A Liking for Creative Writing - Essay Example

Reflective Writing I have vivid memories of the times I had to write something out of necessity. The many letters I wrote to my parents from summer camps, the friendly notes I exchanged with my classmates on my family vacations and the poems I scribbled on my scrap book were the result of varied levels of introspection. Though all these seem to be a natural process when I look back, I have to admit that my ability to write in accordance with the need of the hour was developed through a period of time. It was not an easy experience for me to learn the language and narrative rules, but I eventually developed a liking for creative writing, thanks to my life situations that were conducive to the peaceful hours of contemplation required for it. The first time I was made conscious of the good and bad effects of creative writing was when my fourth grade teacher gave me the rules that I had to follow for my English composition classes. For instance, whenever I was given a writing assignment like an ‘outline story’, I was asked to construct the story keeping in mind the time in which it happened/happens. I had to adhere to a specific tense, most preferably the past tense. I had to use simple, grammatical English sentences that allowed me as much freedom as the various forms of past tense promised. I had also to think about the narrative – whether it was going to be a first/second/third person narrative, and here too, there was something most preferable. To play it safe, I always ended up writing something in the third person, recounting events and human experiences as if they are affixed permanently to the past. As these exercises were also for the evaluation of how well I have assimilated the grammatical concepts of the language, there was not much protest from my part and I never felt restricted regarding the expression of my thoughts and feelings through language. The self-reflective aspects of the assignments I have to do for this course are apparently an opportunity for me to recollect my creative writing experiences so far. When I tried to trace my development of writing skills, the few experiences that came to my mind were mostly associated with my school years, since that was a period in which I developed a conscious effort to improve my writing. I realized that my fourth grade teacher’s advices were well-intentioned. Though I was scared of making mistakes, I appreciated the role she played in helping me pick up the essentials of English language. I became aware of my passion for self-expression through writing when I wrote my first poem. I did it in a quiet moment, when I was left alone in the hotel room on one of our family vacations. I was 16 years old then, and I experienced a sudden loneliness when everyone left me in my sick bed for their evening swim in the nearby beach. I contemplated on the good times they were having without me, and felt a sudden impulse to be with them. Though my mind traveled so fast, I knew that I was physically too weak to get up. I felt I needed to record the intense frustration I experienced then, but did not know how to do it. I spent an hour scribbling on my scrapbook, toying with one idea or the other, and finally came up with a ten line poem which I wrote under self-compulsion. Another occasion when I had to struggle with the reflective process was when I was required, in my last year at school, to write a 500 word essay on the course I would like to pursue after school and my reasons for it. I had some difficulty to come to a final decision, since I hadn’t thought of it seriously until then. But I understood during the process of thinking and writing that I was slowly discovering my needs. I suffered an identity crisis when I pondered on my career aptitudes. Moreover, I needed to make sure that I wrote about a course which I would enjoy doing. It seemed that this particular composition was the toughest task I had ever done. I wanted to be honest and I knew that I would be accountable for what I expressed, since the essay was to be documented in the school records. However, I tackled the situation effectively with the help of a lot of introspection and research. An occasion in which I worked under pressure was when I wanted to submit one of my poems for a poetry journal. This happened when I was in college. The deadline was too close, and I faced a lot of pressure since I could not come up with something as good as I expected. I was too much worried about the outcome that I messed up my early attempts. But finally, something occurred to me early in the morning prior to the last date for submission. I was lying half asleep on my bed and some childhood experiences flashed in my mind in a curious order. I understood that these experiences were very dear to me and realized that I could put them in words if I reflected on them as much as I could. Though this was not an easy process, I enjoyed the final stages of it when I could express my feelings effectively in a poem. As I was exposed in due course of time to some of the great literary works of our times, I noticed how language had been appropriated by many creative writers who have contributed to the evolution of language itself, over the centuries. Needless to say, my writing has also undergone a sea-change, especially with the help of the course that I have taken. I have tried to create my own rules, which I confess would not have been possible without a clear understanding of the ways in which the language operates. Hence, as I am not wholly resentful of my high school teacher who made it sure that I learnt all the tricks of the languages the conventional way, I have also ventured to explore the unfamiliar realms of it use. I have realized that I cannot set any norms on my writing pattern. There is no hard-and-fast rule as regards the writing-schedule in a day or the quality or quantity of writing. Though the writing exercises have been immensely useful to me, there had been times when I realized that writing systematically, ostensibly under deadlines, may not bring out the best from me. They may help me direct better, focus on my own weaknesses and strengths and lead to some sort of proactive self-research. But when it comes to creative writing, what is more important may be the necessity to find oneself in an ideal ambience that may evoke one to writing naturally. Having said that, I guess one must also bear in mind that any deliberate attempt to ‘create’ such a natural ambience will be a paradox in itself and may have a disruptive effect. As one takes writing seriously, various experiences related to it have to be faced. Even in times when I was under the spell of a great inspiration and in dire need to get it out of my system through words, it had not always been easy to go through the process of giving expression to my inner thoughts and feelings. But there had been times when I had no clear idea of the things I had to write, but when I started the process of writing just for the sake of it, felt possessed by some ideas that occurred to me from nowhere and was able to produce some writing that proved to be appealing and significant to the readers. This must have happened to me when I was in school as well, but it does not seem that I have taken serious note of it then. When one is faced with the task of self-reflective writing like this, such thoughts emerge and change one’s outlook and writing practices for the better, I believe. I have experienced a permanent dissatisfaction with my writing as I was evoked more to the tactics and aesthetic concerns of it. I have always felt the need to improve and to revise my writing. Once I was not restricted to the rules that I had to take into account in writing the outline story exercises at school, I realized the burden of my freedom. I had to be more responsible, as I created my own rules. I had to rise up to no one else’s expectations but mine. I had to satisfy myself, which was much more difficult than satisfying others who knew little of my capabilities and flaws. I had to rise up to the level that I have set for myself, and it was not easy. But I must affirm that it was much more pragmatic and effective than the kind of writing exercises I did at my school or college which were done for the sole purpose of getting evaluated/graded by others. When there are not many restrictions on the topic, language or narrative, one tends to make sure that a personal style evolves, which puts all the criteria of good writing into good effect. I have also realized the evolution of my mindscape, as I believe that good writing calls for deep introspection and makes our mind a space where more ideas, opinions, feelings and emotions can be accommodated from all possible spheres. I am not trying to make a big claim that a writer’s mind is all-perceiving and infallible, but just pointing out the possibilities of accommodating more of human experience if one wishes. Some perceptions may be wrong of course, but I realize from my experience that it is worth trying to expand my mindscape for the sake of writing. If it succeeds, you stand the chance of becoming a perceptive writer and a better human being, and if you fail to strike the right chord, you still gain the benefit of the experience. Read More

became aware of my passion for self-expression through writing when I wrote my first poem. I did it in a quiet moment, when I was left alone in the hotel room on one of our family vacations. I was 16 years old then, and I experienced a sudden loneliness when everyone left me in my sick bed for their evening swim in the nearby beach. I contemplated on the good times they were having without me, and felt a sudden impulse to be with them. Though my mind traveled so fast, I knew that I was physically too weak to get up.

I felt I needed to record the intense frustration I experienced then, but did not know how to do it. I spent an hour scribbling on my scrapbook, toying with one idea or the other, and finally came up with a ten line poem which I wrote under self-compulsion. Another occasion when I had to struggle with the reflective process was when I was required, in my last year at school, to write a 500 word essay on the course I would like to pursue after school and my reasons for it. I had some difficulty to come to a final decision, since I hadn’t thought of it seriously until then.

But I understood during the process of thinking and writing that I was slowly discovering my needs. I suffered an identity crisis when I pondered on my career aptitudes. Moreover, I needed to make sure that I wrote about a course which I would enjoy doing. It seemed that this particular composition was the toughest task I had ever done. I wanted to be honest and I knew that I would be accountable for what I expressed, since the essay was to be documented in the school records. However, I tackled the situation effectively with the help of a lot of introspection and research.

An occasion in which I worked under pressure was when I wanted to submit one of my poems for a poetry journal. This happened when I was in college. The deadline was too close, and I faced a lot of pressure since I could not come up with something as good as I expected. I was too much worried about the outcome that I messed up my early attempts. But finally, something occurred to me early in the morning prior to the last date for submission. I was lying half asleep on my bed and some childhood experiences flashed in my mind in a curious order.

I understood that these experiences were very dear to me and realized that I could put them in words if I reflected on them as much as I could. Though this was not an easy process, I enjoyed the final stages of it when I could express my feelings effectively in a poem. As I was exposed in due course of time to some of the great literary works of our times, I noticed how language had been appropriated by many creative writers who have contributed to the evolution of language itself, over the centuries.

Needless to say, my writing has also undergone a sea-change, especially with the help of the course that I have taken. I have tried to create my own rules, which I confess would not have been possible without a clear understanding of the ways in which the language operates. Hence, as I am not wholly resentful of my high school teacher who made it sure that I learnt all the tricks of the languages the conventional way, I have also ventured to explore the unfamiliar realms of it use. I have realized that I cannot set any norms on my writing pattern.

There is no hard-and-fast rule as regards the writing-schedule in a day or the quality or quantity of writing. Though the writing exercises have been immensely useful to me, there had been times when I realized that writing systematically, ostensibly under deadlines, may not bring out the best from me. They may help me direct better, focus on my own weaknesses and strengths and lead to some sort of proactive self-research. But when it comes to creative writing, what is more important may be the necessity to find oneself in an ideal ambience that may evoke one to writing naturally.

Having said that, I guess one must also bear in mind that any deliberate attempt to ‘create’ such a natural ambience will be a paradox in itself and may have a disruptive effect.

Read More