Journal #1: What is Writing?

Writing is an exchange of ideas, an escape from encompassing reality into a different realm. It is a form of communication, an expansion of the mind, an art form. Through the use of language and grammatical rules, historical compositions have been created—writing is historic. Writing is used in various ways, all dependent upon the end goal. With this in mind, the end goal also affects the composer’s and audience’s approach to writing. For some, a piece of writing allows them to escape their own life and enter the thoughts of another person, or be present in another world. A piece of writing can alter a perception of history, it can educate the reader on a topic they know nothing about, it can change someone for the better, or for the worse. Writing creates a form of life—though it just be on pages, or from the dimly lit light of a screen—that creates something tangible out of the fated.

1.     Rhetoric- the use of persuasion to elicit a certain response in the audience

2.     Language- not the type of language that is used in different countries across the world, but rather, the language that is technical versus colloquial and connotative versus denotative.  

3.     Purpose- the reasoning behind the authors writing—whether it be to persuade, to move an audience, to explain. It is the reasoning behind their choices and their creativity.

4.     Connotation- when reading or writing a piece, the connotation of the language used provides insight of more than the words written on the page. “Reading between the lines,” if you will.

5.     Denotation- the literal meaning of the words written are taken right off the page—there is no deeper meaning.

6.     Creative-As I said before, writing is an art form. It is beautiful and an open window into the human soul, flourishing with color and life.

7.     Unifying- No matter where you are in the world, people write. Though it be with different strokes of the hand, we all write. It is something that makes us human, something that draws us together.

I chose these words specifically because I think they encompass the creativity behind writing, but al the technicality and skill it takes to be successful at it.