NE North Dakota News

Anna Kinney, director of UND's Writing Center, addressed the latest 18:83 Speaker Series event on leadership. She shared insights on how to approach writing to make it a more accessible and habitual practice.

Kinney emphasized the importance of reflection in learning, stating that "reflection is learning," which leads to active learning and critical thinking. She explained that reflective practice enhances self-assessment abilities, allowing individuals to evaluate their successes and navigate failures effectively.

Reflective writing, according to Kinney, plays a crucial role in becoming a meta-cognitive learner, fostering deeper understanding and retention. "For me, reflection and reflective writing, specifically, is a personal interest. It is a personal commitment," she said.

Kinney advised sorting ideas into themes or categories to identify patterns and outliers where innovation may lie. This process aids in connecting new information with existing knowledge for practical application.

Despite common apprehensions toward reflective writing, Kinney assured that it is not a test but rather "a gift." She highlighted its significance in helping individuals express feelings, hopes, goals, and concerns for improvement.

She described great leaders as storytellers who can communicate effectively across different audiences. Understanding one's leadership style through reflection can enhance leadership skills.

Kinney recommended Adam Moss's book “The Work of Art: How Something Comes from Nothing” for insights into creativity. She cited Iranian-American chef Samin Nosrat’s ability to envision new ideas before gaining too much experience as an example of beginner’s perspective enabled by reflection.

Developing reflective writing skills requires being explicit and intentional about writing habits while engaging in problem-solving by asking challenging questions like "how" and "why." Kinney views reflection as "a radical act of love," akin to Bell Hooks' concept of love as an action—being present in one's life for better self-understanding and connection with others.

Questioning the status quo by asking "What if?" was also encouraged by Kinney as part of the reflective process.

In conclusion, Kinney outlined key aspects of reflective writing:

- Writing is a process.

- Writing is thinking.

- Writing is human.

- Writing is about connection.

- Writing is discovery.

- Writing is hard and (can be) unpleasant.

- Writing is exploration.

"I hope that you can see reflective writing as an opportunity to celebrate your voice," Kinney concluded. She urged participants to develop their voices beyond preconceived notions about writing.