The Writer as Myth
In the course of three afternoons recently, I was surprised by the comparable reaction of four friends who, when I mentioned to them I was prepping a few blogs, say to me, "Oh, I would love to do that, but I'm not a writer.
"I found that comparable feedback very odd.
I told each of them that one doesn't have to be a writer to blog.
As I see it, the only requirements of a good blogger are the ability to express oneself in a clear and concise manner, and the passion to discuss topics in which readers are interested.
However, the "I am not a writer" responses have prompted me to wonder about the myth so many of us seem to have about writers.
As a society, we have always been fascinated by writers and held them in high esteem.
And that is as it should be.
Great writing has taught us, delighted and entertained us, kept us company, made us squeamish, beget tears, and even wrought great change.
Celebrated prose has introduced to us everything from muggles to "M" to Morrie.
But writers are not gods, and flowery words do not a writer make.
Read any good advice book on writing and the main thing you will learn is that it is the job of the writer to simply tell their story to the best of their ability, to share their emotions in a way that touches the reader.
Sure it takes talent to be able to do this, but you don't have to be Ernest Hemingway or JK Rowling to get your message across.
Just tell your truth and tell it to the best of your ability.
(And check your work before hitting the Send key!)And no, I am not inferring that anyone can be a writer, but by George (Orwell ...
or perhaps Will), anyone who cares to put forth the effort can be a blogger! This leads me to wonder about something I wrote about in a previous post -- poor writing habits.
Could it be that one of the reasons time and care is not taken with writing is that people believe, because they aren't real "writers," that their words don't matter?If this is the case, then I am here to state that this is the furthest thing from the truth!Words are the only way we, as humans, have of expressing ourselves.
They are a reflection of who we are.
And no matter how far advanced we become technologically, no matter how digital the world becomes, nothing will change that basic fact.
Therefore, verily I say unto thee, shed the myth that writing is about flowery words, immortality or best sellers!Whether business executive or blogger, consider thyself a "writer" in the purest sense of the word by putting your best writing foot forward!Methinks that you're probably a heckuva lot better than you believe you are.
Want proof?Get out of this website and pull up a "new" blank email page.
Think of someone you love.
Or perhaps someone to whom you have wanted to tell how important they are in your life.
Or even someone who has been long owed an apology.
Write a letter.
Just start it, Dear So-and-so ...
and let it flow.
Think about what your heart wants to say to that person.
Talk it out, but also type it out.
Go stream-of-consciousness.
Let it roll off your tongue, out of your mind and from your heart.
Don't think "writing.
"Think of the message.
What you want to say to the person.
Keep hitting those keys.
And don't stop until you end the letter with something akin to "I hope that you know how important you are to me and how much better a person I am because of you.
I just wanted you to know these feelings because, for some absurd reason or another, we don't express ourselves honestly near often enough.
And it's important that you know how I feel.
"And then type an appropriate closing for the circumstances and person.
Now ...
go back and read what you've written.
That's a blog or message doubtless well delivered and one, too, that will hit home for and be appreciated by the recipient.
Read it over again.
Then hit the spell-check function (the F7 key for you Word speed-key freaks).
Then proof it once or twice more.
That's a great habit to get into -- not only will you likely find some words you will want to change, but you may find yourself adding more message.
Go for it.
But then be sure to spell-check, reread and proof it again.
Congratulations.
You've penned your first novelette!One for the ages, I bet, that will receive far better reviews than most writers receive for their first manuscripts.
"I found that comparable feedback very odd.
I told each of them that one doesn't have to be a writer to blog.
As I see it, the only requirements of a good blogger are the ability to express oneself in a clear and concise manner, and the passion to discuss topics in which readers are interested.
However, the "I am not a writer" responses have prompted me to wonder about the myth so many of us seem to have about writers.
As a society, we have always been fascinated by writers and held them in high esteem.
And that is as it should be.
Great writing has taught us, delighted and entertained us, kept us company, made us squeamish, beget tears, and even wrought great change.
Celebrated prose has introduced to us everything from muggles to "M" to Morrie.
But writers are not gods, and flowery words do not a writer make.
Read any good advice book on writing and the main thing you will learn is that it is the job of the writer to simply tell their story to the best of their ability, to share their emotions in a way that touches the reader.
Sure it takes talent to be able to do this, but you don't have to be Ernest Hemingway or JK Rowling to get your message across.
Just tell your truth and tell it to the best of your ability.
(And check your work before hitting the Send key!)And no, I am not inferring that anyone can be a writer, but by George (Orwell ...
or perhaps Will), anyone who cares to put forth the effort can be a blogger! This leads me to wonder about something I wrote about in a previous post -- poor writing habits.
Could it be that one of the reasons time and care is not taken with writing is that people believe, because they aren't real "writers," that their words don't matter?If this is the case, then I am here to state that this is the furthest thing from the truth!Words are the only way we, as humans, have of expressing ourselves.
They are a reflection of who we are.
And no matter how far advanced we become technologically, no matter how digital the world becomes, nothing will change that basic fact.
Therefore, verily I say unto thee, shed the myth that writing is about flowery words, immortality or best sellers!Whether business executive or blogger, consider thyself a "writer" in the purest sense of the word by putting your best writing foot forward!Methinks that you're probably a heckuva lot better than you believe you are.
Want proof?Get out of this website and pull up a "new" blank email page.
Think of someone you love.
Or perhaps someone to whom you have wanted to tell how important they are in your life.
Or even someone who has been long owed an apology.
Write a letter.
Just start it, Dear So-and-so ...
and let it flow.
Think about what your heart wants to say to that person.
Talk it out, but also type it out.
Go stream-of-consciousness.
Let it roll off your tongue, out of your mind and from your heart.
Don't think "writing.
"Think of the message.
What you want to say to the person.
Keep hitting those keys.
And don't stop until you end the letter with something akin to "I hope that you know how important you are to me and how much better a person I am because of you.
I just wanted you to know these feelings because, for some absurd reason or another, we don't express ourselves honestly near often enough.
And it's important that you know how I feel.
"And then type an appropriate closing for the circumstances and person.
Now ...
go back and read what you've written.
That's a blog or message doubtless well delivered and one, too, that will hit home for and be appreciated by the recipient.
Read it over again.
Then hit the spell-check function (the F7 key for you Word speed-key freaks).
Then proof it once or twice more.
That's a great habit to get into -- not only will you likely find some words you will want to change, but you may find yourself adding more message.
Go for it.
But then be sure to spell-check, reread and proof it again.
Congratulations.
You've penned your first novelette!One for the ages, I bet, that will receive far better reviews than most writers receive for their first manuscripts.