On Writing
English Departments can Brainwash.
Friday, 28.10.2005Perhaps I've been going at this writing thing from the wrong direction--I just realized that I'm letting the English department at school dictate my writing style and topics.
First sign of this was when I wrote in this forced voice. You know, the voice that says "I'm an analyst, and above anything else, I'm smart." That's a horrible voice to write in--way too arrogant and pushy. I think, as a writer, I'd like to be a pretty moderate person, someone who can listen to other opinions and still get it right.
The topics I've recently written about seem to be all so evidence-based, like I have to go out of my way to prove a point, as opposed to having the point just be obvious through the writing. I think it'd be better that way.
A List Apart has some great articles, and while I was going through them, I realized that, yeah, I have a sort of complex about being seen as a proper writer.
But isn't the first step to being a writer accepting yourself in the first place?
So I'm going to change my style. More relaxed, more freeflowing--I'm a writer now. To laugh, to act all serious, to act apathetic--those are all things I might do, and to express those would be really cool.
The rest of the world can stay away, I don't mind. As long as what's here is here for my own sake, no longer for the sake of others. Heck, if I can read what I've written so far and get something out of it, I think it's sorta worthwhile. Now all I need to do is make it so that I get everything I put in out of it.
Freedom from the box at last!