Being a Literature Major and writer is difficult. It’s not like math where you can produce defined results, or like science where you can at least prove something is correlating. Not only that but writing and English majors are often seen as – to put it bluntly – a useless specialty. Even the talent or ability to write can often be overlooked because so many people don’t want to take the time to even read a whole paragraph anymore. Additionally, Literature is often seen as irrelevant – as if it only studies Shakespeare and old texts. People seem to view it almost as a Book Club, where students gather to read and talk about their favorite books. To a certain extent, this is very true but the discussions that occur go to a whole other level. In addition, writing can often feel like a lonely activity. With all of this negative feedback towards Literature and writing, going into that field of study is often disheartening.
Personally, I’ve had people discourage me from majoring in Literature because they were worried for my financial well-being. I understand their concern but my passion for analyzing language overcomes that anxiety. There was also a time when I realized my love for algebra and was debating about becoming a math teacher. During that period, my relatives found me resourceful and asked me to help with math problems. My plans changed though, and people completely stopped seeking my assistance. Oddly enough, no one ever asked me to help them with their papers.
Perhaps the reason is because writing feels like an entirely independent practice but it’s not – really. One of the main ways to grow in writing is to have your work read and edited by someone else, as well as read and edit another person’s work. Another reason I stopped receiving requests for help might’ve simply because I was 1) majoring in a field that is often discounted and 2) focusing on Literature and not rhetoric and writing. Honestly, maybe this is just me but I’m a little disappointed that no one is relying on what I’ve been obtaining and working my butt off at school for. This discouragement to aim for an English degree from one’s relatives or close friends can push a person away from something that truly sparks his/her mentality.
Majoring in Literature or focusing on writing can also seem unpromising because you’re never entirely sure you’re doing good enough. Going off of the previous idea, your friends and family are either indifferent to your skills or may even dislike it. Often times, they show no interest in your creations – whether creative or analytical. Even if you get your work out there, it seems as if only a small amount of people are reading your writing. All the time and effort you put into it can sometimes seem meaningless. Nowadays, people don’t read as much, and for the portion of the population that does read, they’re flooded with millions of books or writings to choose from. The writing world is competitive, so it’s easy for a beginner to back out.
Furthermore, I stated before that English majors aren't like math or science with quantitative data to determine whether you're actually skilled at writing and analyzing or not. Writers might doubt themselves, or Literature majors might wonder if they're getting the most fulfilling interpretation, or if they're answering all the questions that need to be answered. Since there's no set way of telling how you're doing, and because no one seems interested, you can find yourself unsure of your ability as a scholar and a creative writer.
However, all of these discouragements can be fixed with writing communities, whether in school, at the work place, or separate from those two. As I noted earlier, writing isn’t a complete individual activity. I’m currently attending college, so I’m part of the community within my English classrooms and clubs. Communities are able to nurture and encourage us to get past all those previous discouragements, in addition to discuss the topics we’re passionate about. Having been away from college for the summer, I’ve realized that I’ve taken the community at my school for granted – from the inspiration and reassurance of my professors to the fun nights with the English Club. At these places, I was able to relate and laugh with people interested in the same thing as me. That’s why writing communities are so important.
Thus, if you’re already in a community, cherish it. If you aren’t, I highly encourage you to find one that you feel you can grow and also contribute to. Communities are essential to the development and preservation of us writers. We’re a little quirky and maybe a bit introverted but we have innovative ideas to share, and one of the most encouraging ways to share is with others who will appreciate the same work and inspiration it takes to analyze a piece of literature or produce your own unique, creative work.
