Write On

The city of Oceanside recently hosted a “Write On” event, as part of a day devoted to all things writerly. It’s really lovely to see a community focusing on the written word in this way, and I only wish more people would come out to participate. Everything from local authors talking about and selling their own books (that’s the part I was involved in) to workshops on numerous writing topics to story contests, it’s definitely something to take note of if you’re interested in writing.

In particular I loved seeing high school students there reading their stories and poems, and even members of the community there reading excerpts from their writings, some of them there to collect their awards for placing in the contests. The organizers are all so lovely, and they really go out of their way to make it a positive experience, both for those attending and those participating (like bringing in a tasty lunch for the authors).

Writing is something I’ve certainly loved since I myself was a high-schooler, although it’s certainly not something that gets a lot of (read: any) fanfare. It’s not as if the writers at school are particularly popular for being with the words, that anyone even knows if you’ve written a stellar short story or had a poem accepted into a journal. It’s such a solitary activity, both back then and now, one with few accolades or opportunities for recognition. I guess what I like so much about writing is those who do it fully understand that, and they do it anyway. It’s something in us that must come out. And so we keep writing. Looking at those students in particular as they nervously read from their works at a microphone while standing in the middle of a sunny Civic Center courtyard, it made me feel hopeful for those who persist in putting pen to paper. The future truly is bright.