WRITING ESSAYS
I have been attempting to squeeze in writing a few essays among all the other things I am involved in. Lately, personal essays are what I am most interested in writing. Two went out within the last week and were accepted.
One of the authors at the Book Exposition in July has a new book on the drawing board and she passed out flyers requesting stories on her topic--sharing tea. She specifically asked me if I would write a story for her. The minute she handed me the flyer, the muse began to work and I knew what I would submit. By the time I reached home, I had two ideas for personal essays. The two submissions were made on Friday and Monday I received acceptance of both stories. I am hoping these acceptances put my muse in gear and I can write more along these lines.
Famous eassiest Thoreau wondered about that new fangled telegraph. Folks were saying that this invention could speed up connection between far-flung places in America--Maine to Texas, California to New York. The grand essayist questioned what they would have to say to each other.
Years ago, before cell phones and e-mails, writers such as Thoreau painstakingly wrote essays to connect readers to each other. His essays, and the ones we read today, are how we speak to one another in print. Some have a special information to convey. Others want to allow readers a glimpse into their personal lives, a chance to laugh or cry over an event of importance. And, with the Internet and blogs in particular, we essay writers can reach a huge audience. Mr. Thoreau, we have plenty to say to each other--good and bad.
Essays are authentic. Readers feel like they are communicating with the writer, a real person who offers a glimpse into his soul. Sometimes writers throw out too much information about themselves, but we are people who like to talk to each other, tell others all about the good, bad, and ugly parts of our lives. And readers flock to such sites or blogs to read all the juicy details. That would most likely greatly surprise Thoreau.
I'm going to stick my neck out here and say this: A good essay is one that takes you on a journey, a trip though a new world, gives meaning to observations you may have once made, or wanted to make. Writing and reading essays give us a chance to learn and to share what we have ourselves learned. Then there are the humorous ones, the nostaglic essays, and the pieces that reach out to better the world. They all have a place in our world today.
I am in no way comparing my efforts to those of Thoreau, but I am happy to say his worries about the telegraph having undue influence on writing such pieces, is not a fact in today's world. There are still writers out here who pour out wonderful essays to make readers think, debate and, maybe even write an essay of their own.
One of the authors at the Book Exposition in July has a new book on the drawing board and she passed out flyers requesting stories on her topic--sharing tea. She specifically asked me if I would write a story for her. The minute she handed me the flyer, the muse began to work and I knew what I would submit. By the time I reached home, I had two ideas for personal essays. The two submissions were made on Friday and Monday I received acceptance of both stories. I am hoping these acceptances put my muse in gear and I can write more along these lines.
Famous eassiest Thoreau wondered about that new fangled telegraph. Folks were saying that this invention could speed up connection between far-flung places in America--Maine to Texas, California to New York. The grand essayist questioned what they would have to say to each other.
Years ago, before cell phones and e-mails, writers such as Thoreau painstakingly wrote essays to connect readers to each other. His essays, and the ones we read today, are how we speak to one another in print. Some have a special information to convey. Others want to allow readers a glimpse into their personal lives, a chance to laugh or cry over an event of importance. And, with the Internet and blogs in particular, we essay writers can reach a huge audience. Mr. Thoreau, we have plenty to say to each other--good and bad.
Essays are authentic. Readers feel like they are communicating with the writer, a real person who offers a glimpse into his soul. Sometimes writers throw out too much information about themselves, but we are people who like to talk to each other, tell others all about the good, bad, and ugly parts of our lives. And readers flock to such sites or blogs to read all the juicy details. That would most likely greatly surprise Thoreau.
I'm going to stick my neck out here and say this: A good essay is one that takes you on a journey, a trip though a new world, gives meaning to observations you may have once made, or wanted to make. Writing and reading essays give us a chance to learn and to share what we have ourselves learned. Then there are the humorous ones, the nostaglic essays, and the pieces that reach out to better the world. They all have a place in our world today.
I am in no way comparing my efforts to those of Thoreau, but I am happy to say his worries about the telegraph having undue influence on writing such pieces, is not a fact in today's world. There are still writers out here who pour out wonderful essays to make readers think, debate and, maybe even write an essay of their own.
posted by Barb | 10:07 PM
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