Perspectives of Writing

Being an English I always am asked the question of "what does writing mean to you?" and with each time I am asked that I still cannot fully answer the question because I am not able to put into words what writing truly means to me. I guess for starters is that writing allows me to find out who I am and what I am capable of as a person to channel my passions through text. However, I have decided to ask random people I see a couple of general questions regarding writing and recorded their answers.

Person 1:

This was a older gentleman who I always see at the local coffee shop right around the corner from my apartment who is always reading the newspaper. After talking to him for a brief time I came to learn that he was an english major himself who loved to read and write. The style below is how our conversation went for the short time I interviewed him:

Me: What do you think about when you think about writing?

Him: I think about my past and the choices I could have made differently and what those outcomes would have been like. When you're my age you can't help but reminisce about the past and the good or bad times, but for me I think it's best to think about them all if you are to write about them.

Me: Is composing the same as writing? Why/Why not?

Him: Composing the art of how you come up with your masterpiece of a writing, whereas, writing itself is the action of putting those thoughts of art to life. This way you are able to truly show yourself through not only your thoughts but your words.

Person 2:

My roommate was my second one I chose to interview just because she isn't a fan of English so I was pretty curious how she would respond to these questions.

Me: What do you think about when you think about writing?

Her: I think writing is the best way to express your emotions, I mean, without it how I am suppose to truly know everything about someone.

Me: What do you like/dislike about writing?

Her: The only thing I like about writing is the fact that when I am able to I can easily come up with a topic on my own and truly express about I feel about it. Otherwise, if it is something I am not interested in then I dislike writing very much.

Person 3:

The final person I interviewed was my mom. She is truly one that has always inspired me to take up writing and now I know why.

Me: What do you think about when you think about writing?

Her: I think about how words have such a powerful effect on people's lives that they let the words consume them. I read everything because I love to and it is amazing how simple a word can be yet it can impact your entire life in just a second once it is written down for the world to see.

Me: Is composing the same as writing? Why/Why not?

Her: Honestly I am not entirely sure. If someone has a thought of something I would assume that is composing their words into meanings of how they wish to express them faithfully to the world. I would say they are different because writing can just be an aimless task yet composing requires your mind's best work.