The Internet’s Impact on My Writing Skills
Every year, I travel to a different country that I have never been to. Like the millennial I am, I upload pictures of my traveling journeys to social media. Many of my cyber friends write comments and ask me many questions about my experiences. Some of my cyber friends suggested that I create a YouTube channel, but the thought of being in front of a camera felt a bit eerie and uncomfortable. Nevertheless, I wanted to inspire others to travel and explore everything this world offers. Fortunately, I have always felt more comfortable expressing myself in writing. Therefore, when I decided to take on the task of becoming a blogger, I thought that it would be a piece of cake. I assumed I would be fine if I dotted my I’s and crossed my T’s. Little did I know I would need to improve my writing skills to produce an eloquent, informative, and inspiring blog.
Writing an eloquent blog was and still is essential for me. Once I had set up my blog’s webpage, I was anxious and excited to put something out there. Without putting much thought into it, I published my first post; I sent a link to all my friends on WhatsApp and then went to sleep. I was excited and ecstatic when I woke up the following day; I wanted to know whether they liked it. The readers’ feedback was candid, stating that my post was too convoluted, digressive, and repetitive. My heart stopped; I sat there, reading their feedback and fighting back my tears. My face flushed. It felt like a lump in my throat, and I wished the ground would swallow me up. My very first post on the blog was a disaster. Its outcome didn’t convey the message I intended it to. When I found the courage to reread the post, I realized it would take patience and hard work to fix the mistakes. I took some time to calm myself down before jumping back into it. When I revisited the post, I became cognizant of the importance of rereading my work to prevent a bad reputation. I understood that by editing the errors I found, I could ensure that my thoughts were synthesized and expressed clearly and concisely. However, I realized that I would need to provide more relevant information to be a trusted travel blogger.
As a travel blogger, I must provide accurate details of my experiences. I felt that to provide useful advice and facts, I should research the current status of the places I went to and revisit the pictures and reviews I uploaded on social media. It wouldn’t be as easy as I once imagined, which overwhelmed me. Not only did I have to proofread and edit, but I also had to do additional research to provide present-day information to support my review, which would take a fair amount of time. Estimating the amount of time and effort I would need to invest, I felt like I was getting a second job for which I wouldn’t be getting paid. My mind was flooded with a million thoughts, passing through at the speed of light. “What should I do? I asked myself.” So, I reread my post and realized that even if I made it easy to read and factual, it would still sound like a dull review unless I sparked the reader’s interest.
I needed to modify my writing style to appeal to my audience and inspire them to plunge. I went for a walk-in, hoping to clear my mind. I suddenly came across the old mulatto lady who sells traditional candies through her house window across the street from my old elementary school. I smiled nostalgically as I saw students surround her. I continued to walk down the street, and then I saw the Bomba and Plena drummers at Raul Ayala’s house; the folkloric music soothed my soul. As I watched the dancers, I was reminded that there is a piece of history behind every beat, step, and gesture. In that instant, I understood that if I genuinely wanted to incite interest in my readers, I needed to paint with words the meaning behind every cultural aspect and traditional dish and the history behind every monument or sound of each instrument. To indeed exhibit the world in its most relatable angle yet intricate way, I would need to showcase it in a different light.
I had to improve my writing skills beyond grammar to produce an eloquent, informative, and inspiring blog. Understanding that writing implied more than a sentence structure was a big breakthrough for a travel blogger. Starting the blog taught me the importance of taking my time when proofreading and editing my posts. I also learned that doing research to support my reviews validates my posts as a reliable source. Likewise, if I wanted my audience to continue to read, I would need to inspire them with colorful and explicit details. Lastly, I learned that writing is like traveling; the journey is just as important as the destination.
