My Writing Experience

As a young boy I always thought about writing a journal. I saw all the movies in which people’s lives were told through the memoirs they had left behind. I also saw that it was a place to write down secrets you could not share with anyone. When my Advanced English class professor told us, the class, to write a journal, I thought it was simply to give us another assignment. I later found out that the journal was a way to get us to write better. Thanks to this journal, I have learned what I like to write about, and the way that I like writing it.

            In high school, I was not into the essay writing part of my English class. For my SAT, I practiced writing a bunch of essays, and I still only got a six out of twelve. The hardest part was starting the essay, and it still is, but back then it was a lot harder. My new English professor said that this was because we were being told to write about something, and that it didn’t come from the heart; most of the time it was insincere too. I struggled with developing my skills as a writer. The idea of the class journal was to write for 10 minutes a day about anything that was on my mind. This means that I was writing about the things that were floating through my head. This made writing so much easier. I wrote quickly and the writing flowed. I learned a couple of things about my writing along the way, too.

            First of all, I learned that I love writing about having a passion and following one’s dreams. When it comes to writing about what I actually want in life, my hand zooms through the page, filling it with heartfelt thoughts and experiences. Since my passion in life is music, I have had a hard time finding my place in the future. It is often hard to explain to people what I really wish to achieve. It is impractical and most of the time it is not taken seriously. So, when I write about my goals, a large part of it is actually me letting out some bottled up feelings. Writing about these things makes has also helped me in the pursuit of my dreams.

Secondly, I learned that I like to be dramatic, or maybe theatrical, with the way that I say things in my writing. I like quoting poems and proverbs. I have always loved characters that are old and wise, and speak in riddles or, as I mentioned, proverbs. I especially like integrating Biblical teachings into my writings; they apply to everything.

In addition, I like to pour my heart out in my writing. Apart from class essays, I also write songs that are meant to be played with my band. I find that when I speak of what is truly in my heart, the words take life. When something is very intimate, but I want to put it into a song, I use metaphors and figurative language so as not to reveal too much, but still get the essence of the message. Since my time in high school, I have started to take a liking to poetry. I love the figurative language and the creativeness behind it all. One of the poems that I love most is William Ernest Henley’s “Invictus”. The way he expresses himself in the poem is both incredibly powerful and beautiful:

“It matters not how straight the gate,

How charged with punishment the scroll,

I am the master of my fate,

I am the captain of my soul.”

This, the last stanza of the poem, has captured my imagination time and time again. The authority with which he speaks, his choice of words, and the ancient proverbial style, are all things that have guided me in my writing; especially in my songwriting.  I also love Rick Riordan’s writing. He is the bestselling author of the “Percy Jackson” book series, and many more. His humorous writing is something I never get tired of. I enjoy it when a writer can insert humor in his writing, yet not lose the seriousness and heart of the work in question. This is a skill that impresses me, always.

            In conclusion, my writing has grown to new levels in this last semester. The journal obviously helped me the most. I have used these skills to keep improving my songwriting. It is not often that I use some of what I learn in a classroom for my hobbies. Usually, what I learn in classrooms is abstract and is of no real use to me, other than small talk. I have improved as a writer thanks to this class, and I have learned just what kind of writer I am. I like to write about what is real, and then give it life so as to create art. I find that I write best when I am being honest with myself. I have learned many things about being a writer, and I hope to keep learning, so as to never stop improving.

References

·         William Ernest Henley, “Invictus”, Poetry Foundation, http://www.poetryfoundation.org/poem/182194

·         Rick Riordan, Gray Digital Group, “Biography”, Welcome to the online world of Rick Riordan, http://www.rickriordan.com/home

·         Prof. Cynthia Pittman, “5 Essential tips for Burgeoning Writer”, Oasis Writing Link http://oasiswritinglink.blogspot.com/