Practice. Practice. Practice. Fail. Correct. Correct again. Rewrite. Revise. Practice. Practice. Practice.
“I was learning the craft of poetry, which really was an intensive version of what my mother had taught me all those years ago – the craft of writing as the art of thinking.” Ta-Nehisi Coates
I’ve always loved writing as a form of communication. I have five journals for five different topics, but they share a common purpose – they exist for me to get my thoughts onto a page in order to make sense of them. Over the years, I’ve learned to etch my thoughts into semi-eloquent phrases that may yield cohesive thoughts, but more often than not, I write, organize, rewrite, edit, post, notice mistakes (I hate this part), revise, update posts, and the begin again.
After a discussion with a good friend, I decided to revisit Between the World and Me, authored by Ta-Nehisi Coates. The writing itself is captivating, but more important to me is the fact that the ideas expressed are deeply personal to me because they are reflective of my life experiences. I imagine that one day, I’ll be able to write in a way that effectively articulates my thoughts and emotions, but also reflects back what the world has given me, as well as what others have experienced.
Writing as a way of thinking is time consuming in many ways, but for me it is time well-spent. Organizing thoughts and emotions related to personal experience relieves stress and aids me in finding clarity. In the developmental or academic context, writing helps me bridge the seemingly invisible gaps between the concepts of human dignity, leadership, human rights, communication, and cultural pluralism to name a few interests. Writing, in personal and developmental circumstances, produces clarity and new understanding.
So, I challenge you to write your thoughts down. Allow them to flow in an unorganized fashion, draw, revisit, edit, rewrite, and then share them with someone close to you. Ultimately, I think writing as a practice has made me a better thinker, more inquisitive, and more appreciative of writers who can author books, create meaningful poems, or produce art that captivates the hearts and minds of others. Words may not always be enough, but they sure help. Write your heart out!
Great post! It was just the reminder I needed to keep writing today so thank you!
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Thank you. I’m glad I could share. I need these reminders from time to time as well. We can all serve as inspiration for someone!
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‘Writing as a way of thinking is time consuming in many ways, but for me it is time well-spent.’ I love this – for someone who likes to write this is definitely true!
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I’m glad you share this sentiment. It is such a worthy pursuit!
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Loved this post, speaks to my heart and own experience. As the new year begins, I started looking through the journals in which I gather thoughts about personal life, professional development, new ideas, anything really… and at times I stopped, thinking ‘Hey, that was a really clever thought!’ or ‘Oh boy, I really need to resolve that issue’ because it pops up again and again… so indeed, writing helps structuring thoughts and helps you progress in your own thinking and personal development. I echo your recommendation, write your heart out!
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Thank you! I go through the same process. I’ll go back and try to figure out what, exactly, I was trying to capture in some pages. In others, it will immediately take me back to a specific moment.
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