Writing course draws out true self
Print Edition
During the summer, I attended a creative nonfiction course at Skidmore college. I walked into Skidmore believing I would never have to write about myself. Global issues, perhaps, and maybe a biography, but definitely not about myself. Boy, was I wrong.
I soon discovered that “creative nonfiction” means personal essays. And personal essays means self discovery. And self discovery means probing through my mind and literally pouring out my thoughts and personality on paper (don’t worry; it’s not as bad as it sounds).
Through studying Montaine and Seneca, I discovered the power of a unique, developed voice. By the end of the first week, I could identify the author of a piece by just reading the first few sentences. As a class, we analyzed a plethora of essays, at times mentioning aspects as detailed as syllables.
Following a bout of analysis came the challenge: actually writing a personal essay.
The most shocking rule of the personal essay: moral obligations go out the window. It’s not about society’s opinion, it’s about you. I found that I could write about my flaws — my laziness, my pride, my dogmatic nature — without being judged. I was, however, much more at ease when writing about myself in a positive light. Humans are naturally self-righteous; the goal of the personal essay is to break through that psychological defense and reveal the true self.
The three weeks I spent at Skidmore introduced me to a completely new form of writing: one that forced me to look into the real me; one that helped me discover new aspects of myself that were once hidden behind a veil of self righteousness.
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