writing
when i go longer than a couple weeks without sitting down to write something for a class or even for myself, i tend to forget how much i love it. one of my favorite feelings is when i am able to sit down, wherever, be stress free and completely focus on whatever i am writing on my computer. even when…. no…. especially when i have no point to what i am writing, having the freedom and ability to express my thoughts into words on paper sets me into a trance that draws me in deeper, and deeper.
i am absolutely mesmerized by the concept of ‘writing.’ we are able to take small squiggly letters that have virtually no meaning when stated alone and we can mix them together to make words that represent objects and actions. but even further beyond that, we can mix those words together and create phrases that pass along information and stand as a means of communication. and still further, we can mix those sentences to choreograph uniform, thought provoking and emotional material to convey ideas and stories!
my advanced composition course is doing well to stretch me as a writer. now, i know i shouldn’t compare myself to others, but many of the people in my class are far better writers than i. all my life i have used those around me, who are better than me, to improve my style and learn. i can form my own ideas about my writing style by sampling a bit of my fellow classmate’s works.
this semester we are required to read a book called the i ching for writers. it is an interesting book but has helped me improve more than anything. there are several small passages in this book, and after each passage are a few ideas to try out a different style of writing. i have written a short memoir, a creative poem, several essays about myself and even a few haiku’s! i am learning a lot about incorporating many different styles of writing into the pieces i write for class.
one part of my writing style that i know i need to improve on, is my use of dialogue. i wish i was good at using it, but whenever i do, it seems so awkward and forced. i think i just need more practice. i’ve tried to write stories and essays without dialogue, but there is just something that it has that adds a different aspect to the story. it captivates the audience and draws them in more so than a simple statement could do.
my professor, dr. cox left us with a great quote at the end of class last friday. we were talking about dialogue and how useful and cohesive it can be to a paper and she stated, “dialogue is the multivitamin to your narrative.”
love and peace,
-simple
