The "Art" of Writing

            Writing as an art form is spoken about constantly: show don’t tell, show and tell, details, mystery, etc. This is commonly discussed in English courses, both writing and literature based. Recently I learned a lot about writing from a course I never thought I’d get tips about the “art” of writing from: Marketing Management – Neeley Fellows, Honors.

            One of the many sources of abnormality that I possess is my opposite interests: Math and Writing. Somehow this has turned into an Accounting degree (I won’t lay out here the formula I created to help me decide that), and an accidental Writing minor. Writing is a real passion of mine, and it has definitely lead to some teasing from some students in the Business School as well as some questions about my interest in Accounting. Let me say it plain here: I want to be an Accountant – a Forensic Accountant specifically. However, I also want to be a writer. The two aren’t mutually exclusive. Keep this information in mind – it’s key to understanding the experience.

            So, last semester in two of my business classes I learned a valuable lesson: in business classes details aren’t desired unless asked for. In my business plan I turned in, some adjectives were circled and points were taken off because they were details and thus unnecessary. I thought that was just good writing, but I made a note, and tried again. The next time my grammar was too good, so points were taken off. I pulled up Meriam-Webster’s online to show him that I had even looked up the rule, and he said it didn’t matter. It didn’t read like he thought it should, so the point deduction remained. Then on an essay I was told my answer was "too thorough" and that I should have just answered the question asked and only that – again, points deducted. I took note of this: English classes remember to have good grammar and details as needed, Business classes simply answer the question asked more with minimal details. I would not take grade cuts in the next semester – I had learned my lesson.

            Or so I thought. This semester I took my first purely essay based exam in a non-English course. Marketing, Fellows style. On this exam I consciously thought about the lessons I’d learned last semester. The first question was posed and I thought, “Perhaps I should outline all the phases in the last 100 years of marketing because I know them, so why not? Why not? It takes up precious time, that’s why not. You got points off last semester, that’s why not. If he wanted that information he would have asked for it, that’s why not.” Let me let you in on a little secret, friends: I found out why when the tests were returned. The details that had been my friends for 15 solid years of literacy and creative writing had been feeling neglected for a whole semester, and now – when their presence was desired most – I had not used them out of fear.

            Fear. “There is nothing to fear, but fear itself.” Thanks, FDR. While some books start out pointing out the hurt that was created in some lives by that quote, I will begin this paragraph commenting on the hurt that was created in my life by not remembering the moral from that quote. I should have not feared the consequence and went with my gut – my gut said, “Write the information,” and Fear said, “Remember last time?” Oh, Fear, well played this time. But I shan’t let you remain triumphant. I shall prevail. Writing is an art form – it’s a point that I’ve argued against many an Art and Business major. I am an artist with a pen, not a brush. But learning Business writing is proving to be rather difficult. There seems to be no hard and fast rule. I’m told one semester that my details make it inefficient and unprofessional, and the next semester I am told that writing is an art form that is more difficult than I think. I'd heard of Fear hurting writing and impeding the message. Guess I understand it fully now. Wish it hadn't affected by GPA, but still. Small points off on a GPA represent lessons learned, right? Maybe?

            Mistakes, mistakes. Writing is natural for me – even more so than breathing (I’m heavily asthmatic). But I believe my non-writing classes may be giving my writing a new kind of challenge: fitting into a undefined box that it has fought it has fought for years to be free from.