
There are many factors that one must consider before, during, and after the writing process. This is what Donald M. Murray, author of the essay The Interior View tries to convey. A large amount of work must be done before hand to make sure what is being written is interesting to readers, and portrayed in the way it is supposed to be. Otherwise, the work will be meaningless and uninteresting. A writer must prepare before writing, listen to others critiques, and understand things that a non-writer cannot, before they pick up a pen.

The process of writing starts even before the author begins to write out his thoughts. It is important to make sure that one can understand the true meaning of words, rather than just understanding what is written down verbatim. “There should be, however, serious consideration of the interior view of composing seen by the practicing writer.” (Murray 25) If a writer can’t tell the difference from the literal words to their actual meaning, they won’t be able to practice good techniques when writing their own compositions. Their works will be boring and void of any deeper meaning, which will turn potential readers away from any other works they might put out. 

Readers, critics, and anyone of the like are also very important to the writing process. Even though it is important to have an idea what a piece of written work means to the author, it is also important to see how the readers interpret the work. “The critic, the scholar, the scientist of language and form, all make contributions to the understanding of writing. We all learn … from what perceptive readers see in a piece of writing, and we can gain new insights into old problems…” (Murray). The writing process doesn’t end when the composition is finished. The writer still must be engaged in order to learn from their readers, and improve their writing techniques for the future.

While a piece of written work must be understandable to the average reader, a writer has to be able to understand writing in a way that non-writers are not able to. When an average person sees a phrase written out, they usually can interpret it in one or two ways. A writer should be able to look at a phrase and think of several different ways that someone else could interpret it. Murray explores the phrase “A writer is an individual who uses language to discover meaning in experience and communicate it.” He then is able to dissect the sentence into four sections, and explain it from the point of view of a writer. For example, he explains that “A writer as an individual” doesn’t necessarily mean a writer should be isolated or independent, it could mean that a writer needs to forge his own path, rather than riding the coattails of another author (Murray 26).

The reading process must be carefully thought through before a writer can begin, and after they finished. A writer must understand how to convey a deeper meaning to their words rather than just the literal meaning. They must also be able to learn from other people, whether they are high ranked scholars, or just a reader. Finally, a writer must be able to understand passages in a way that other people can’t. Writing is something that only those passionate about can successfully do, as proven by Donald M. Murray’s The Interior View.