I’ve had many people ask me the past few days how do I write so much.
My answer is writing is breathing for me; it’s natural and necessary. The question I have learned to ask myself is how to be most adaptable to the various styles of writing I have been doing.
Day to day, I transition from writing assignment to writing assignment, but each one is a challenge of a new voice, different style and refined angle.
I move from proposal writing to blogging to experience reports to journaling or even feature reporting two Saturdays ago for The Nation.
Though this is a challenge to balance, I learned the first week at Sarvodaya that a media writer entails all of these styles and more. To define oneself as a writer, there is an expectation of flexibility mixed with basic grounding values of crafting a solid piece.
When I met with Chamindha Rajakaruna, Sarvodaya Director of Partner Coordination, to discuss my work outline, he asked what type of writing I had experience with. He was quick to state his need of someone who can write proposals and formal reports, not just blog posts, so he hoped I was able to do so.
In that conversation I learned to value all platforms of writing and to be open to whichever one would be assigned.
This reminded me of the many people in the past few years who assured me that even if I don’t pursue journalism, the ability to write effectively opens many or any door, as long as one is willing to exercise the skill in all forms.
Knowledge of how to write in these various ways can be learned in a classroom, but the most expansive way is to read examples of each.
Writers are collectors of materials, hybrid characters who absorb what is around them. The more one reads, the more polished the writing becomes, because there are examples to parallel or contrast.
So, as I continue on after this position into numerous more in life, I hope to be challenged with diverse writing tasks, ones that will push me to learn and adapt to unknown styles.
This flexibility is key for writers not only to succeed in the demand of work, but also to distill from all the styles one of their own.
My answer is writing is breathing for me; it’s natural and necessary. The question I have learned to ask myself is how to be most adaptable to the various styles of writing I have been doing.
Day to day, I transition from writing assignment to writing assignment, but each one is a challenge of a new voice, different style and refined angle.
I move from proposal writing to blogging to experience reports to journaling or even feature reporting two Saturdays ago for The Nation.
Though this is a challenge to balance, I learned the first week at Sarvodaya that a media writer entails all of these styles and more. To define oneself as a writer, there is an expectation of flexibility mixed with basic grounding values of crafting a solid piece.
When I met with Chamindha Rajakaruna, Sarvodaya Director of Partner Coordination, to discuss my work outline, he asked what type of writing I had experience with. He was quick to state his need of someone who can write proposals and formal reports, not just blog posts, so he hoped I was able to do so.
In that conversation I learned to value all platforms of writing and to be open to whichever one would be assigned.
This reminded me of the many people in the past few years who assured me that even if I don’t pursue journalism, the ability to write effectively opens many or any door, as long as one is willing to exercise the skill in all forms.
Knowledge of how to write in these various ways can be learned in a classroom, but the most expansive way is to read examples of each.
Writers are collectors of materials, hybrid characters who absorb what is around them. The more one reads, the more polished the writing becomes, because there are examples to parallel or contrast.
So, as I continue on after this position into numerous more in life, I hope to be challenged with diverse writing tasks, ones that will push me to learn and adapt to unknown styles.
This flexibility is key for writers not only to succeed in the demand of work, but also to distill from all the styles one of their own.
RSS Feed
