janeowit's Journal: On writing

Recently I was asked why I didn't share more of my writing and the answer is pretty simple. I don't have more writing. The obvious follow up to that would be something like, why don't you write more? And that's a little more complicated.

The short answer is Jane hates writing. Ask any one of my family members, and they'll tell you anything from "Jane hates putting pen to paper" to "Jane hates coming up with new ideas" to "Jane just hates creative writing". And in this non-linear world we live in, they are all correct.

The long answer is that based on my history with assigned writing I have been taught that I am not at good writing and that writing is not for pleasure. And call me naïve, but I still don't quite understand why I would write for no reason.

Ever since I can remember, writing means tears falling on the page and tears ripped in the page from erasing too hard. Through the years I've managed to learn pull myself together in time to come up with just enough to turn in, but it has never been easy or pleasurable. I guarantee you I wouldn't have passed my mandatory English literature class in college without my cousin Kate.

So when Sol suggested that others might be interested in writing seven stories in three weeks I scoffed. Why would anyone want to do that? But she threw out the example of a theme; snow. And it was a 100-degree day here, and I clung to the idea of snow. I don't why exactly, but I wrote a story that started out with snow.

There were no tears this time. But, I still don't understand the pleasure that is derived from writing a story. I just have something now that isn't even original, it's just other people's idea combined together in a way that barely feels special. Is it something I should be proud of? Is it something I should want to share? Is this something I should want to do again?

Why do you write?

I don't believe you

[ryanr]

Your concert and music reviews are pretty darn good writing.

Why do *I* write? To show off. Because I like it when people are impressed. Pretty shallow resons, really.

And I get paid too, I suppose. But rarely enough to justify my time.

it puts food on the table and pays my bills

[tuxette]

I work as a technical writer. Therefore I write like crap outside the office... can't be bothered to take my work home with me so to speak ;-)

Re: Why do you write?

[tomhudson]

Probably because I enjoy reading.

Of course, for the next little bit, all my time is spoken for, between work, taking care of my aunt, my dogs, and the necesary mundanities (is that even a word?) like laundry, etc ...

Patchwork

[SolemnDragon]

Jane

we all are patchwork
in the end

rags and tatters of truth
that ink can't mend

and you who learned to quiet down in youth
have yet to learn that we are seams and stitches
rips and tears
and the way to heaven is marked with stains and mud

examine our tearstained faces and ink-torn hands
and count these as currency
marks of having worked

even words erased
live forever
invisible inches towards who we will become

i write because the words are in my blood
but also because my blood is in my words
hard-earned and sparse

Even y

No, it's TOTALLY true

[cousinkate]

I can vouch for the fact that Jane HATES writing. It's not because she isn't good at it though, because she is good at it. I think it stems from the fact that she has probably never had a good experience with it. Her mom mentions something about compulsory writing in kindegarten or first grade- something about writing a weekly letter to her teacher that was consistently tear-stained. So, believe her when she says she does not enjoy writing.

I write because I am much better at expressing myself that way t

Re:No, it's TOTALLY true

[nizo]

Poor experiences (or at least, no positive experiences) can make a huge difference for the rest of your life, in any subject.

I write because it gives me a chance to polish my ideas, way more than I ever could while I speak. I write because I enjoy sharing my freakish humor. I write because I hate blank spaces.

Re:No, it's TOTALLY true

[pythorlh]

Likewise, good experiences can stick with you, too

I write because there was a short time in highschool where we had to write something, and once a week we were required to read it to the class. On one particular occassion, after I was done reading, there was about 5 seconds of silence, and then one barely breathed word, "Wow." The whole room was just staring at me. That kind of response does something to you. I sometimes get upset about the lack of response my writing gets, but the reponse it gets when

Re:No, it's TOTALLY true

[nizo]

Whooohooo best post ever *clapclapclap*

Yeah I am just teasing you :-) But seriously keep in mind I read most of what you write (at least in your journals) and I like it, even if I don't comment. I wish there was a hit counter on journals, just to see how many people are reading but not commenting. It would also be nice to give "kudos" to things; kinda like mod points, but everyone has them. Ok now this is starting to head down a totally different path......

Y I write

[Engineer-Poet]

I write because I have a message. But almost all of it is non-fiction (some of it is verse), and the bulk of it winds up at one blog or another.