I used to present a program in local schools called, “Write for Life.” I wanted to instill in students the importance of learning how to express oneself through writing. I would ask students if they could think of any profession, job or lifestyle that didn’t involve writing. It didn’t matter what they came up with, other students and I could give reasons why a person in that situation would need to know how to write.
Think about it, householders/parents need to know how to write excuse notes to their kids’ teachers, a note to the neighbor or deliveryman, letters of complaint to companies, an inquiry about an invoice they received, and so forth. Any employee in any sort of job will have reason to communicate in writing at some time with employers, administrators or customers. And even the most simplistic jobs often require written reports.
I think we all agree that it is imperative that we can communicate through writing in order to get by in society today. However, there are still people in America who cannot read or write and they fake their way through life under this handicap. Amazing. If these individuals would put the same energy and effort into learning to write that they put into hiding the fact that they can’t write, they could become more successful people, don’t you think?
And then there are those of us who can’t not write. Some of us were born with pencils in our hands and stories in our hearts. Others discovered the joy of writing along the life trail. Still others simply wanted to express themselves and developed a love of the written word along the way. I am one of those people. Well, I am a little of each of these people. While I don’t create stories in my head hoping to entertain and charm readers, I am every bit as much a hopeless writer within the nonfiction realm. I want to teach and share. I love finding new ways to report, inform and educate people through my writing. Sure, there is an entertaining element in some of my writing, as well—at least, I hope so.
I guess for me, the driving force is the concept of communication. Some writers live to tell stories. Their muses work overtime whispering in their ears. So what we have are communicators and storytellers. Of course, there is often a little storyteller in the communicator and a bit of a teacher’s heart in some of the storytellers.
But the universal truth for writers is that we love the process. Whether we write prose or instructions, children’s stories or rhymes, memoirs or self help, journals or romance novels, there is something that drives us. And each of us, no matter our genre or topic of choice, understands that passion.
That’s why, when we’re not focusing on a writing project, we love to gather together with other writers online, at writers’ group meetings and at conferences. Only another writer understands our passion and our challenges, the work that we put in and the joy that we generate from within as well as the sacrifices we make in order to pursue our writing dreams.
Writing can be lonely. Most of us like the solitude—that’s another reason why we pursue this career (or hobby). But it also does our hearts and our writing quality wonders when we know that there are others out there who can relate.
So take time this week to connect with another writer or several other writers in a meaningful way. Share a piece of writing or the story of a unique writing experience. Pass along a resource that you found helpful.
One such helpful resource might be to join SPAWN (Small Publishers, Artists and Writers Network)
http://www.spawn.org
If you’ve purchased one of my books and found them useful, tell others to visit my showcase of books for writers and authors at http://www.matilijapress.com
And don’t forget to sign up for my online book proposal course which started last Monday. It’s not too late to sign up. The second class lecture and assignment go out tomorrow (September 22). http://www.matilijapress.com/course_bookproposal.html