Writing is a Form of Art

With the stroke of a paintbrush, the artist begins an expression on the canvas. Add more paint, different colors and broader strokes, the artist now has a creation, an image. Just like an artist, a writer, with the stroke of his pen, has begun a creation, a work of art. Both can encapsulate the emotion of the creator and the audience. And with further education, your love of art can aid in your appreciation of the written word.

Appreciation for writing can be introduced to you in several ways. For example, structure, research, and communication are just a few of the methods taught in general education courses. Though many artists may not realize how those processes wound apply toward the art they create, the lessons learned in English, Math, History and all the other classes that you may find boring or difficult, will help bring depth and passion to your work.

Structure, for example, plays an important part when assembling an essay. Without the knowledge of sentence structure, revising, editing and even how to generate ideas by using brainteasers, the words you put down on paper would be a mass of jumbled lines with no real value. Just like with writing, when inspiration strikes and you begin to put images down on paper, without the structure needed to create the art, strokes placed on the canvas would be just that, strokes of paint. Let's say, for instance, you want to write something as simple as a recipe for apple pie. You need to know the proper measurements, the correct order of ingredients, how to assemble the pie, and how long to bake it. If you don't know these basic instructions, you could end up with apple soup.

Writing within a certain time frame is a different form of structure, one that requires discipline. Many might feel that it would interfere with your creative process to have to write on cue, but with the lessons learned in general education course, your creative processes can be stirred quicker and help you open you mind and dig into your creative reserves.

Research also plays an important part in the creation process. While, for example, you are doing research on marriage, you might be inspired by the rings on the couple's fingers, and decide to write a paper on jewelry. Likewise, if you're doing research on how a house is to be drawn for a painting, the fence you see in the background might inspire you.

Though not everything you write has to be researched, there are times when it can't be avoided. For example, if you're asked to research a computer system for your job, the lessons learned in English about how to properly research a paper; like gathering information, citing work and organizing your research, will help you to adequately present the information.

And then there's communication. It can take the form of pictures, as in the ancient writings of civilizations long past, or words, which are conveyed to millions of people each day with the morning newspaper. Whether in the form of pictures or words, it is important to communicate in a way others will respond to. To say that you worked two jobs does not leave the reader with a sense of being informed. But if you say that you worked two jobs to earn enough money to buy a your first car, leaves the reader feeling more satisfied.

Another way of communicating is using your senses. When an artist creates an image, he delves inside to bring forth his emotions on canvas so that the viewer can sense what he senses; can feel his anger or his passion. Those same emotions should be evident when you write. By allowing the reader to visualize your words through your senses, they will be able to hear the same birds you heard singing; sees the same stars in the night sky or touch the same tree as you. If our senses connect our minds to the world around us, then what better way to communicate to others than with our senses.

Artists hope to leave some kind of impact with their work, as do writers; to perhaps inspire others to pursue their talent or to leave them with the feeling of contentment or purpose. But without a broad education, your ability to convey your message can be lost. Education is important in the creative process to help organize your thoughts and produce better quality work. Structure, research and communication are just a taste of what can be learned. No matter how difficult or boring you think school is, it is important to get a broad education; to learn whatever you can about everything. Writing, just as in art, is more than just putting an image down on paper. It is a compilation of all the knowledge in your lifetime. Everything you've learned and the lessons yet to be, are revealed in your creation.