For the past few weeks, I've been writing here for the Odyssey. It's been a great experience to explore my interest in writing and give me an idea about what it could be like to pursue. My first article was sort of a thought piece. I honestly wrote it like I was jotting it down in a personal journal. It was relieving in a way because I got to express my thoughts "out loud" that had been coursing through my head all week were finally gone. The next week was similar in the sense that I had several thoughts going through my head all week and when I sat down to write, I immediately thought about my life and where it was headed. So, again, my article was like a journal entry. I really enjoy the feeling I get from writing like that because it's like a sort of free therapy that I provide for myself, but I know that as a reader, the same thing can get incredibly annoying. If an author writes the same type of article week after week, the content gets stale. Nobody wants to read anymore, and the author loses interest. It's like meeting someone special. The balance in the first couple months are essential because if you get together too much, there is a risk of getting bored before there is a real bond. Similarly, if a writer has too much of the same type of article, they risk boring the reader and losing them.
So where can I go?
One direction that I want to explore is politics. With the 2016 presidential election at hand, many of us are being asked to vote. This year will be my first presidential election that I can participate in, and if there's anything I want for myself, it's to be an informed voter. Although not voting is bad for the elections, being uninformed with your vote is a dangerous game. For the past few months, my grandfather has been telling me that even if I don't want to, I should hear both sides' policies before I come to a decision, and I agree. Hearing both sides is the only real way to make a decision. If you only listen to one side, then you are either ignorant or arrogant, and neither of those is a good quality to have.
Another direction I'd like to go is reviews. Recently I got to review a new restaurant in my city for my school newspaper. It was really fun to go to the restaurant and take an in-depth look at all the aspects of the place. However, I think I can do more with it. I'd love to review movies. Looking at not just plot and acting, but the use of cinematography and lighting; casting choices and then adding what I would have done instead.
These are just a couple of ideas that I have to stay out of a rut and avoid niche writing.
