KHADIJAH BAWAZEER WHEN I was young, writing was a torture for me. To write a paragraph on anything in school meant that I struggled and cried until I got it done. But nowadays writing is fun. I have created a relationship with words that makes them fun to play with and to arrange, to make them produce one meaning or another. This happened because as I got older, I discovered that I did not dislike the act of writing nor did I hate words but that the type of writing I was asked to do was simply too boring or irrelevant. I also used to worry about the final product but did not consider the road one must take in writing it. Later, I learned that writing should be done in steps. It takes some time and it does not matter if it looks good or not at first because it is just like a piece of fabric to make a dress that is not yet sewn. A writer can write about anything. However, all writing calls for effective communication and the worst thing a writer can do is to mince words and chew them beyond recognition. Part of the clarity of communication is to create a sequence of relevant ideas that a reader can share. The worst thing for a written piece is the presence of irrelevant information. The following example would make women laugh, and some men might laugh as well. Imagine that you are going to a party wearing a silk floral print dress with silver jewelry. You are happy and you look great. Before you leave, your father, mother and sister spot you. Your father says, “You look so great. Do you remember that gold necklace I bought you? Why don't you wear it?” So you wear the gold necklace, even though it disrupts the equilibrium of your looks. Your mother remembers the beautiful polka dot scarf she bought you and she suggests that you wear that too. You hesitate because the polka dots do not fit with your floral pattern, but then you think that the scarf in itself is silky and beautiful, so you add it on. Your sister comes in and she screams: “Are you going to wear those high-heels? They will make you uncomfortable all night. She suggests that you wear the stylish sport shoes she gave you. Again you hesitate but you think: “Well, let's make her happy.” Now just imagine how you would look! It's the same with writing; it demands lucidity and coherence. A good piece of writing is not just about correct grammar but also about finding the right words to express an idea. Irrelevant ideas and words that do not fit may be very interesting in themselves, but they can be disruptive when used out of place. This does not mean that a writer has to throw away good ideas that do not fit in a piece of writing. Instead of just erasing them forever, keep them for a rainy day when you are dry and in need of ideas. — The writer can be reached at [email protected]
