I’ve been writing for the Odyssey for over two months now, and doing this opportunity has been a good learning experience for me so far. This social content platform is in communities all across America with thousands of writers. Every week these writers are supposed to come up with any material they wish to write about. It can be about anything—sports, politics, music, etc. This is all meant to make the writers think about a broad range of topics and it forces them to be creative. It also can make a writer think more about what he or she believes and can be a good opportunity to argue for what you think is right. These instances have made me stronger and more comfortable in expressing myself to an audience.
I’d say the toughest part about writing for the Odyssey is keeping up with the requirement to write new material every week. This demands the writers to set aside time for serious thought on a particular issue. I know to some newspaper or magazine writers that writing just one article a week would be a walk in the park for them. By writing for the Odyssey, I now have more respect for journalists who must always provide new and relevant material for people to read, or else they won’t have a job. A profession or internship concentrated on writing is bound to push one’s observance, perseverance, and creative intelligence. It can take a good deal of time and preparation to produce material that people will want to read.
Another lesson writing for the Odyssey has taught me is consistently coming up with material that people would take the time to glance over. In a way, being a writer is somewhat like being an entertainer. Arcane essays in a magazine about foreign policy or a meticulous literary review won’t necessarily be popular with many people. I’ve learned people love to read about emotional issues, something that relates to them personally, or something humorous. It’s a game of sorts that a writer who wants success and attention must play. By writing for the Odyssey, I've learned what captivates people or what strikes a chord in them. We’re all emotional creatures, and we love something that excites our minds or grabs our attention.
In the small amount of writing I’ve done, I’ve also gained a greater admiration for the authors throughout history who have composed classic works of literature. The amount of time and thought that goes into writing a weekly article is nothing compared to Leo Tolstoy writing "Anna Karenina" or Victor Hugo composing "Les Miserables", for example. These authors are the prime example of persistence in writing and have rich self-expression.
Although it may not always be easy or enjoyable, the ability to write needs to be highly valued. I don’t see myself becoming a journalist for The Wall Street Journal someday--I’m just grateful for the opportunity to express myself, and writing for the Odyssey has given me this. As time moves on, it’s always enjoyable to look back on what you’ve written and to see how you’ve grown since then. I hope for myself and every writer on the Odyssey that this writing experience will further develop us and teach us more about ourselves and the world.
