If you want to learn to write well, start writing and do not stop. If you do not want to learn to write well, this will be a wasted class—empty time leading towards a deeper emptiness. We are all born communicators. We all feel angst when our words are misunderstood, misinterpreted, and misplaced. Our lives, and the lives of those around us, are surrounded and immersed by our words. It is the one continual reality that will pervade our lives, so why not create the space and the time to richen the time given to us to learn, practice and share in the process of crafting our thoughts, ideas, hopes, dreams and experiences in memorable and profound ways? For better or worse, we are judged by our words and our actions, but it is primarily through our words that we are remembered, especially if the power of our actions and our words are brought together to perfect our humanity and inform the directions our lives take.
I do not teach writing to help you get into a better school or get a better grade. I teach writing because I believe writing can make your life a more fulfilling, more wise and more centred life—a life that hopefully leads to a golden and ripe old age surrounded by family, friends and the contentedness of a life fully-lived. The academic benefits of writing well are just a no-brainer to me, and you will certainly not regret learning how to write a good essay in the crunch of pressure and deadlines, and much of this year will be spent learning to do just that; but, the true value in writing in a sustained and continual way is that it will help you find the words that truly express what is in your head and heart at any given moment—not simply in response to a writing prompt or assignment.
You will not grow old (or perhaps even grow up) wishing you had spent more time on your xbox or Snapchat, but you will always regret the time and opportunities you let slip away from you. I certainly do. My shelves are full of books I wished I read. My mind is full of the would haves, could haves, and should haves that I either ignored or passed off as, at the time, not worth the effort. My life is very, very good, and I am supremely happy, yet I know I have left too much trash in my wake. Too many times I turned around before reaching the peak of the mountain; too many times I took the road more travelled by, and too many times I let silence fill the void that words should have filled.
If I can get you to willingly fill voids with words, then I can say that my job is done. If you leave this year with more love and lust for words, I will at least know that I helped prepare you for the unexpected twists and turns your own lives will take. If you pick up a book or write in your journal simply because you want to, then I will notch that on my stick of life as a great and worthy accomplishment.
So this is why I do what I do. The hard part is that I cannot do it without you. You have to be the writer. I can bring you to the river, and I can tell you what I know, but you are the one who has to jump in and swim.
No one ever learns to swim by standing on the shore.
Having my words twisted and misplaced has been one of the principle difficulties of my life. Thank you for articulating this so clearly.
Wow! This is a very inspiring post. I loved when you talked about how you regret the time and oppertunities you let slip away from you. I can relate to this because just a couple of weeks ago I had the opportunity to take part in a science camp over summer. Thinking that this camp would not be of any use to me I denied the offer. Only weeks later when I started school I relized the skills I could have learned at that camp would allow me stay ahead of the class.
I found this post very interesting for two reasons. First of all, it was a very inspiring post that still has me thinking about what you said. The second think that was interesting to me, was that you want to teach us writing because it makes our life more fufulling and not because you want us to get a better grade.
I absolutely loved this post! I totally agree with you at all costs. Last year I would only write if I was told or assigned to, but so far in this class I have learned that writing is just a good way of letting your mind go, and writing whatever you want. Also, last year I wanted to spend all of my free time only my phone or my iPad playing games, but my mom would let me and she made me read. I really grew through that experience and now I spend almost all of my free time reading.
This is one of the best posts anywhere that I’ve read. Writing as much as possible can really get you over a writing hump, and the way you crafted it into here, was the perfect way to really help. Thanks.
I loved this post because it made me think. It also inspired me to finish all those unfinished writing projects sitting on my computer. Just because you hand something in doesn’t necessarily mean it’s finished. Also the first line reminded me of a YouTube video I watched over the summer. It said that all writers go through a stage where there work is not what they want it to be. The only way to get passed this stage is to write more and more. I unfortunately have forgotten what this video is called but if you know which video I’m talking about I would love for you to send me the link.
I really liked this post. I totally agree with you, but I never thought of writing to be so powerful. In the past I would only write because the teacher assigned it, and never read or wrote such inspirational pieces for writing. I hope in the future to become a better writer, and to learn to do white just as a way to get thoughts out. I also hope to follow through on more activities this year. Not just with writing or reading but with all aspects of life in school out side of it.
“It does not matter how slow you go as long as you don’t stop.” Confuncius
This post was one of the most helpful ever. Before, writing to me was only an assignment, but this year, and from now on, writing will be a way of expressing what you really feel, and just to let go from what people think of you and your writing.
Wonderful post. It is great to know what this class is about. Looking forward to an excellent year.
Last year my writing improved a lot. I am definitely determined to improve my writing even more this year.
I’ve always found writing easy and fun, so this is sort of encouraging for me to use that talent.
You adding a deeper meaning to the writing we usually do just to get a grade sort of brings light to a problem I have. Sometimes when I’m writing and I have no motivation other than a grade my writing can be flat and boring. I’ll make sure to write with a real purpose
I think this is a good sentiment. This will help with my Narative Paragraph and give it deeper meaning. I think I will use that final quotte some day.
This post really inspired me. I am somebody who always gets his words mixed up or their explanation is misunderstood. This class is already turning me into a better writer, and a better speaker as well. Before, writing was more of an assignment that I would dread to do. Now, writing lets my mind run wild and my thoughts fill the page. It doesn’t even matter what they are about, it feels good to get my mind cleared. Although I already have had some should haves, or would haves… Etc. I want to live my life being more open to new things and even when I think I shouldn’t jump in and do something new or think of something but not execute on it. Great post, really made me think.
This post really gave me a boost for my will to write. I am just about to go and write a blog entry now. I am somebody who honestly does not love to write, but this year I want to change that. Also, I agree with Logan about the quote at the end.
I really liked your third paragraph, and the last sentence of it really struck me, and got me to think. I definitely want to put my best effort in. Also, the last line of your entry was magnificent.
Overall a very interesting and inspiring post, and the last sentence really sums it all up for me. I agree that there is nothing else like writing with a passion, and throughout this year I hope to accomplish just that.
Words are very powerful and can be said so easily. I almost always try to think before I say something.
This post was very interesting and made me think, I thought your paragraph about regrets was very interesting. I also thought your concluding sentence was great.
I like the way that you want us to write and write and write not for our school, but to enrich our lives and I can see how writing is the heart of wisdom and a fulfilled life.
Words are the one thing in my life that can change it in an instance. This is a really powerful piece of writing.