What is Writing?

What is writing? Writing is something we all do at least once in our lives. It is a way to express your thoughts in words, without actually speaking. For me, writing is much easier than speaking because I can think more about what I want to say and how I want to explain what I’m saying rather than, with speaking, I feel like I can’t always get out what I want to say. Successful writing is a way if writing that speaks to people. A form of writing that makes the audience see what a person is trying to show them through their words.

Personally, I feel that I am a decent writer. Not the best, but certainly not a terrible writer. I see myself as someone who can give good descriptions and can speak to people through my words, but still with room to improve.

After reading Billy Collins’ speech “Slowing Down” I learned that writing is a way of interpretation of our thoughts and feelings. It’s a way to explain things in different ways and to show a better picture of things.

According to my definition of “successful writing” this text meets that criteria. It paints a picture of what the speaker is trying to explain and it emotionally connects to the people reading it.

I would like to revise my list of key terms, seeing as I could only think of three; descriptive, image creating, and interesting. I would add words such as emotional, creative, conversational, and articulate.

Writing is more than what I thought it was.

Billy Collins (appointed United States Poet Laureate on June 21, 2001)
Choate Rosemary Commencement Address, June 3,2001 
January 19 2020