About writing, hmm
I, as he, really do not know what it takes to make or be a good writer - all I know is that I want to write and share the experience of writing or “expressing” with others.
Throughout time people of all makings and genders have vented their passions in different ways . . .through music, through building, through words, but what moves me the most, in particular, is the written expression. Even though I must confess that maginificent wonders such as Machu Pichu never cease to amaze me, “writing” never ceases to amaze me either!
I have no formal training whatsoever as a writer, so bear with me here, but, I have always been an admirer of the written thought.
I’ll never forget when, in high school, in South America, we had to read the Popol Vuh, commonly known as the book of “the men of maize” (men of corn) - what a wonder it is. I wasn’t truly into the experience at the time, because it was forced upon me, but I can say that I did enjoy it. My teacher, at the time was a very strict yet young Spanish woman, Maria Jesus. We actually analyzed this book in Art class, you’d think Literature, huh? Anyway, the Popol Vuh is the story of creation as the Mayas saw it - it’s about the beginning of everything; when only the skies and the waters existed and to be able to travel along with the Maya Gods and their surroundings back then, was a unique experience for me.
To be able to trigger a mind the way writing does is a gift and my mind has been “triggered” many-a times by unexpected readings and occurances, hmm. I hope that one day, I too can trigger thoughts.
Writing, in my very humble and unexperienced opinion, begins with a liking for words - you don’t need to express yourself in a fancy, “snooty”, manner to be a writer; nor do you need to necessarily “study” it formally (my personal take on it, remember!), nor do you have to be a goo speller ; bit of passion and silliness is all that it takes, I think. Actually, I feel a little silly right now because this is all new to me, new-fun-relaxing, mmm.
Speaking of writing, I am going through a stage right now with my 12 yr. old daughter that is confusing to us both (writing-wise). She is not a typical anything. She is very philosophical, mature and witty creature - a writer since she was very small, and when she brings back corrected homework and classwork
it hurts me to see how anal and structured writing “needs to be”.
You see, I don’t quite recall my teachers, who were beyond wonderful and brilliant, ever being so anal in their comments and corrections. Perhaps it’s that, I don’t believe in structure all that much even though I recognize that it is a must. She and I, my daughter, have always talked about kids that get straight A’ s yet have no common sense, wit or “fun” about them - they are locked up in a box of persistence and discipline, if you ask me. And I have told her always, that gut intelligence is something you are born with. That “hippie-kinda” creativity and “what-the-heckness” is ingrained in our genetic making. It cannot be removed and it cannot be bought - thank God! We’ve always discussed that people that are more on the “smart” side, do not usually dig school and its very closed structure but we also acknowledge that school and formal training are a must.
My brother, a musician, a composer, a rebel and lover of life, who I admire and love very much, was never a good student during high school - always brilliant, never structured, graduated from his dream career , “Music” (not mentioning where, out of discretion) basically with flying colors. Why? Because it was always his passion! Yes, he had to go through basic bologna but the rewards were more than the obstacles.
I don’t think I would like to “learn” how to write because I am a very proud person and of the internal thought process of “Who are you to show me how to write? I can write however and whatever I please to!” - professors of all sorts, please don’t take offense - however, I would love to formally learn where to place basics such as signs of punctuation, hyphens, how to handle repetitions such as “it is that that is so hard to figure out”