Writing

As a writer, it's my nature to seek an outlet to express my thoughts on subjects of interest to me. I approach the art of writing the same way a gardener takes to the landscape: you have to plant a seed (or develop an idea) before it can grow into a bouquet of flowers (or series of sentences).

Believe it or not, the two activities have a few things in common. Before those beautiful blossoms can decorate your lawn, you have to prune the area to separate the fresh bulbs from the dead weight. Such work is usually messy -- just like writing. From digging in the soil to digging in your soul, the effort you put forth will shape the final product ... and it'll either be one of superior or inferior quality. A physical affliction you'll experience is writer's cramp, and a mental obstacle you'll encounter is writer's block. These are endurance tests to see if you can hack it as a writer, since most people aren't cut out to do this as a hobby -- let alone for a living.

A gardener's worst nightmare is the sight of weeds on the lawn ... but a writer is his / her own worst nightmare. That's because you're your own worst critic, always looking for ways to improve a piece of writing or enhance a particular skill (e.g., research and reporting). To paraphrase playwright William Shakespeare, brevity is at the heart of all good writing.

I write because I feel I have something worthwhile to say and want to share it with an audience. I make an effort to be clear and concise because writing isn't the forum for one to spout off some crazy idea and not back it up with evidence. When I write, I don't know how the audience is going to react to my work ... but the only way to find out is to let them read it.

Writing is a craft where content and form are very important; yet, a lot of writing I read on the Internet is unprofessional. Media theorist Marshall McLuhan once said "the medium is the message" -- if that's true, the message is getting lost in a medium full of mistakes. From simple typos to bad formatting, sloppy writing is a poor reflection on the author: it shows a lack of discipline for the craft and a lack of respect for the reader. One thing I've learned from years of honing my skills is to never insult the intelligence of your audience.

For me, writing serves many purposes: it's a means of communication, a form of therapy, and a way of life. It's the one thing I know I'm good at, and I can never see myself not doing it. The process of having a thought form in my brain, sending an impulse that travels to my hand and forces me to put pen to paper, is a challenge I find exhilarating and exhausting. It's a work in progress, where you can always improve: after you accomplish a goal, you move on to the next one. The same thing goes for gardening: after you perform a task, you move on to the next one.

My parents think I'm crazy for pursuing a writing career, but I feel if I'm going to spend the next thirty years of my life working, it should be at something I love (or at least something I have an interest in). Granted, most writers never achieve the status of novelists like Stephen King or journalists like Bob Woodward ... but that's not why I write in the first place. I know writing isn't a glamorous, high-paying profession; most writers will live and die in obscurity. But as long as I'm doing what I love, I can live with that.