Writing
Nestled deep in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina lies the Appalachian State University campus where even the idea of a flat piece of land is a crime against nature. Walking on this campus can prove to be quite a challenge for the beginner, but can be enjoyable and even rewarding for the more experienced. Just like walking on the ASU campus, the emotional trail of writing never remains constant.
Okay, so now that I’ve got a really good introduction out of the way and got you (that’s right, you, sitting there at your computer, wondering why you’re reading this) hypnotized by my writing, I can relax a little and write like a normal human being. Well, maybe normal is a bit of an exaggeration, but <sarcasm> being a part of the group makes me happy </sarcasm>.
So after a little bit of humor, let's get back to business...
While I’m writing, I experience such a variety of emotions from every part of the emotional spectrum. There are times when I can write whole pages believing what I’m writing to be the greatest ever, only to end up realizing that it’s complete trash and that it must be destroyed, no matter how attached I’ve become to it. At the other end of the spectrum, though, is the exhilaration I feel when I revise what I’ve written and realize that it’s finally becoming what it has the potential to become. And somewhere in between is that one little sentence that seems to come from a completely different person and fills me with such a great sense of pride and accomplishment that reminds me of why I write.
So why do I write? I write because the rush of all of these emotions is addicting. I write because, as William Faulkner said, “I never know what I think about something until I read what I’ve written on it.” I write to understand myself and the world better in a way that’s only possible through writing.