The author I chose to focus on was Roxana Robinson.
Her perspective on the writing process was told in a unique and interesting
way. She believes that writing is for the author on a personal level and that
the actual writing has nothing to do with the reader. She says writing is about
trying to figure out a situation and make sense of it all. Her goal as a writer
is to write a story and get it exactly right. Robinson (2000) believes that the
reader becomes important in this stage of the process. She needs the audience
to let her know if she is writing the perfect story. Without opinion and input
she cannot truly know if her story is the perfect story.
After much thought I believe that Robinson is
correct. I do believe that a lot of what a writer writes about is for the
writer. What the author writes is for them and then they share it with the
audience for input and feedback on the story. If you are writing a story than
that story must interest you in some way or another or it won’t have any real
meaning. Sylvia Day is a well-known author. She has written many books; a
particular series I am familiar with is the Crossfire series. Originally it was
thought that she was writing a trilogy. At the end of the third book she
explains how she is not ready to let her characters go. Instead it is important
for her to keep writing and see where their journey is going to take them. She
is truly involved and connected in her own story. Day is clearly writing these books for her. It
appears these characters have become a part of her. That is a good writer.
There has to be feeling and connection and belief to make the story work. If
the author doesn’t believe it than who will? This is a perfect example of how
the writer is writing for her own personal reasons still. If she wasn’t she would’ve
given the audience the trilogy and ending they wanted. She personally must not
have been ready for that yet.
My thinking has changed a lot after taking this
course on a writer’s perspective regarding social media. Social media is
popular and the way to get to people. The typical writer is sort of at a
disadvantage with social media. Books are long and they tell a story, which I
love. However, in today’s world nobody wants to read anything for more than 30
seconds at a time and move on. Social media allows this with Twitter, Facebook,
and many others. A writer’s perspective has to change. They have to figure out
how to reach the audience or tell their story in a shorter time frame. After
taking this class I believe that a writer should always follow the SPJ code of
ethics when writing, especially when social media is involved. This will allow for
quality writing and accurate information and storytelling. I honestly never
thought of anyone needing to be ethical when using the internet until this
course. This course has opened my eyes and allowed me to see that ethical
writing and a writer’s perspective on the subject is extremely important. It is
the difference between fact and fiction. It is the difference between
trustworthy and untrustworthy. When it comes right down to it, the writer’s
perspective is the important perspective. Their view is what is telling the
story. Until now I’ve never thought of writing in this way before. I’ve always
pictured writing being for the audience, never the writer. This is an interesting
way to look at the writer’s perspective. Robinson had an interesting take on a
writer’s perspective. It holds true for both traditional writing and social
media. Ultimately the author is writing for the author in most cases.
Resources:
Day, S. (2013). Entwined with you. Berkley Trade. 1
edition.
Robinson, R. (2000). If you invent the story, you
are the first to see how it ends. The New York
Times
on the web. Retrieved from
