Walter Wellesley Smith said, “There's nothing to writing. All you do is sit down at a typewriter and open a vein.” When we write we basically give up everything we have inside, almost to the point where we feel we are opening a vein. In order to become a writer you have to be willing to sacrifice yourself and others. Sometimes we have to reveal family secrets, other times we have to dust off our own skeletons in the closet. All in all we are putting ourselves out there and taking major risks with little rewards. So, why do we write? Is it for our own pleasure, is it to entertain others? Whatever the reason, we write because we want to and some of us because we need to. As writers, we feel we have an obligation to create and to report. And it is our responsibility to fulfill this obligation.
It is our duty to tell a story and to tell a story well. The only way to do this is to write, write and write some more. By flexing our writing muscle we are fine tuning our craft and simultaneously fulfilling our need to reveal truths. If writing was as easy as Smith says, then we would have more writers than needed. He states, “There’s nothing to writing.” I wish I believed him. Writing can be the most exhausting, grueling experience one can put themselves through. Although he does go on to state how all giving writing is, he still makes it sound so easy at first. Maybe people approach writing as if it is an easy task, but after they try it, it is much harder then they think. At times, it seems so easy and sounds so glamorous, but in reality, writing is painful.
Although, writing is a rocky mountain to climb, it is truly a rewarding experience. I really enjoy writing and especially practicing in a writing community. Writing really forces me to take a look at myself. It pushes me head first into the deep end of the reality pool. It gives me a chance to get down on the page thoughts and feelings that I could not express verbally.
