It’s been awhile since my last written blog.
Certainly, if you read my breakdown of the last Star Wars: The Last Jedi trailer, you’d know why. But, this isn’t about that. Well, maybe it is.
In a lecture today for my Reporting Class, we discussed how a room full of writers still have to refine, adapt, and pioneer their writing styles. For it being a college course you’d think, “Well, why is it so crazy that writers are learning how to write in a reporting class?”
It’s a solid question, sure. My issue with it is that if a room full of people journalists need to be taught how to have a voice, we’ve failed. I observed the lecture hall and people were frantically scribbling down what came on the screen. The senseless sycophancy made me step back and think about originality and voice.
I brought up my Star Wars blog earlier. I didn’t write that blog and breakdown that trailer because I had to. I did it because I wanted to. I wanted to generate thought about what the scenes, sequences, and spoken words meant for the Star Wars saga.
This blog became a small forum for thought. Whether many people were going to see my breakdown or not, it didn’t matter to me. I just made sure my voice was out there in case anyone was listening.
An E.B. White quote was given in that lecture today and it really struck a cord with me. White says, “To achieve style, begin by affecting none.”
I even used it in my daily #AttackTheDay post:
White’s quote is significant to me because it opens up understanding about voice. You can’t change the world immediately with just your own voice. It’s unfortunate in that manner. But, White isn’t saying stop because of this. He’s promoting originality and style by starting small.
Nothing starts large. An idea can turn into a larger conversation and that’s the goal for us writers. Generating conversation through our style and words is what can change the world.
Understanding that your voice alone can be one that creates change is the first step to originality. Your style and your voice become topics of conversation once read. It’s a chain reaction from there.
I think a lot of people are worried about the judgement of others or the social barriers of voice. This past July, I made a change in my life: I started watching Curb Your Enthusiasm.
Since I began the show, I’ve become less concerned about what people will think about the things I say or do. I just make sure to not lose my ability to say the things I say or do the things I do because that’s what makes me who I am.
Larry David is someone that embodies the inside thoughts of many. He may be considered an asshole but to me, he is the master “Social Assassin.” He says what he wants to say regardless of what people will think or say back.
For example, this scene from the latest episode perfectly embodies Larry’s ability to speak his opinion in situations when people usually wouldn’t.
Everybody should say they don’t like tap water if they don’t like tap water! Speak your opinion! Write your opinion! Put your voice out there without hesitation from judgement!
That is how originality and unique voices stand out in this world. So many people want to pick sides on things nowadays. Try making your own side. Stand in the middle and create a unique voice whenever you can.
There’s no excuse not to speak freely as a writer or as a human being. Be honest with yourself and the world. Have remorse but don’t let anything go unsaid.
If you’ve done this, great. You have a voice and you can start generating conversations to make a name for yourself. If you haven’t, it’s never too late to generate your voice into a mass conversation.
Insert your voice into society. Speak loudly and clearly without hesitation. Generate conversation and most importantly of all, let out your inner Larry David.
~DS
The Danny Diaries 