The Reading and Writing Process.

Ann Raimes definitely knows what she is talking about. Reading should not be a passive action. Passive readers cannot possibly understand the author's intent and content if they are not delving into the writing in front of them. The ideas of essays, blogs, books and articles are constantly mistaken. If readers would only take the time to read them more closely, I believe there wouldn't be as much stupid controversy over issues that weren’t there in the first place. By reading blogs and their responses, I’ve learned that readers create arguments out of thin air most of the time. Their objections have nothing to do with what the author actually wrote.

I get annoyed when people who read what I write miss my actual idea. Of course, readers have the freedom to interject their own opinions into any writing, but first they must understand the writer's.

If even I get annoyed by this, how much more should paid authors and journalists get upset when readers are incompetent and take their writing out of context? When I read something I begin with my own biases and opinions, but I still give the author the courtesy of actually reading what they wrote. If someone took the time to write out their thoughts, I might as well take the time to actually read those thoughts critically. Who knows, I might even learn something in the process.

Which brings me to my point, ladies and gentlemen: Reading is as much as a process as writing is a process. Reading and writing go hand in hand - you cannot do one without being able to do the other. Both processes require you to think and form opinions, analyze those thoughts and opinions, and organize those ideas into an understandable consensus.

There are readers who put these two actions together without even thinking about it, but I think there is a greater majority who don't even think it about it being done.