Writing

I think writing gets harder as you get older. It's the one thing that doesn't get easier. You expect more out of yourself. To string words that flow together, use the simple to convey the complicated, paint a picture, set the mood, express emotions... You want to be witty and humorous. You want to be impactful. You want to be understood.

For me writing is so much more than taking note of achievements and milestones in life. It's an analysis of life in that moment, something like a time capsule. A good piece of writing is one that has cultural and emotional relevance. Possibly something like this.

This week, inspiration is particularly evasive, possibly because I haven't been up to much. Sitting around at the computer, teaching tuition, barely working my mind. Friends have been returning from graduation trips. It would be great to catch up with everyone and hear their stories.

Need to stop procrastinating. And start writing. Anyway the number of people reading this blog is one-fifth of what it was at its peak. Guess I won't be wasting too many people's time if it turned out to be crap.

Writing About Writing

I have always thought of myself as someone who is grounded in logic and the "sciences". I've done decent in these endeavors but I was never passionate about them. I knew what I wanted to do was something uncertain and not so straightforward. Maybe slightly dreamy, not concrete, possibly formless (although that would be rather impossible). It has resulted in me being a misfit of sorts in my thoughts and in turn, my writing. To me thought and writing are one. They could be broken down into parts, no doubt but you can never have good writing without a powerful and unique inner voice, and you'd not be able to express that voice if you don't have a good command of the language.

I guess what I'm trying to say is that I'm envious. I'm envious of people who are creative in their writing, who throw in ideas that surprise and shock, or relate similar themes with a fresh angle. Sometimes I'm envious of others' ability to make something complex seem so simple and understandable, or to describe something simple with devastatingly complicated sentences, transforming that simplicity into something more than what it is.

I think I will go into the business of creating a dream, an idea, a feeling, an impulse, a mood or reaction. Something that's not black and white. Possibly not like teaching maths, which I do for seriously for a living now. But that's the problem with these things. You can find passion in them but it's hard to find stability - possibly of the financial sort - from these ventures. It's been the reason why it took so long for me to discover that this is what I want to do.

Opportunities seem to come from strange places lately. I'll speak of them if I have the chance. For now I'm content with soaking up all the inspiration and be nourished by them. As to where they will lead me, I guess I'll have to wait and see.

After all, it isn't Math.

Word Heaven

"Words without thought never to heaven go." (Low Y Y, 2008)

How true. I've been using words to convey my thoughts. But I haven't thought of how they could be pared down, economised and strung together to create the best-fit way of conveying those thoughts. I've learned that I enjoy using superficial words that are big, but don't mean anything at all. They either ramble on and create ridiculously long sentences or add nothing to the content.

I guess learning to recognise these elements in my work and that's a start! I've got some made some plans and created some projects for myself to complete during the holidays. I know everyone's going to get the most out of theirs!

I've only got three goals this holiday - write better, earn money and get fitter.