I’ve come across many articles where people declare that they write words, ergo they’re writers. I would say, if that is what they believe, then more power to them.
However, I doubt that is true.
Recently, another writer chided me about calling myself a ‘nonnative’ writer. They said since I was living in the US and using English daily, unlike them, there must be a differentiation.
I interact with first-generation immigrants in a tutoring capacity and with those working in IT, education, and medical fields.
English doesn’t come easy to any of us. By that, I don’t mean speaking passable English to get the job done, throwing in some slang to bring on the cool, or mentioning sports scores. I wouldn’t expect anyone to start spouting idioms, metaphors, or imagery anytime soon.
Back in school, we didn’t have a creative language class. Getting a passing grade in English was mandatory to graduate high school and if you memorized the entire textbook to achieve that then so be it.
All that was required for descriptive writing, like say for the sky, was to say the sky is blue.
I still see many writing the same way. I guess, they never got the memo that the sky can be different shades of blue or strawberry lemonade for that matter. A little curiosity about writing never killed the cat.
Is it just me who thinks this way?
Here is my thought: Why do some assume that I write the way I do because I live in the US?
Well, I’ve not always lived in the US and even if I had, I doubt I would be able to have a writing style and voice if it were not for being a voracious reader from the start.
To tell a story well, however mundane sounding it may be, one needs to know something about storytelling instead of merely stringing together a bunch of words.
Here’s an example of a commonplace post with a familiar theme: While sipping my coffee and enjoying the birdsong, I took a moment to appreciate the blue sky — a simple act of mindfulness.
I would write something like this in my journal.
What would I rather publish?
Something with a title like “On That Warm Summer Day, My Relationship Died.”
With all the elements of the run-of-the-mill post but presented differently.