Exploring Technical Writing: Writing as a Kid
This post is an excerpt from my upcoming book “Exploring Technical Writing”.
You can pre-order the book at 50% discount — https://rudrank.gumroad.com/l/technical-writing/pre-order
“Writing is the painting of the voice.” — Voltaire
Reflecting on my writing journey, I cannot help but giggle at the memories of my early days as a kid blogger. I was just 14 or maybe 15, so I prefer to embrace the innocence of the term “kid” instead of a teenager, finding joy in the little things.
Embarking on a Journey
It all started a decade ago when I had a “Freeze the Seconds” photography blog on WordPress dot com. I used to go on trips and take lots of pictures. I felt each picture had a story, and I would write creative captions for them. It was my little corner of the internet to express my creativity and share my experiences with others. I was a young shutterbug, and this blog was a way to express my love of capturing moments.
I loved taking pictures, capturing moments, and sharing them with the world. People liked what I was doing. I remember one comment that made me beam with joy. Someone said, “Great pictures! You surely seem to be having a thing for imagination. :)” It was one of my favourite moments!
But, for some reason, I cannot remember, I deleted that blog. It was either at the end of 2012 or the beginning of 2013. It was an impulsive decision, and I said goodbye to “Freeze the Seconds.”
Starting that blog was the initial part of my journey as a writer. It helped me express myself and connect with others, even though it was a few lines of captions.
Finding My Voice
In 2014, a new chapter of my writing journey began. There was a classmate of mine who was super good at writing complex English sentences. Everyone thought he was the superstar of the class! I felt envious and wanted to be cool like him.
But for me, writing was more about sharing my thoughts and feelings, a means of self-expression and cherishing being in my little world of reality. A virtual escape from the reality of high school, where I could vent out my thoughts and feelings. At that time, my life mostly revolved around solving homework and the constant dread of attending school.
So, I started a blog called “Husk of Abandoned Dreams”. I still do not know why I chose that name, but it sounded heavy. This blog became my getaway where I could be myself without any judgment.
My first blog post was a raw introduction to who I was. I wanted to be real, to be me. It was unfiltered and perhaps too honest. I introduced myself as a “screwed 17-year-old teenager, science student [LOL].” I shared my love for music how I enjoyed playing the guitar and piano, and writing songs. I was candid about my views and scepticism towards friendship and love and how gaming and music were my lifelines. I ended my post with a quote by Justina Chen,
“You raze the old to raise the new.”
Those words were powerful. It reflected my mindset: to break free from my past and build a new future!
I was an introvert, and sharing my thoughts with the world was not something I was comfortable with. I was putting myself out there, all my thoughts and feelings, for the world to see. It was scary. At that time, I did not even consider myself a blogger. I mentioned in my post that blogging was not my game. But I was so tired of feeling unheard, so I poured my heart out on my blog, even if nobody seemed to care. I wrote about everything disturbing my mind, from personal experiences to social issues to my mistakes.
I did not have a specific topic or theme for my blog, though. It was a way to process my thoughts and emotions and connect with others who might relate to what I was going through.
The Power of Words
As time passed, I received feedback and comments from readers who resonated with my posts. It was a small but supportive community that encouraged me to continue blogging. I realised that my words had the power to impact others and create a sense of connection.
Looking back, I realise how much I have grown since then. My thoughts have evolved, my writing has improved, and my understanding of the world has broadened. But one thing has remained constant — my love for writing. It was my first step into the writing world and paved the way for my journey as a technical writer.
