Write Intensely

An age-old question that has been asked of writers is, “What made you decide to become a writer?”  The answer isn’t always easy to explain; every writer wants their writing to be read, and appreciated, but few writers enjoy explaining how or why they write.

The same could be said for tattoos; people seem to love getting them, and showing them, but they generally don’t like to talk about the reasons behind why they decided to get them.

School was a nightmare for me.  I’m not sure if I wasn’t interested in the subject matter, or simply wasn’t being challenged enough.  All I know is that when it came to writing, regardless of what I was asked to write about, I excelled.  I knew from a very early age that I wanted to write, and despite my parents wishes, considered devoting my career and possibly my entire life to writing.

In my senior year of high school, I was invited into Honors English class.  It was an experience that solidified my interest in writing as a career path, though my parents had much different plans for me.

When I went off to college, I wanted to study whatever I found interesting.  My parents insisted on enrolling me in business school;  they thought it best that I become a business man, because writing doesn’t always pay the bills.  I had other plans.  Specifically, I wanted to learn about Computer Science, English Literature and Composition, and Emergency Medicine.  This worked fine for my freshman year, but the second year, things got difficult.  I was asked to declare a major.  I decided on Liberal Arts, and my faculty advisor, although head of the English department, allowed me to take a few classes that were unrelated to my major, so long as I kept my English grades up.

A series of unfortunate events ensued later during my second year of college, and I decided to leave, in protest of the modern educational system and its archaic means of education.

Then it was time for my parents back-up plan; pursue a career in medicine.  For two consecutive years, I took medical classes in anatomy, physiology, and emergency medicine.  Then, I left college for good when I realized that in the United States, there exists a system I refer to as checkbox healthcare.  I soon realized that modern healthcare in the United States is primarily focused on flowcharts, yes/no/maybe questions, and paperwork.  Sadly, there exists a greater focus on documentation than care.  While I was great at providing care, and being an advocate for the patients I saw, the documentation component was always something I excelled at.

All my life, there were signs everywhere that told me, subconsciously, that my true calling in life was to be a writer.  Now in my 30’s, I’m finally living the dream of being a full-time writer.  Little by little, I’m remembering the lessons I learned in my senior year English class.  Things I was taught years ago, that at the time seemed irrelevant, or insignificant in some way, that today, seem essential.

One of the greatest teachings from Honors English was the concept of writing intensely.

A good writer must write intensely, from the core of their being, filled with raw, unfiltered feelings of emotion, and with careful attention to word choices, to ensure that the message, although in written form, is delivered and received as quickly and efficiently as possible.  A true writer writes not because they want to; a true writer writes because they have to, as if doing so is the one thing they must do to feel alive.

It seems the best explanation was that there were several other career paths I had to follow in order to reach my goal of being a full-time, self-employed writer.

Write intensely.

Colophon
The font used in the header image is called Raleway.  The background color is representative of the blue/green color scheme of hospital operating rooms, which are often painted in a shade called seafoam green.

Asides
Why I Write | Why We Write | Why I Write | To Why I Write | Why I Write | Why I Write