One might say that a personal journey and a personal essay are quite similar. Both have a beginning and an end, both contain opinions and experiences, and-frankly-both have the word personal in them. Of course, I would disagree entirely with anyone who made such a ridiculous claim, for I have discovered several amazing things about my personal style of writing over the course of the past semester. One could almost say I have met someone who changed my life. Then again, one could say a lot of things and less than half of them could be true...anyway, let's begin.
I started the semester thinking myself a fairly good writer. I have been writing since I was about ten years old, and have spent nearly five years creating a fantasy world and composing great lore stores around this world. In between the time of creating this world I wrote short stories, poems, and books. I also discovered an amazing love affair with the art of film and radio. So, naturally, I considered myself a fairly good writer.
But that was just the problem.
I considered myself-me, Isaac Golle-to be a fairly good writer. Now, don't get me wrong, I still consider myself to be a good writer-but about half way through the semester I discovered something which completely changed the way I wrote just about everything-including essays.
I began when I started writing, "The Elf". I have always been fascinated with the wit of Oscar Wilde, and wanted to capture that sort of personality in a character. In such a way, "Gump" was born. I became fascinated and intrigued with him right away, and very quickly found myself writing down lines for the character as though they came to me naturally. I wrote, and wrote, and wrote, and wrote, and wrote; completely blown away by the intelligence, wile, and wit of a character I had created. When I finished, "The Elf" it wasn't enough: I wanted more Mr. Gump.
And so I wrote, coming up with all kinds of mysterious, witty, and intriguing characters, composing their dialogue as though it was my own-as if I was the character through and through.
About a week after, "The Elf" I began work on, "Fun and Games" which was my summative assignment for this class. In this I created Justin and Terence: two more wiley and witty folk to add to the quickly growing pack. One day after I had been writing for a while, I stopped to take a break and turned to an assignment in another class. It also involved writing, and so with a sigh I gathered some paper and began writing answers to the many questions. After a moment I stopped, stared hard at my answers, then glanced over at, "Fun and Games". I looked at my answers again, then at the script once more. My eyes widened and my heart raced: I had discovered a new me.
My writing style has literally evolved into its own personality. Justin, Terence, Gump, and other others, all come out to get a word in every time I place my pen on paper. The me that writes and the me that walks and talks no longer share the same thoughts. I suppose one could say I have a sort of controlled multiple personality disorder. Of course, one could say a lot of things, and less than half of them could be true.
Now, as I look to the future and try to deduce the right path, I look to my new found friend(whom I call Sir Lancelot) and hope that this journey will be nothing short of exhilerating.
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This was an essay I wrote for a final exam in my writer's craft class. The essay inspired this video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bkIdIvqDcws
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