It is so easy for me to speak my ideas out. Better to think on those long lonely roads while walking from one place to another.
But when it comes to writing, the mere act of translating these very red herrings into coherent train of thoughts,words fall flat on my face or rather my blank laptop screen.
Question is why? Why is it that when I spend hours contemplating on what exactly to write, the end result eludes me by a long stretch of things.
At the risk of sounding a bore, when I began blogging my idea was to speak. Given I am an extrovert who barely ever reveals any inner thoughts. This was tough. It is very easy for an introvert to blog. Which is another thought I will explore on this very space as we read.
Coming back to subject, I had started to blog because I felt I had something to say. At random. Not to my roommate, my best friend, my sister, my father- but to no one in particular.
People or rather a close set of say five friends read me and pronounced:
Too complex
Too strange
Too convoluted
In a nutshell they simply wanted to tell me- “Please just get to the point“.
But wasn’t that the very reason why I had started writing? To simply get to the point. How could I begin with it?
Blogging was a journey. Putting myself out there. I have always been writing in private, still do. In fact a friend who herself writes a lot but doesn’t blog, asked me: How can you put your writing out there?
Maybe that was the crux. I wanted to challenge myself. Put myself out there through the written word.
What did I achieve in the end?
Wading through a series of romance, technology, parenting, poetry and what not post I began to lose my voice. I lost the point. Forget getting to it.
And yes quit. This was the first time I quite blogging. Then I returned again. Forcing myself to read everything. And discover the one odd blog who writes differently. I was lucky, I found a whole lot of them. Write Tribe.
Have you found your lonely spot?
We keep deviating. But coming back to subject (once again!)
I still managed to lose space. Yet again. I realised I wasn’t being honest enough. Again. I had the responsibility to convey my ideas.
And it went on going in circles in my head, until one fine bright morning I realised: I am not a Haiku person.
PLEASE DO NOT CONSIDER IT LITERALLY AND TAKE OFFENCE!
I meant that I learned how to write a haiku. Practiced it. Tried writing it every now and then. Even forced encouraged myself to enjoy reading a few. But only a few weeks back I hit my eureka moment.
I am not a haiku person. I cannot write it. I might enjoy an occasional one which is not about nature but a lot about dark grey sides of life. That’s about it.
But you see this isn’t about Haiku. It is about finding my own calling in words. Maybe one day I will be able to send out the message out loud. But until that happens, I only wish to know one thing. Writing Haiku I do not like. Maybe tomorrow even free writes go off.
Not tonight 😀
On a serious note, writing as a process is your own. And this idea has taken a firm precedence in last few weeks. Striking out what cannot be a guest here is one of the activities. How do you ask yourself this question? What is your writing trick?
But more importantly, tell us, have you found your voice? On blog or otherwise.
Author’s note: We as in The Philospher’s Stone and its gorgeous self centered narcissist prick of an owner, has decided to self destruct and find some meaning in writing. In case you wish to not read us we suggest forward this post to someone who might like. And if you loved this, then first of all cookies and tea awaits you in Pune, also do read our last post here.
Connecting it with Write Tribe’s #MondayMusings
First of all, I love the image. Actually, this picture is the reason I am here. Isn’t it evoke a sense of solitude? Solitude that’s beautiful, that I’d like to cherish for some time, thinking, reading, unwrapping memories, or just listening to the nature.
You’re right. Thoughts and ideas whirl in the mind, to settle at a certain space. It seems that I could write a hundreds things out of those, but…but…it’s frustrating! And, words tend to rush at odd hours. Sometimes, I wish our brains had a save button. Sigh! But yes, I like writing Haiku.
So many times we wish for an app that could be plugged in mind and write on its own.. no? 🙂
I think you are right about finding what one is comfortable and good at writing. For instance I can possibly write introspective pieces, they may even be good, but I am not happy or comfortable writing them, at least for the time being. One’s thoughts and perspectives change with time. What I write today with zest, I may find too impulsive or immature five years down the line. I am still questing my voice, for now I am content with the stuff I am turning out, things that make me feel good. Writing is an extension of one’s thought process for some, a creative journey for others, a discovery, a voyage for many, a reporting job for some and a purgative for many more!
Writing is an extension of one’s thought process for some, a creative journey for others, a discovery, a voyage for many, a reporting job for some and a purgative for many more!- gonna use this in one my posts soon Kala… and perhaps write what is it for me… out of these 🙂
I’m still finding my voice, it’s a process. You learn, unlearn; you risk, put it out there…and in that process you grow as a person, find yourself, peal the layers, discover you.
Your Monday musings are such a great way to start the week. Keep providing such food for thought. And I would love to hear your take on introverts vs extroverts on blogging. Meet me in person and I’m an open book but when it comes to revealing my inner thoughts on my blog I still shy away…
Aditi that is a post I am looking forward to myself- introverts and extroverts in blogging. Because we often speak different and write different. At least that is the case for me 🙂
Is this post inspired by an elaborate discussion on Twitter on a similar subject a few days ago?
Writing teaches us to be concise – to tell the reader what she needs to know rather than what we think she needs to know. And yes, God knows it is complex and convoluted because while we have been speaking since we started walking, writing is recent (we were writing in school, but because we had to, not because we wanted to. So technically, it doesn’t count.) The only way to reduce this complexity and fear (it never disappears really) is to keep at it.
P.S. Didn’t quite understand the paradox of an extrovert who doesn’t share inner thoughts 🙂
But Vishal so many things we write cause we want to and readers get attracted around content we believe. So yes writing to a reader is a good plan, but perhaps a mix of writing for yourself and reader should be a better mix 🙂
Every post you write makes me think. I have similar questions. May be many have it? Am I able to convey my thoughts through writing? Why do I write? To express myself. But am I doing that?
Seeya I believe all writer face these questions and eventually carry forward the legacy of these thoughts in their writing 🙂
Writing Voice? Well, I have never given it much thought. I write whatever I want to; don’t force myself to write about anything that I am not interested in, or doesn’t come naturally to me. I aim for an honest (if not complete) reflection of myself, and I believe that I achieve that.
Shanaya then I believe a lot must be achieved in due course 🙂
I started blogging because I was at war with the society literally..I was going through a bad time , having to fight the silly social norms to just marry the man I love…And then I moved on to being impulsive, fighting about everything that was wrong with society…I just wanted everything to be perfect…Never gave a thought before writing or voicing my opinion..I was impulsive, my voice was impulsive…It still is today but I feel I like to weigh more on the options and everything around before writing…I think my voice has changed over the years, it still is changing…The one thing constant is my love for blogging
Naba your constant is the reason why many of us get up and complete things each day. Love for blogging and the idea behind it 🙂
I, too, cannot write a Haiku. Like everything else in life, a writer needs to be true to herself or himself
Exactly write what you want to write !
You are right! we should find out what we can write comfortably. I am also not a Haiku/ poetry person. I like to write spontaneously adding some facts from my research. I write when I want to express and when I am very happy.
Mahathi good to hear that you write to express with happiness 🙂 cause that is sure an idea we all writers need 🙂
You know your posts are generally quite deep so much so that the reader would be forced to think :).
Personally, I love challenging myself and that’s why I have tried to write various pieces – microfiction, short fiction, book & movie reviews, travel posts etc. over the years.
While, that’s not something a lot of people may appreciate as they prefer being a thought leader in one rather than a jack of all trades ;), it was just a call I took. And guess I have made piece with that :D.