For my first article for Odyssey I find it appropriate to talk about what brought me to where I am today, and one of the largest reasons as to why I want to be here and why I love it here.
Writing has been a passion of mine for years now, though I found it hard to take the write(Hah, get it?) steps towards improving myself. You have to really practice whenever you can, write and write, only then can you improve. For a while I focused on vocabulary improvement and just general knowledge improvement, but without any sort of real willpower it's hard to write even after all that. I still find my vocabulary subpar, which is why I try to thrust out words like 'subpar' and pass it off as increased intelligence. In the end, your linguistic skills aren't what's going to matter, it's the content itself and your abilities as a writer to express what you want to express in a concise manner.
Whether you want to write books(as I definitely do), short stories, plays, or even just for your own enjoyment, it's crucial to remember that other writers can be there for you. Read as much as possible, build relationships with others, and actually talk about and try to improve your work. Not everyone is up for peer reviewing, but lately I've found it quite rewarding, especially when whatever you wrote came out to their liking.
One of my favorite quotes about writing is simply this; "Write until it becomes as natural as breathing. Write until not writing makes you anxious." If you're at this level, keep going, you're on your way. I'm anxious when my fingers aren't furiously hitting the keyboard, when I'm not creating something new or expanding on something else.
Experts from creative writing to journalistic writing agree that your skill will increase overtime, almost like a muscle, it has to be nourished and strengthened so it could grow.
Lectures are amazing to watch, they can improve your writing and outlook on your situation, it's interesting to see professionals discuss their process, everyone has their own. It's intimidating to think you're doing something wrong, but soon enough you'll notice they were like you. Stephen King had said. "Amateurs sit and wait for inspiration, the rest of us just get up and go to work." Write for the sake of writing even if there's nothing there, work and build yourself up.
Lectures:
Mark Watson, Oxford Annual Creative Writing Lecture
The Massive Brandon Sanderson Lectures
Ted-Ed's Various Lectures and Videos
I implore any young writer to watch these, as intimidating as it may be(I sat around all day, afraid I'd be dissapointed before watching any of the lectures). Just hearing from a professional can improve one's understanding of a subject and can help one feel at ease.
Writing is sometimes as simple as willpower. You can improve yourself and your will if you continue to try. I came here to do just that whilst also helping to improve others in anyway I can for more than just writing. If seem fanatical about this and you're resonating with me then you're on the right track because...I am; and so are you. To move people, to pass down stories, history, to share our culture or to create new culture, that's what writing is about. Content creation like this will thoroughly improve me, and I think it's amazing that I can share my thoughts and share with others.
No matter what you're doing in life you can always write if you make the time. It could even become more than a pastime someday. So just get out there and write. Write whatever. Write down a wild sentence in the spur of the moment and work with it. You never know what'll be your magnum opus.
