Writers, write.
In a world where titles seem to communicate some degree of social standing - and depending on the setting and who you engage with, how much respect you’re given based on said title - I’ve been thinking about one that I first identified with but have since distanced myself from.
A title that I’ve traded for more trendy ones and sometimes even hyphenated ones that try to compound the many things that I regularly dedicate my time and attention to. A title that has for the longest time given meaning to my experiences but is also one that needs to be backed by ongoing action and evidence if you are to really identify with it. That title is writer.
As I launch my personal website, I want to give meaning to this title by actively devoting myself to the act of writing again. If there is one thing that has always come to me with ease and given my experiences a place in the world, it is writing. I enjoy the process of stringing together beautifully penned sentences that capture the essence of a moment, a thought or an emotion.
To tell colourful stories and archive experiences with vivid detail that it entices the imagination and evokes a deep appreciation for the use of language in an artful manner…argh, I giddy at the thought of it. It is this love for writing that has made me an avid reader, a keen observer and a devout student.
To give myself some grace though, I’ve been trying to let my writing live on the internet in other ways. I occasionally write the long caption on my IG posts (no disclaimers or apologies needed of course), sometimes my writings feature on my IG stories as a thread of reflections or opinions on a trending topic and before Twitter rebranded to X, you would also find me on there sharing my musings.
Outside of that, it has just been academic literature and some form of corporate communication that has kept this muscle alive. And I say muscle because it is exactly that, a muscle and a skill that must be honed and exercised for it to live. And that’s what I intend to do in this little corner of the internet.
In the age where machines can simulate human intelligence processes like writing, it is THAT much more important for me to write and to write with my whole heart. Yes - that machine can be programmed and taught how to spit out copy in a matter of minutes just by following cues from a well-curated prompt or question, but it will never do it with the heart and creativity of a writer. It may come close, but it will never have the sentience needed to create real connections and relatability with other humans through meaningful storytelling. That, is the stuff of writers.
And so, if I am to enjoy writing again and actively contribute to preserving this artform, I will do what writers do. I will write.
