Dance of Intimacy

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.