The Destiny of Every Writer

We are writers because we have something to say,
a statement to make, or just want to express our
innermost feelings and emotions to others that we
may never get the opportunity to meet in reality.
When we write, a part of who we are, what we stand
for, and a catalog of attributes, faults, personal values
and beliefs, and assorted personality features come
into play. We are who we are and even if we try and
change our whole personality on paper, the real shining
person behind the facade will come through. It usually
does through the language our characters use or their
choice of words, emotions, or even their descriptions.
If a friend wrote about the same scenario, or subject
matter, and tried valiantly to copy your style, it would
never be duplicated to perfection. That is why there is
only one Stephen King, and one Ernest Hemmingway.

The destiny of every writer is the legacy they leave behind
in every project they pursue, whether or not it is published.
In other words, placing a part of yourself on that piece of
paper does not detract from who you are, or make you
less of a person. In fact, it increases your awareness, as
well as your ability to bring creativity and your own unique
talent to the surface. Remember when mom always said,
Practice makes perfect – well, maybe perfection is not right
there before you for now, but it certainly has been awakened
like a sleeping giant and is just there lying around your crushed
discards of paper or your half-ideas that are either written or
just in your head.

It is etched in the stars and heavens above that once you get
past the initial fear or phobia of "writing" whether professionally
or just in your journal, the proverbial cat is out of the bag and
the only way around it is up. While you may encounter some
lapses in genius, or life gets in the way and you close the drawer
on unfinished manuscripts, deep in the recesses of your mind
the die has been cast and it will remain there – you can choose to
ignore it, silence it through a whirlwind of other activities, or you
can speak to it gently and close your eyes and find out what it
has to say and react then.

Writing can be a demon in the closet or an angel sitting on your
shoulder. Either way, once the egg of writing has been hatched,
your destiny will be to express yourself in ways you never thought
possible. It will open up avenues of creativity that you felt intimidated
you before, and it will make the world outside more colorful
with hues that only imagination could have brought into being.
Being a writer is your destiny and if you choose to follow it bravely,
then it will gain a life of its own by allowing you to be more sensitive
to information, people, and events. You will begin to see "possibilities"
all around you, from a simple walk in the woods to a quiet
reply on a bench in a shopping mall. Face it – that is your
destiny so enjoy the ride and never look back.

Arleen M. Kaptur

© January, 2007