With the increase in the importance and accessibility of social media, the number of new writers has also grown. Creativity has also increased in writing forms. However, many people have a misconception that writing on social media is the work of intellectuals. In truth, writing should be understood as another form of speaking.
Most people are those who have had some painful experiences on social media in the past, or those who had observed these uncomfortable situations and decided not to write; fearing such experiences might befall them as well. There are many reasons that are stopping people from writing. Many people lack a clear understanding of the requirement of writing. They lack the necessary awareness of the importance and scope of writing.
Rather than trying to find reasons for writing, we look for more reasons not to write.
Also, if we have to write, we tend to set a standard for ourselves that we have to write at a certain level. Instead of using that standard to improve our writing, we use that as an obstacle to our writing. Perfection also comes into this category. We think that if we have to write we have to do it perfectly otherwise better not to write. We forget that perfection is not a stop-over but an ongoing process. Everything can be improved. But we don’t realise that we get a chance to improve each and every time.
Rather than writing with the idea that one’s writing should be without mistakes or not, it is best to constantly improve their writing by writing in that erroneous way. Writing happens only in this way. Staying away from writing with the fear of making mistakes and the hope of writing without errors is like sitting on the shore, fearing that we would drown if we went into the water, and thinking of entering the water only after we become a great swimmer.
The exact standards that writing should be at this level and that we have to write in this way only is far from reality. If someone were to really set these high standards, nobody can ever write.
Those who are currently not writing aren’t people without necessary awareness or articulation skills. They are like diamonds waiting to be polished. If they were to be provided the right encouragement and opportunities, they have the world record-breaking Malavath Purnas hidden inside them. They shine brighter than the expectations of those who encouraged them. For instance, a friend of mine had been hesitant for months to introduce a book to people thinking that she wouldn’t do a good job, finally when she dared to introduce the book to everyone, she had blown everyone’s minds with comprehension and articulation; making everyone who listened to her think that a book needs to be introduced in this way only.
Some people think that others are writing something, so they should also write something similar to what everyone else was writing. The first thing that needs to be noted is that there is no dearth of topics to write about in this world. There is a difference in perception and expression even when one is writing about the same topic. Each and everyone’s life is different and unique just like that famous dialogue from a movie — ‘Bhanu, single piece’.
Everyone’s life experiences are different. These experiences become reasons to change the way a person views things, the priority they give to things, ability to look at the topic from different angles, and varied ways of expression.
Those who want to write anew have many doubts about their understanding and expression. They tend to have an unrealistic notion that other people’s writing is always great. When these kinds of people gain a little courage and try to write, we can observe that experienced writers rarely praise or encourage them. Writers find it very tough to praise other writers. They feel as though somebody had asked them to give their wealth. Such people discourage new writers in the beginning itself, undermine their confidence and put a stop to their writing.
Many people are able to write because of various reasons such as having the confident that they can write, having a target to write, thought process that even a long journey starts with one single step, having the initiative to write with their understanding of the world, being ready to share not only their knowledge but their lack of knowledge with the world and learn from it, etc..
Writing is an art. Whole writing, we have to continuously increase our awareness about the topics that we are writing about and also keep on honing our articulation skills. Everything can be improved. we have to be constantly aware that we have an opportunity to improve every time. People have to understand that developing awareness of things and improving expressiveness is a continuous learning process. They must have the necessary humility, dedication to continuously practice and learn.
If we can realise struggles can be in various forms and at various levels, we must identify that writing is a form of struggle and social media is one of the forms of field. Use of social media increased as a voice highlighting the cause of the poor and vulnerable peoples’ problems and issues, and their pains, etc., The number of people questioning the leaders for their attempts in perpetuating the ongoing exploitations, inequalities, discrimination and oppression in society and fighting against them with the objectives of equality, justice, humanitarian values. In the current situation, there is a severe need for more number of writers question the leaders those who have forgotten the aspirations of the poor and vulnerable people welfare and rights.
T Venkateshwarlu