Lindemann Chapters 8-9

At the top of page 131, Lindemann explains how artists create forms and later writes how "we begin building a repetoire of forms for poems, dialogues, explanations, and arguments." The previous life as a musician taught me this. I learned to play guitar and bass by learning other people's songs and in doing so the songs I wrote sounded like the bands I liked (even though this similarity wasn't intentional). I learned how to play by mimicking the bands I liked, which is how I learned how to write. I found writers whose words sounded the way the words in my head sound and I mimicked their styles. I'd like to think my words (and songs) have deviated from this mimicry, but the influences remain. I found this practice helpful for anyone learning an art. If you're learning how to play guitar and you want to be in a punk band, there's no better teacher than Johnny Ramone. If you want to be an essayist circa 2021, David Sedaris is a good place to begin. This idea helps students because teachers can show them "real world" examples of the practices and techniques discussed in class. When students can see, for example, how subordinate relationships are used in writing, they can see the value and use it in their works as well.