Why Every Writer Should Write About Their Self
Posted: Friday, May 29, 2009
by Laura Trahan
I know what you are thinking, "Great, another egotistical article about who she is."
Am I right?
Writers are often called many things: drunks, emotional drama queens or kings, egotistical, stuck up, funny, smart, etc. No matter how you look at it, writing is a personal thing. It should be. If it isn't, I ask why do you write?
I began to think about over the years what my favorite articles were here even on SearchWarp. I have to admit that the ones I like the most are the ones in which I learn something about the writer. Getting a glimpse into someone else's life even if it is just to laugh at them or cry with them is what good writing is all about.
1. It makes it interesting. Do we really want to read the same thing 20 times? No, we want your views, opinions, your words to make our reading a non-complete waste of time. Who really cares about Lakers or whatever hot news story is the talk of the town-we can watch the t.v. We do care about a mother hiding out from her daughter who is a fanatic. We do care about mountain lions spotted in Arkansas. We do care about a writer who is struggling with the loss of a loved one or the struggle of being married. We do care about a writer's opinion on the failing education system, getting guys and gals to like one another, and who is winning American Idol.
2. It helps keep us in reality. There is nothing more comforting then knowing that you can relate with someone else. If you never write about yourself, how do we know we are alike or different? It is nice to know that someone has had the same struggles you are having even if it is just getting picky kids to eat or mixing up words.
3. It makes the world smaller. How many sites puts you in touch with people in Australia? Other parts of the U.S.? The U.K., India, Canada, etc? The best part is that you realize that although someone is down under, they are still fun people to get to know about through their writing. Their writing can give you a glimpse of what the world is like beyond your four walls. How cool is that?
4. Friendships. Although I often times do not agree with other writers, I have made some amazing friendships that I would have never made without writing on this site. If a writer never shared who they were, how could I have made those friendships?
5. Writing is personal. When you write, even if you do not mean to do it, you share a piece of yourself. That is why it bothers you when someone leaves a degrading comment. Writing is a talent and life experiences are better left shared so that others can learn or gleam from your wisdom.
Next time you sit to write, remember that it is ok to share that funny thought you had. Write from your heart no matter what the consequence may be and wear those many names with pride. After all, without writers, how would the world know how to think about an issue?
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Top-level comments on this article: (4 total)Nobody cares about the Lakers???? Great points Laura, I too have made amazing friendships and I feel a real atmosphere of family on SW because others have shared their high's and low's. I have learned from others, I appreciate a challenge, and I love the opportunity for healthy debate.Unfortnately, the other side of SW's, unique freedoms is that we do get people who are mean-spirited and leave comments that have no constructive value at all.I write for other sites, and I can honestly say, none of them have the same down home feeling. I believe Searchwarp is successful for the reasons you stated above, and I hope it would never change. I for one am looking foward to hearing from Dianne the next she falls off her horse, as long as she doesn't get hurt, of course :-)(Kiss - kiss, Jean & Bruce) hee, hee.HA! Teresa! I had to throw the Lakers thing in!! Thanks for commenting and sharing!
Hi Laura, Nice article.! Writing is many different things to many people, and I believe nearly anyone that can construct a sentence can be a writer of some sort. I used to love fiction as a child and it certainly still has it's place in my life right now, but I have a hunger for non-fiction and have an interest in what makes people "tick".The trouble with non-fiction is when the line between reality and fantasy are blurred and when a writer misrepresents facts or wrongly tries to re-write factual history. It happens more often than most would care to believe.I still read non-fiction as a preference, but as a rule of my own, I question the probability of the actual history!Thanks for an interesting read.Thanks for commenting Elizabeth! I agree with you totally! I love fiction as well! I will say that a person's perspective plays a huge role in writing non-fiction and fiction! Even more then we realize at times!! Thanks for sharing your thoughts!! very informative!!
hi laura,well, babe, after reading this, i realize, you must know me inside out! :)717 articles about how i think, act, feel, believe.....i have received many comments in the past 2 years that said they had been helped with what i shared. i wasn't expecting those comments, but they made me realize the same thing you were saying-readers want to get to know the authors they read. it's been over 2 years since i've been writing, and i have been Blessed big time, between excellent e mail friends i have made, and having something to keep me busy through the divorce, and even feeling good about myself.the lunch we had in texas, when i live in new jersey, was a gift from God.i'll never forget it.i'm a very loyal friend, and i don't believe i'll be out of touch for a very long time. thanks for sharing,my best to yousue
Well said Laura. I am new to SearchWarp and am a little green as to the in's and out's of it all. Not entirely sure what Reader's Club is all about, how the rating thing works and just what those little blue numbers mean, but I know one thing. I am thoroughly enjoying reading the writing of others. I agree, writing is a personal thing, and it's a wonderful way to get to know people. Some articles have made me laugh out loud and others have caused a tear. It's a risky thing putting your feelings out there through your writing for everyone to see, but it's almost therapeutic in a way.Great article! I am looking forward to reading more about you!Hi Brianna, just thought you might like to read about Luara's red boob incident. HAYou will have to go through her archives to find it, but trust me, it is worth the minute it will take to find it.!Glad to have you!( Sorry Laura, just could keep my mouth shut on this one -- don't be bashing those Lakers any more.)
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