Rewards Of Writing

Writers generally write with the objective of being read. Since they seek an audience, there exists a symbiotic relation between the writer and the reader. Writers thus aim to reach a large readership cementing themselves in the public debate through their rhetoric. They could be novelists, essayists, historians, and memoirists of renown. However, not all writings are intended for the eyes of the readers. People often take to writing in journals and diaries that are kept private. Journaling or writing a diary can help bring clarity as well as a sense of calm. On the other hand, writing with the aim of publishing can bring a sense of achievement and even repute. 

Writers such as Frank Kafka, Virginia Woolf and George Orwell were known to be diarist whose dairies are widely read today. All of these were writers of extraordinary talent. Their diaries have enriched the English literature, granting many readers a peek into such wonderful minds. Aspiring writers who seek such aptitude are suggested by publishers to hone their craft and appeal to their targeted audiences. As such, writing for a newspaper is different from writing for literature classes which is different than writing a blog. \

It could help beginning writers to better understand who their readers are. After determining their audience, writers have to keep in mind what they are going to write about and how the work will be written. To write means to express one’s thoughts, emotions, arguments, and rhetoric on paper (however, nowadays it is mostly in the computer). Evolution of writing is largely attributed to our ancestors who developed language and speech and a medium to record them in the written form. 

And written records of the past elucidate the history of the world. They enable us to look deeper into ancient civilisations such as the Greek and Roman civilisation and understand how people lived then. If such works weren’t available to us, we would be in the dark about the world history. Thankfully, throughout time and history, writers have been creating written works which have today become a source to illuminate the past. 

Nowadays, as millions of books are published each year, publishing is the ultimate dream of a writer. But not every writer goes on to author books as writing books takes not just talent but also expertise in a certain field. Thus, we find many books written by professionals who stand out for their knowledge in a specialised field. Next, there are celebrities whose works are widely read because their lives are a source of fascination and speculation. Novelists too are read profusely. What all such authors have in common is an objective to reach as vast readership as possible. 

However, there is also a quiet, introspective, and private writing that fills the writer with a sense of joy in expressing, delineating, and pondering thoughts and emotions in their diaries or journals. Either way, writing continues to be an essential craft. As John McPhee says, “No one will ever write in just the way that you do, or in just the way that anyone else does…Writing is a matter strictly of developing oneself. You compete only with yourself. You develop yourself by writing.” Writing can be rewarding whether written for readers or for one’s own peace of mind.