79/100 The Problem with Writing
Where We Start and Restart
People teach you to use language when you have really no idea what it is. Think of what you have used language for and then realize that someone asked you to make a paragraph at one point.
I was talking with Marco recently about writing. He is a teacher, and we were riffing about language and philosophic shit. It was dope.
Something I realized in this conversation is that we all probably have the wrong impression about our ability to write. Marco works with adult learners and was talking about how to build even just a basic paragraph.
I remember struggling so much to make a basic paragraph. Ideas? What the hell are those? And they’re supposed to “connect?” No.
Let us take a quick check in reality. What are some things we do with language? (This is the proper form of this question as language is a tool with which we do things.)
People grieve using language. We love and give care and create things with this. There are profound moments when language seems to fail us, as if there is a sense of life outside of expression. This is a rich moment to consider, but up until that point, what are some things we do with this “alphabet,” this “grammar?”
People grieve using language. People make other tools and friendships using language. Think how deep this goes in your life. We are fish, and this is the water around us. See it.
Now, take that profound depth of language and realize that you were asked to make things when you had ZERO clue what language is and what it can do. Is it any idea that so many feel they are “bad” with words or expressing themselves?
This 100 words for 100 days project actually started from the idea of a thought experiment: what if I didn’t actually know what I’m talking about when it comes to writing and meaning-making? What if I ignored my years of study in language and literature, how would I go about re-turning to language?
You and I are witnessing it now. Day 80 tomorrow.
More soon,
Trevor