Writing
Posted by:
OConnor,CD (IP Logged)
Date: 25 January, 2009 02:57PM
I recently read a post on this site that touched the deepest regions of my heart and led me to create my own. First, writing and imagination is a gift bestowed upon a select few. Those with the imaginative faculties have the beginning tools to write; what and how they go about toning them are their own matters. Today everyone has an opinion, telling every writer how to write and what to say- the proper way to write is this, do that and not this. To me it is very disheartening and sad. Of course there are universal laws in writing that must and should be upheld, but it takes its toll on the writer because a lot of writers (Don't peg me because I know not all fall in this specific category) are sensitive people and want acceptance. So what do they do? They follow society and what they tell them a good story is? Writing is an art, yes? And art comes from the soul- not dictated by others. Art for arts sake is, I feel, the true heart of a writer, the golden rule I guess you could say. Not always easy. Poe knew this, Lovecraft knew this, CAS knew this as well as all of the other masters. They poured themselves out on the page and in the way they thought was right, keeping the universal laws of writing in tact of course, and they blossomed. Nothing happened to their tales years down the road after they were but cold corpses in the grave, our perception, the human perception has changed. If a person, I feels, disgraces themselves by becoming a slave to anyone or a company just to get published has done a dishonor to themselves. Are peoples opinions, friends and fellow writers important, yes. This is how we grow- learning those universal rules. Now this is coming from a guy (I turn 26 on the 30th of January) who always wanted my work to be accepted and would constantly be a slave to "What is the correct way to write" as I have grown I've learned a great deal about myself. If I can't get down what I have to say in a manner easy, yet elequent, way I have failed myself.
Poe had it, Bierce "The Truth is the greatest horror" he said, had it, Lovecraft had it, CAS had it, REH had it, Barlow had it, Dunsany had it, M.R. James had it, William Hodgeson had it, all of em wrote from their heart and attained the pieces of a story from their imagination. I don't think all writing is the same in todays society, in my opinion I think we write to please and do ourselves a diservice. As Dr. Farmer pointed out in that post, the school system "Politically Correct Bull" is to blame, partly, for leading people into the trap of being followers instead of leaders or individuals. I may be just a fresh, learning amaeutur, learning everyday the Universal rules to the written word, but I know I have a gold mind of imaginative ideas and what I say may sound cleche or trite or old school but that makes me happy. To be an individual is why we were created and the feeling, once attained, "Stephen King can you hear me, you used to be so good. What happened? lol" is so refreshing and a nod to the human spirit.
Thank You,