Do you agree that writing is for the weak and the timid?

This is a very thought provoking question! My first impulse is to say that it is never a "weak" thing to express one's honest opinion no matter what form it takes. Actually, writing can be the avenue one needs to help them form a more expressable opinion in other forms, don't you think? It takes a lot of heart to say what you truly mean, whether that is done through writing or not. Face it, it takes guts to put your heart out there no matter where or how!!!

Anyone can write and I don't think it's for the weak and timid. Why would it be? That just doesn't even make any sense to me. Anyone, no matter what their demeanor or other characteristics suggest, can write to express themselves in one way or another, whether it's writing something to relieve frustration, writing a poem or short story, or asking for advice, among other things. Whomever told you writing is "for the weak and timid" is silly.

Sounds like something my Mom would say, on one of her moodier days, actually. As a writer who write sunder a pen name for my more major works, you could say that I'm hiding behind the substance of paper. When actually, I just never wanted fame and like my privacy -- I write for writing's sake, not to make a name for myself. But with the internet...the internet's nature is anonymity. If you're not brave enough to say something faceless, you're not brave enough to say anything anywhere. The internet embodies freedom. It's whatever you need it to be. So, the timid and weak can surely take advantage of it yes, but many more of the strong, creative, beautiful, and compassionate use it to express things that no one else will for a wider audience (forsaking their anonymity or not). His comment was probably rooted in some psychological issue he himself has, and for that you can't be mad at him. It's something he hasn't resolved in himself. Still, yes, I agree, the pessimistic gross generalization was slightly offensive. Me? I use the net as a tool. As a blogger for the alternative news movement I play an important role -- just like all the other bloggers, in informing people of things they would never hear from their newspapers, tv sets, or from the radio (to a lesser degree). My voice is slowly becoming a signature in my own niche in the blogosphere. In my anonymity I can express who I really am and what I really stand for in order to build something for myself and others offline. The things I say, I say in the world you and I live in as well. Things that many would never say, because they'd be too afraid to say it. That's who I am, that's my job. So the idea of anonymity is a rather loose one...for me, at least. I go through pains to make sure that what people see of me online could never truly be used against me in my regular living, but I never go through pains to hide the truth about myself. Just ask anyone who knows me; the things I do fear have nothing to do with being seen. I'm not shy. I just have more important things to do than hide behind a screen name and whine about my life...with this tool called the internet. To each their own! And may we all find what we're looking for in it.

I don't get it myself. Im assuming your a male, and maybe his style it to be more assertive and aggressive and he just thinks writing is not masculine enough. Other than that I'm dumbfounded because I always though very highly of writers but that could be biased because I grew up loving it. But I think many people think very highly of writers and if you wrote a book thats like your on a whole other level if you ask me. My friend in Philly has actually written 3 books and he was a hot DJ at one time--the guy is incredible. I think all writers deal with lack of confidence in our abilities when we first begin considering it as more than just a muse thing and instead a very useful outlet to plug into and get your message across. That does not have to be just poetry, letters but writing to your editor, through business writing is most useful. I think now that literature is kind of faltering people think of writing differently but back in the 1800s EVERYBODY wrote and fluently and it shows in many of the great reads in literature.

Nope,I would never agree to that statement. Why would they put a restriction on writing to those who are just timid and weak?Just because they don't socialize well and they don't talk that much doesn't mean that they're only good in writing. Maybe you're somewhat right that almost are those kinds but there are also good in writing persons who are not timid and weak. As long as an individual loves writing then we should not consider them as weak instead let's enhance their talent.

I do not think so. Writing in and unto itself requires a lot of courage and skill. I liken Shakespeare to a courageous man, one to express himself. A lot of liberal media uses a lot of very brave writers willing to attack their own sponsors. Look at Family Guy and the Simpsons, for example, and the number of times those shows have lampooned FOX. Some people who think themselves courageous are too scared to actually take the clay that is human language and try and moud it into something palatable. Believe me: Some people use their fists to show their boldness; others (smarter ones) use ink, pen, and paper. As the old saying goes: "The pen is mightier than the sword."

That's the worst crap I have heard in a long time! What does this nice lad expect us to do...stand atop a traffic police box at the crossroads and scream our lungs out? Writing is such a wonderful way of getting our thoughts and opinion across. Forget Mylot...its not really a forum for discussion our daily problems in India, look at the newspapers...so many people are writing to the 'Letters to the Editor' section....are they timid? No, they are not, they just want a platform to have their say and the newspapers offer that. Similarly for magazines. Writing is not for the timid, rather its takes a lot of boldness and comprehensive thoughts to put shape to a paragraphy properly...you are reaching out to millions there and people are quite knowledgeable...so if you dont write correctly, they will tear you to pieces...face hidden or not!

People who love to write are not weak and timid. Many good writers are very sociable and they like to be around people. Timidity and writing do not necessarily go together. Just think about it, how will a reporter get her story on the front page of the newspaper if he or she had been too timid to go out there and get his or her story?

Yeah, Ted Kaczynski (Unabomber) was a pussycat.

I would say that is obnoxious. Writing can and never proves that the person is timid or any such kind. Writing is a capability, it needs coherent thinking and putting your ideas into words,with proper vocabulary, sentence structure, grammar, and the ideas put in a chronological order. Now if we take up this question as you have mentioned that perhaps you are not that bold when in public but you could give hard times to people while you are writing a blog, discussions on mylot etc. then I would say most people would have to be like that. This world where we express our deepest of feelings is a virtual world and and doesn't affect that much to our well=being, but in real life situations we have to be very very diplomatic, for not to be shrewd or something but to survive. hope I could be of some help.

You might consider the saying "The pen is mightier than the sword." A sword may kill once, but words can destroy a person over and over, which is one of the dangers of the Internet and the texting going on today. Yes, it can be a tool of the meek or the vicious, or the cowardly or the fool, but it can also be the tool of the greatest minds ever to live. Does he consider our Constitution as something written by meek, vicious, or foolish people? If so, then he is the fool. That piece of paper set America on its road to greatness, although today our leaders seem intent on destroying it. Does he consider Shakespearean plays as something a great writer hid behind? Has he read them? If not, then he may be speaking truly from ignorance. I am a writer and I write in numerous genres. All of it is from my heart and I have no problem discussing, defending or taking true critique on my work whether face to face or by any other means of communication. Does he write? Until he pulls words, feelings and stories from the very depths of his heart, he has no idea how much courage it takes to write. Non-fiction may mean loss of family, friends or acquaintances. He is also a fool if he has never tried something he condemns so blithely.

I'm neither weak nor timid - and neither are most of the professional writers I know. In order to break out of the low-paying ranks and move up to the full-time income ranks, you need to be social, you need to network and you need to promote yourself, your services and your writing to anyone who will listen. Submitting your writing to a professional magazine market or to a book publisher in New York takes nerves of steel and huge courage. Definitely not a job for the weak or timid.

No writing is not for the timid. Look at other famous writers are all of them timid? I think not, Louie Lamore wasn't and neither was Augtha Christy. Everyone has their own reasons for writing. Anyone can write ( even someone with spelling issue like me ). It's human nature to be more aggressive when you don't see someone face ( people say all kinds of thing on the phone that they won't say in public ) writing is no different. Being a fraidy-cat is not always measured in talk sometimes the people who are most afraid are the ones who call others scared. In answer your question I'm not timid.

Of course not. Words can be so powerful and inspiring. Sometimes words can be so powerful that it runs a country or can make " the weak and the timid" feel threatened. just the Brave have the nerve to write it down.

I don't agree with him. For me writing is for those who has a brilliant mind and creative ideas that are brought out to the public awareness. I love writing since I was younger and I am not a timid person, personally I am an extrovert person. If a person is trying to court via writing love letters, then that's where his opinion is justifiable. Everybody has a different point of view on such things and we can't force them if that's what he thinks about writing.

Of course he is quite wrong in the assertion that if you write you must truly be weak or timid. I dare say that the reverse is true. Of course you may be both but just simply writing here does not make you so by any means. Of course I am not sure what context he referred to. Was he referring to the fact that you can feel free to speak your mind as you may not face to face? What was his alternative. What did he really mean by asserting one's opinion in public. Is that what he does? Or does he have a hard time matching your wit so must attempt to put you down in order to look good, at least in his own eyes. It is true that when you write on the Internet like this you have a good deal of anonymity. But it depends upon what you do when you write. If you are here to only criticize others then of course you may have this very slanted view as you will not be able to match wit with everyone. I would invite him to write here more often and see just how timid some people are.

I don't agree at all. Even the best orators have written books either about themselves or on their topic. Writing is perhaps a truer expression of oneself than speaking. Because even if you can't state your opinion in words, you can always write it. It is such an odd remark because if he was mylot than he most certainly had to write to make that remark. If anything perhaps writing makes you stronger and not weaker. Because it is often through writing that we explore things that we would never express out loud.

Writing is for everybody whether your timid or not. Its our way of expressing ourselves. Let say me, i write here mainly to earn some bucks and also to express myself. If there will be chance to earn money just talking to people by expressing ourselves, then why not.

Hey,I completely disagree with your friend. Writing is really good for everyone.Since computers are prevalent and much pressure and work suppress us, less and less people spend time to think and write.When people write,they will think over themselves deeply.We all need the time to think over us. On the other hand, writing can improve capabilities of language ornization. I like to write and read other's writing. I admire the people who can write perfectly. Hava a nice day!^_^

Writing is a no place to be for the weak and the timid. Its power to improve your self on writing ideas and imaginations takes a grand step to great edge in writing.