Writing. The art used to express, to make a statement, to mock something, to praise something else, the art that can move the world, make it believe what the you believe. Stories, articles, essays, poetry, few popular forms of writing, all have one thing in common, only the ones written from the heart are appealing. Yes, writing is an art, some people would deny that, but its impossible not to respect those well versed in it. The pen is mightier than the sword they say - cliched but somewhat true. Thats because the men at the top are not the ones weilding the blade, but the ones signing the papers.
Some people would say people who just write about stuff are cowards, its their perspective i'll say, because what I feel is that it requires more courage than say fighting a few goons. It requires courage to make a hundred people, each with a different perspective believe what you believe, to make them see what you see. That is perhaps a writer's only job description. Easy, is it? Easy to disrobe your thoughts, make it a public spectacle, while you stand alone- intellectually naked? Easy to help people find themselves, while in constant danger of losing oneself? I don't think so. Yes, there are a very few writers who are perfect, because there are very few comfortable exposing the darkest of their thoughts. Only those who have utmost faith, not in their skills, but in their beliefs, that survive.
Writing is not about pleasing people. It is to an extent pleasing oneself, the process which usually leaves a lot of others- not too pleased. Making the most controversial statements in the most diplomatic fashion, or making the most diplomatic statement in the most controversial fashion, the ability to do that is hard to acquire, and when acquired, its more addictive than the most intoxicating drugs. The mere desire to feel that feeling again can make you seem like an addict, suffering from withdrawl symtoms. Yes, there will be critics, there will be people wo will call you mad, and most likely incompetent. But, writing is an art, and artists know that a work of art is above criticism. It is fantastic if the writer believes it to be, it is bad only if the writer thinks so; because what is of sole importance is the process, if it gives satisfaction to you, mission accomplished.
So what are the requirements to be a good writer. I would say only a few ideas, and utmost faith in them. Form is not greater than feeling. Grammar can be learned, vocabulary can be acquired, but belief, belief comes from within. No teacher, no manual can teach you how to believe in yourself. You are the only teacher, and the only one that matters. A writer can even be illiterate, an illiterate with the courage to look beyond the ordinary, beyond the alphabets, because truly, language is the most trivial part of this art. It more about desire than about skill. A desire to be heard, to express, to let go completelely, to experience the wind shatter against your face while your soul flies, lighter than ever.
Yes, writing has a magical effect on you. Every burden, every sorrow can be alleviated, if not ended. And the effect created is somewhat explosive, because that small cluster of words, that piece contains a part of the human soul. The larger the part, the better it is. Perhaps thats why the greatest pieces are the ones written in utmost sorrow, or for that matter extreme happiness.
The magic of writing is such that it cannot be explained, cannot be studied, it can only be felt- like love, like hope, like every other great emotion that exists. It can build a world around itself, and it can destroy the one writing. Powerful, one would say. Yes, and more than one can imagine. It is a drug one should try at least once in their lives, and see if you can escape the addiction. I could not, and trust me, no regrets yet!
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