Reflections on the Profession of Writing

Over the past month, I have developed a deeper understanding of professional writing, particularly the importance of tone and audience awareness. This will enhance my future communications and networking while recognizing the balance between leveraging AI as a career tool and maintaining my creative and expressive skills.

Key Takeaways

• Tone: Understanding the appropriate tone for different contexts is crucial for effective communication.

• Audience Awareness: Tailoring messages to a specific audience can significantly improve engagement and clarity.

• AI as a Tool: Leveraging AI can streamline processes, but it is essential to retain personal creativity.

• Creative Skills: Maintaining and developing my writing style and voice is essential for personal expression.

One of the concepts that resonates is being aware of the tone when making a request. Self-awareness is essential, whether it's a complaint or reaching out to a potential employer or friend. The tone and choice of words can encourage participation or create additional unnecessary barriers. I will encounter diverse audiences, so a fundamental understanding of these communication tools will be valuable. And for this blog, I wish to make you my friend.

My understanding by applying the concepts from this course aids in achieving my goals. Paying attention to the small nuances and being aware of the person you're communicating with is crucial; it helps prevent your message from getting lost in their email or social media direct messages. When networking, it's beneficial to research the individual you're trying to connect with. Having background knowledge about their accomplishments and the company demonstrates that you care and adds value to the communication.

"AI...while it can enhance our intelligence and capabilities."

AI is equivalent to a calculator; its actual value comes from the input provided. Societal perceptions influence this concept's potential downside. There have likely been cultures in the past that would have been upset by ideas that challenged their understanding, much like how some resisted the notion of Earth being the center of the universe. AI carries a similar burden. While it can enhance our own intelligence and capabilities, it’s important to remember that the output is only as good as the input.

Relying solely on AI without a strong foundation in the relevant crafts—such as art or video creation—can lead to a detachment from the quality, human expression, and emotional depth that these art forms embody. This presents a potential drawback of using AI. Ultimately, it remains just a tool or a companion in our pursuits.

Yes, AI will be a tool throughout my career. It helps with conceptualizing ideas and executing plans with more definition. Using AI allows me to use my brain for computations beyond scrolling through documents to find specific data. It also helps with summarizations and redundancy in activities.

My greatest strength is being able to recognize my failures. I notice the less time I review the homework assignments, the less time I have to refine an idea. The initial idea is often drawn from a concept, but it is only impactful and earns better grades when I use time editing.

My weakness maybe my lack of understanding of nuances and context in some communications. I can be crass and cold in my language, and my responses can be almost robotic, lacking personality. Being able to identify this aspect will help me in my future endeavors.