Rules???
There are rules??
Beyond the obvious guidelines of proper spelling
and appropriate grammar, I think the goal and only rule of writing is effective
communication with the reader. Even
those rules can be ignored if it enhances the communication of the text --- (think TOM SAWYER.) Long,
long, long ago as a high school student, I felt much more constrained by rules
and following the appropriate “recipe” for the required assignment. At least old age has one advantage ---- I
have realized rules are overrated.
Now, I enjoy the individuality that can be
expressed through writing. As a
teenager, I wanted to be blond and blue eyed like the “All American Girl Next
Door” that all the boys wanted to date.
I did not appreciate my uniqueness.
My confidence in my writing suffered the same fate --- if it didn’t
resemble others’ papers, I panicked.
Even when teachers graced my papers with gold stars and smiley faces, my
insecurity thrived.
Rejoining the world of students as a ‘non-traditional’
(gotta love that euphemism) has liberated me in so very many ways. And I say again, “Rules? There are rules???”
2. Writing
is an outpouring of one’s inner dialogue.
It’s putting on paper all those thoughts running around the track in
your mind. I’m not sure it is even
possible to be purely objective. The choice
of words, the implied nuances, and even sentence structure is the unique fingerprint
of the author subtly reflecting him/herself.
That said, let’s hope that those
“boring, dry” scientific reports submitted for peer review are not a reflection
of the scientists’ personalities.
Unexpectedly, I have discovered that I love
GIS and cartography. My prof stresses
over and over and over again that maps are a form of communication. The effectiveness of the map is determined
by the reader of the map. Does it convey
the information it is designed to impart effectively? Is it easily understood? Is the message clear? And is it appealing?
Map making is a form of writing with
symbols. What’s appropriate is
determined by the scope of the information it needs to transmit to the reader.
Writing follows the same guidelines. Opinions,
objectiveness, and style are governed by the purpose of what is being
written. Certainly, there are no
generalities that should be instituted as “rules of writing” without consideration to the goal of the
written piece.
Because there are categories and genres,
objectivity will vary. Although science
writing may convey the hypothesis, theories, or ideas of the scientific
community, that does not automatically exclude the passion that may be felt by
the scientist. Science writing should
not make wild assumptions or espouse fantastical claims, but it doesn’t have to
be boring to be relatively objective. As
we’ve discussed, if humans are involved, pure objectivity is unachievable.
I would say in a perfect world, history should
be objective. But, that is never the
case. History is written by the
winners. And even when it’s not, it’s
written by humans with their own perspectives.
History is never objective.
Maybe cookbooks are objective? They just list the ingredients and
directions. Opinions of what follows lie
with the reader and consumer of the product.
Biographies, autobiographies, fiction genres
express opinions and are brimming with emotions. As well they should be.
When someone is willing to write anything that
will be read by another, the author is embarking on a journey that requires vulnerability,
trust, and confidence. Like one of the authors
of the books we read this semester expressed, the writer and reader engage in a
dance of intimacy. Is there anything
more intimate than expressing your thoughts in the concrete form of words
written down? I mean, think about
it. I’ve certainly had “intimate
physical relationships” with people who had no idea what was going on inside of
my head. And then there are people who
have read what I’ve written who know my deep inner thoughts and we’ve never
even shook hands.
To be a writer means you are willing to share.
