying to sound good, I must first figure out what I'm trying to say and write it as precisely as possible. Once the ideas are in place, the style will naturally follow.
• Revision is painful but necessary. It's like performing surgery on a newborn. This thing that, just a minute ago was a part of me, has suddenly taken on a life of its own. Without intervention, however, its existence will be sad and brief. Though it pains me to cut at this infant of mine, I must wield the scalpel wisely, knowing that only through this operation will the child flourish.

Goals

Though I have reached a milestone in my writing process, the journey is far from over. As I pause to catch my breath, I think about the years ahead and can't help but wonder where my writing will take me. Whatever the course, I hope to pass these landmarks on my writing journey:

• In my college writing, I want to push myself to write in a style as lively as my subjects of study. My college experience has shown me that virtually any topic can be reduced to a dry, mindless research paper—if I let it. As I struggle to meet deadlines and make grades, I hope to preserve in my writing that spark that is truly the sign of a passionate learner.
• In my career, I want to write in a way that communicates and connects. So much of what I read on the Internet and elsewhere feels hollow and insincere. It doesn't say anything, at least not in the same way as two people having a conversation. As I make my living writing for the Web, I want to write in a way that really speaks to people.
• In my personal writing, I want to accept opportunities that stretch me to write in new ways. This semester has seen a number of firsts in my writing career: I penned an online devotional that will be viewed by thousands. I composed new words to an old hymn tune. I wrote and delivered my first homily. Each of these experiences has challenged me to rethink who I am as writer and enlarged my understanding of the writing process and of myself. My hope is that these firsts will not be lasts as well.