On writing

Tweet

As a child, I have always loved writing. Now that I'm a college student majoring in English and European Literature, and I'm taking Creative Writing classes, I am on my way to becoming a writer (successfully, i hope). Along with my Creative Writing classes, I am also taking up Critical Theory classes that basically teach "writers-to-be" on how to write good literature. Now, I am at a lost. I find it hard lately to write anything worth-reading. Whenever I do attempt to start writing (my leanage's in short story writing) I get self-conscious. I think of all the rules that a few theorists (like Aristotle, etc) on writing well. These rules are at the back of my head and they're all I think of when I write. In effect, I won't get to finish anything even after hours of pondering. I know the themes and the plots I want to write about, but I can't seem to string these into sentences, even at futile attempts. What do you think? Do we all have to strictly follow the rules in writing, or just write whatever we want without thinking of what the critics would say?