To be quite honest my favourite types of books to read are books on writing. For me it is like having a conversation with someone who knows what it means to be a writer and understands the trials and triumphs us literary folk face on a daily basis. For example, one of my favourite quotes is by German novelist Thomas Mann, he said “a writer is a person for whom writing is more difficult than it is for other people" (Mann, Essays of Three Decades, 1947). This I could not agree more with. I often find myself caught up in situations where friends will describe how they put together an essay or short story the night before (in opposed to my slaving over it for the better part of the week) and as they read their piece to me all I can think about is how superior it is to my own. For the longest time I never understood why it was so difficult for me to write and I even would find myself questioning whether writing really is ‘my thing’ and then when I read that quote I realized it is the struggle I have with writing that makes me a writer. All was well in that moment.
James Baldwin (as quoted by Donald M. Murray in his book Write to Learn) also caught my attention when he said “The importance of a writer...is that he is here to describe things which other people are too busy to describe” (Murray, 2005, 45). This is the what, in my mind, separates the writer from all others – both witness life, but the writer is the one who takes notes. As Murray says, “the best writing is traitor to intent” (Murray, 2005, 13). I could not agree more with this; so often when I sit down with the intention of writing a brilliant story about a specific topic I find myself producing a wave of literary mediocrity. However, it is when I am out in the world watching, breathing in life, that true inspiration comes. It is at such time that I am thankful for the notebook I keep in my purse (cliché I know, but all of these people are onto something when they suggest keeping a pen and paper handy) because it allows me to take note of life as it’s happening – un-manipulated, unedited and most importantly, unexpected.
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I have had the same situations happen with me! I always used to be the kid who had to work much longer on writing assignments than my friends. It always frustrated me. They made it seem so effortless, but after reading our text I have realized that writing isn't as complicated as I've put it out to be.
ReplyDeletePS - I used to keep a notebook with me as well for the same reason. Though that was years ago now.
I can completely relate to seeing things in real life that inspire you to write about them. So true! And I really liked that quote from Baldwin as well.
ReplyDeleteIt is kind of strange, but I am on the opposite side of both of you. I always found academic writing easy. I could write an essay the night before and do fine on it. If I took longer than others, it was simply because I was a perfectionist. However, even though I did well on the assignments, I was never satisfied with my work. I always wanted to write better, or perhaps just differently. Our class text has already given me slight insight as to how that may be possible.
ReplyDeleteI also think it is important to keep a notebook or journal with you. I find that those spontaneous times throughout every day life are the moments I am able to express this true writing that I strive for in my academic writing.
The quote you used from page 45,“The importance of a writer...is that he is here to describe things which other people are too busy to describe” I found completely true! Some of my favorite books are people's personal journeys through life. This inspires me to write more! This makes me want to capture every significant part of my life and write away!
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