So, is that really writing??

I happen to be passionate about not only getting kids interested in reading, but in writing as well. So I'm tuned in to a recent debate that has popped up over what exactly qualifies as writing.  Let's talk about that...

I've been working with students for more than fifteen years, offering writing workshops and assemblies, along with writing tips and creative writing assignments online. I try to mix in a healthy dose of encouragement.

So, when I hear a few well-intentioned adults dismiss the concept of blogs and/or MySpace pages as unproductive, I must take exception. Writing, no matter what the outlet, has always been, and will always be, the most intensely personal form of expression. Who are we to question its framework?

MySpace, with its explosion in popularity, obviously has become a haven for some who abuse its reach and demographics. There's no denying that some choose to misuse any technological advance; witness prank calls on the phone, telemarketing by fax, spam emails, and the like. However, let's not condemn everyone because of a few miscreants.

Likewise, there are some who only see the negative side of blogs. Are there some who abuse this electronic form of expression? Of course there are. Yet it's important to remember that "blog" is simply a condensed form of the original term: web log.  A log is a journal of sorts, correct?

Although many adults have criticized blogs as inane and a waste of time, let's refocus for just a moment. Blogs are, at their heart, a creative - and often painfully personal - outlet, a way to channel emotions that might otherwise remain stifled. We wouldn't be so quick to poo-poo a young person's diary; what difference does it make when it's in electronic form?

During my writing workshops with young people I often ask, "Who keeps a journal?" It's not uncommon to see a quarter of the students raise their hands. For many, their journal is online. And, maybe even more impressive, it's open for anyone to peruse, a virtual stripping of the soul, if you will. Would you have been willing for all of your family members and friends to read your diary in middle school?

For years it's been my passion to encourage young people to discover the personal satisfaction that comes from writing. A blog or MySpace page might be their gateway to finding that joy.

Let's nurture those baby steps.

Comments

[Rokzane]

Great commentary Dom, thank you! Last year, in college, I took an advanced writing class, and I wrote a paper on blogging, why it is so popular among the younger age groups, and why blogging is a valid form of writing. My class consisted of mostly older adults. To my disbelief, my paper turned out to be a controversial topic, which actually left me a bit stunned. Many of my classmates had a difficult time understanding why their kids were so enamored of blogging.

[Jen]

I couldn't agree with you more, Dom!! I just attended a technology conference where the speaker was talking about our paper pencil classrooms in a digital world and how woefully behind we are. MySpace is a venue for perfectly good communication between people. Blogs are the same way. It boggles my mind that people are so ready to let people read everything that they think. I know my journal is not something I feel comfortable with people coming across.