Taking a few moments out to write. Why?

I want to write. Really? Why?

What do you want to write? What do you believe about writing?

Reflective writing aids development. Writing them down adds value to one’s thoughts as they can be reviewed, reflected upon and considered by others remotely in time and space. Writing leaves a legacy to aid in the understanding of an individual in case anyone becomes curious to understand that individual. Writing is good practice for more writing. Practiced and improved writing can be used to create an artifact that brings joy or relieve suffering for others. Writing can help the author feel as though they are “doing something of value”. Writing produces an artifact that can be pointed to in retrospect while the author smiled on him and says “look, I did not simply waste time–I created something!” Writing often can provide continuity of identity–“I am a writer.” Writing creates a vehicle to share oneself with others which may lead to a feeling of community, or could possibly be used to cover-up a sense of loneliness. Writing down one’s thoughts can be a vehicle for testing them for value–do others appreciate these thoughts?

I guess I’m one to experiment and learn a little something about tone– when I think of the difference between thinking and speaking and writing (which is in my case, speaking to a digital audience) I find thinking–when it’s not wandering madly which is most of the time–is a bit methodical. Speaking tends to be a bit different as it flows as in conversation bubbling up surprises in what is said and what is evoked by it. Even these words–as I write them I ponder their veracity, can I make such statements–they are certainly not grounded in any formal methodological research. And writing, how is that different…?

Anyway, about tone. I have found the didactic tone very easy to adopt for writing in the past. And why not–I’m the one writing, I know why and what I want to say, therefore putting words to paper (digital or otherwise) is nothing more than a formality, a vehicle for my prescription. I don’t think that’s the kind of writing I want to do. I want to have a more inquisitive tone, one that draws the reader in, inviting them into questions and inviting their questions. I want to practice a tone that lifts one up like a rise in the trail as it crests the edge of the meadow affording views up the draw in the land towards the high peaks. Such a landscape encourages awe and wonder and inspiration as the reader journeys forth. I don’t want to write conclusions, as a friend once said “conclusions are where we tire of thinking”. I would rather make introductions, introductions to perspectives I have occupied, or am occupying, or am stretching myself into.

I want to write to show the world as a little larger, a little friendlier, a little more inviting. I want to create surface area for readers to explore further contours of their own perspectives and those of the world around them. I want to write to bring my perspectives into focus for me, not so that I can inhabit them more fully, so that I can see them and smile and wave as they fall way into larger and larger contexts of enjoyment.

Won’t you join me?