Getting Personal

While the beach is always a place for surfing and swimming, there are times when it’s important to stop a moment, enjoy nature, and reflect. Sometimes a walk along the beach can be a personal journey of discovery, and you might learn more about yourself by taking the first step.               

The act of writing can often reveal more about the writer than about the topic itself. A personal essay might be used to release the writer’s own concerns or frustrations in a constructive way. When Stephen King wrote The Shining, it flowed from his own past with alcoholism. In this way, a poem or a short story can often reflect the inner world of the writer as well. Sometimes writing can raise and answer questions that the writer doesn’t intend to necessarily share with the world, but may address issues that can still connect with an audience.

When you write anything, it will inevitably be some kind of reflection of yourself as a person. Sometimes you may do this consciously because you have something to say about your own experiences, as with a personal narrative. At other times, you may unintentionally draw on yourself during the writing process. While this may seem a bit frightening, this is a perfectly normal process. We typically write what we know, and it’s generally true that we know ourselves best. Indeed, it can often be difficult to distance yourself from a piece of writing.

The good news is that this revealing aspect of writing can be used for your own benefit. If you’re not certain about why you’re drawn to a topic, or why you’re feeling blocked, you can always freewrite to answer those questions. Find some time to write in a quiet space; this can be at home or even in a peaceful space at the beach. Once you’re settled, just make a commitment to keep writing nonstop, not pausing for even spelling or grammar. Search yourself for answers as you write, keeping in mind the questions you want to ask yourself.

Writing is a personal act. By knowing why a piece of writing is important to you, it becomes stronger. The world may never know the answer to your personal question, but it’s important that you alone know that answer. The answer should be able to drive your writing along until you reach your final draft.

See you next time the breeze is cool, the sun is up, and the waves roll into view! ‘Til then, hang ten!