Writing Lies (Or Misconceptions About Writing)

Blogging is fun, because writing is fun!

Really, it is!

The hard part is finding something to write about.

I’ve written papers in school about history, economics, politics, science, math, and a few other things (mostly history and English papers).  And after you get over the initial annoyance at having to do a school project, it’s pretty fun to do!

I know I am not in the majority when it comes to writing.  A lot of people don’t like to write, and I get you!  Writing can be frustrating!

But you know what?

I think a lot of people, especially high school students, have misconceptions about writing and its entertainment value.  They have to have a certain amount of words, structure their writing according to the style accepted by the classroom standards, procure a set amount of outside sources and learn to cite them, and then, write about a topic they most often are not interested in.

Yuck.

Boring.

Restrictions are no fun, and they make writing a chore.  I felt that way a lot the times when I was writing a paper.  Getting around to it was hard because I was not looking forward to writing about a subject that I did not care about.  I mean, come on!  Who does?

Even in the cases where I got to pick the topic, it was still hard to just start.  Why?  Because there were so many restrictions.  However, once I actually started writing (typing), things just seemed to flow and I gained interest in the point I was making.

Now I know a lot of you aren’t in to writing like I am, but what I am trying to do here is show you that writing is not all that boring.  It is only boring when someone makes you do it according to their rules (unless you really enjoy writing A LOT, which I do).  When you decide to write something for yourself, something that you are interested in, on your own time schedule, then it’s fun!

And if you are looking to start writing more or get better at writing, then I have some advice for you:

1. Read GOOD LITERATURE.  Would you like to write a novel?  Then read novels that possess brilliant word pictures and excellent writing techniques.  You don’t have to be a journalist to tell if a book is good!  Has the book been published and well read?  Can you feel the characters’ emotions as if you yourself were that character?  Can you barely stop yourself from putting it down to go to sleep?  If the answer to most of the questions is YES, then it’s probably a good quality book!
2. Write about stuff YOU ARE INTERESTED IN!  I can’t stress this enough.  You will be bored and utterly confused if you write about stuff you do not care about.  That’s not fun!  If you couldn’t care less about cooking, then don’t write about it!  Find something you are passionate about.  This could be a hobby, or even your job if you are lucky enough to have a job that is also your passion.  Then after you have identified your hobby or passion, write about it!  Writes stories about your hobby or passion!  Stories are really fun to write and reread over and over.
3. Start a blog, and set a goal to write in it every other day for a month, and then after that, once or twice a week.  Why?  Because this helps you create a habit of writing and the more you write, the better at it you will become.  That’s just how it works.  You practice something a lot, you get good at it!

 

Okay, so I have a confession to make.

I have a file folder on my desktop on my computer called “Hope’s Books.”  Guess how many completed books are in there?

Zero.

Yup.  None.  Now guess how many first chapters of books I have in that folder?

At least 20.

And they are all decently good I guess, but most of them are from when I was littler (like 13), and I don’t think I will ever finish them mainly because I don’t think they’re that great anymore.  Funny how my writing got better the older I got! 😀 😛

The point is, it’s a lot easier to start a story than it is to finish one.  Why?  Because a lot more thought goes into writing an entire novel rather than just having the imagination to hook readers on the first chapter.  Having realized that a few years ago, I am now working on two novels at present that I really hope to finish some day.  And I know better now!  I have made a plan for these novels so I actually have somewhere to go with them!

I guess the point I am trying to make here is that I don’t have writing all figured out.  Far from it!  But I continue to learn and get better to achieve what I want to achieve.

Maybe you don’t have a desire to write at all.  That’s okay.  I just wanted to explain that writing is an art, and it can be super fun if you choose to make it so!  Especially if you write about something you love, something you care about, or something you believe in strongly.

You don’t even have to publish your writing if you don’t want to.  Write out your prayers, write recipes, write short stories just for family, and let your creativity run loose.

If none of this was helpful to you, I am truly sorry.  And if you get nothing out of this blog post at all, just know one thing:

I love writing 🙂

Until next time,

Hope Frances