I thought I'd update you on what I've been reading and how it relates to my thoughts on writing.
Right now I'm reading Wayfaring by Alan Jacobs. When I read the introduction, it felt like I was in a college English class again. For me, that's a good thing—as long as there's no homework, of course. Good English classes explore important, deep questions through story. I'm also looking forward to this book because I've heard that Jacobs is a deep thinker and has a good understanding and interest in faith.
Last week I read Permission to Speak Freely by Anne Jackson. I thought it would help me to feel more open to writing in an informal style or in the way I would normally speak. It did indirectly help with that. The book was not about writing but was mostly about Anne's life and her wanting people to know about God's acceptance and how we should accept and love others. She had a wonderful point: that no one is without a secret—that everyone is the same when it comes to currently having or having had experienced something painful in one's life. It's a good message to a culture that seems to want to run from pain. Pain is real and a part of life, and it's Christ and love for him and others that helps us through it, no matter who we are. That can relate to writing informally too, because people just want to be known and know they're not alone. Writing too formally often reminds me of someone wanting to appear above others or not wanting anyone to know the person behind the writing. I know that’s not the intent, but I don’t want to write in that way—at least not when I’m writing for fun.
No comments:
Post a Comment