There is no wrong way to write

Managing editor

link Alisa Boswell

A couple of attendees of this year’s Jack Williamson Lectureship told me they weren’t much as writers, but they love to come, because they enjoy science fiction.

It struck me how rare it is to find someone attending writer workshops and discussion panels who do not actually write. It was a little refreshing to see people who just enjoy hearing the various perspectives on reading, writing and genres (in this case, science fiction).

Having been an English major in college and having always had a passion for reading and writing, I am no stranger to writing workshops and discussion panels. I have been to many of them from small, casual ones to formal event workshops that I paid to be a part of, and often times, one of the main motives for attendees is a thirst to be a published author.

There is nothing wrong with wanting to be an author, but one aspect of panels and workshops with published authors that has always stood out to me is how non-published writers hang on to their every word about writing as if their words were gold.

After all, if they are a successful, published author, they are clearly doing something right, right?

I have never agreed with this outlook from other young writers, because in my mind, there is technically no right or wrong way to write. Just like with journalism, there are rules and there are techniques and storylines more successful than others, but there is really no wrong way of going about the process of writing.

I enjoy the meeting together of minds and the sharing of outlooks, but I don’t see a published author’s literary opinions as being any more valid than an amateur writer’s. After all, who is it that makes that author’s books sell? It’s those amateurs who are their readers.

When my best friend wanted to start writing little thoughts and poems earlier this year but felt she had no real talent for it, I told her all that matters is that she enjoys doing it.

Whatever your reasons or motives for writing, it should never be about money. Like with any artistic venue, the instant you make it about money, you stop enjoying what you are doing and just start feeling the pressure you have placed upon yourself. Anyone who is passionate about writing has a desire to be published, but that shouldn’t be your main focus by any means.

In many ways, my dreams with writing have already come true, because what I truly feel passionate about is impacting others’ lives by telling their stories, a privilege I get to partake in every day.

I am as guilty as every other writer in having a desire to have a book published and in getting enjoyment out of it the first time I ever saw my name in print with a story, but what I truly love and could rant about for hours is the power of words.

Words, whether spoken or written, can be such a beautiful thing. Words are used to convey information, portray passion, share a message or belief and to inspire. It often saddens me to see so many people using words as a means to hurt or attack others.

So whatever your reasons for writing, along with enjoying it, in my mind the most important factor for any writer to remember, whether amateur or professional, is that your words always impact other people, so write with the intent to inspire and to make others feel.

Alisa Boswell is managing editor for Portales News-Tribune. Contact her at:

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