I have been a writer for The Odyssey for about six months now, which is hard to believe, because it seems like just yesterday I wrote my first article, "Inside the Mind of the Girl Fixated on a Guy." When I first started, I had no idea how freeing it would be to get to write what I wanted. The open creativity, the excitement, the ideas: it was addicting. I couldn't wait to write the next one, even if it wasn't my best idea. But one thing I have realized while being a part of this is having that freedom isn't as easy as most would think it is.
Every writer has a strong topic that works best for us. Of course, we also like to branch out from time to time. With the constant headlines, tragedies, trends, and newsworthy entertainment, the topics are endless. Which brings me to my problem: there are too many topics and there are already people writing about those topics. Yes, I could write about the same thing but just do it in an original way, but is anyone really that original?
My style of writing is personal. I like writing about what I know and what is currently happening in my life. And if you haven't guessed it, Carrie Bradshaw is my idol. I like to write about what goes on in my mind; it's the easiest for me to write. I have many opinions and many thoughts on how things should be, so I write what I know -- me. Unfortunately, that isn't always what people want to read about. So, do I write what people want to read or what I want to write? Tough question. Of course I want page views and shares, but what I want more is just to write.
So, the big question I've been trying to figure out is whether all of this freedom is really that freeing?
It is, and then it isn't. There is a sense of pressure when thinking about my next article. What will it be about? Is this currently happening in today's society? Will people get angry about what I'm saying? As an American I'm lucky to have the freedom to be able to say what I want, but of course everyone is a critic. Everyone has their opinions and isn't afraid to say them. There's also a feeling of confinement. I feel confined to stick to what I should be writing or what I think I should be writing about.
My final thought is this: If we are guaranteed the freedom to write and say what we want, why do we feel like we can't, and why do we feel the need to be original? Don't we all have different perspectives? Do we care what people think enough to cut down our own creativity and voice? Writing is wonderful and exciting, which is why I do it. It can be freeing but at some point (or maybe it's just me) you start to feel like you're in a box. All I know is if you love something, you have to keep on trying.
