What Writing Gives Me That Nothing Else Can

I almost can’t remember a time when I wasn’t a writer. In fifth grade, I wrote a Christmas play for my elementary school, and when that went over well, my teacher, Ms. Robinson, asked me to write a radio play to be performed in several episodes over the school intercom. From then on, I knew writing was part of who I was. Words seemed to come naturally—probably an inheritance from my mother, who had her own way with language.

Stack of vintage newspapers with a fountain pen resting on top, symbolizing journalism and the art of writing.

As I got older, my love of sports and my love of writing merged into one dream: becoming a sportswriter. My dad was a newspaper publisher, which opened the door for me to intern in the sports department of the Northwest Florida Daily News. That experience led to my becoming sports editor of the Stetson University campus newspaper. Truth be told, I probably took that role more seriously than I took my classes—my grades certainly tell that story.

Writing continued to shape my path. In the Air Force, I worked in public affairs and became editor of the Barksdale Observer, the base newspaper. Later, when I moved to Jacksonville to attend college after the Air Force, I served as editor of The Campus Voice at Florida Community College at Jacksonville, before majoring in journalism at the University of North Florida. Looking back, it’s clear I always knew journalism was my future.

There was one time, though, that I questioned it. In the spring of 1990, while singing in the college chorale at FCCJ, I loved it so much I actually considered changing my major to music. I even went to my mom, expecting her to celebrate the idea—after all, music was her background. Instead, she asked me a question that settled the matter once and for all:
“If I could take one thing away from you forever—writing or singing—which would you not be able to live without?”

It took me all of three seconds to answer. Writing.
Mom just nodded and said, “Then why would you consider doing anything else?” She was wise like that.

So, back to the question: what do I enjoy most about writing? Honestly, it’s that I can’t imagine doing anything else. Writing is the best way I know to communicate. I’m not bad with words verbally, but I can get tongue-tied at times. On the page, though, I find my clarity. Writing lets me say what I need to say—and it warms my heart when someone tells me my words touched them in some way.

That’s what I enjoy most about writing: it’s who I am, how I connect, and the gift I don’t want to live without.

About Douglas Blaine

Capnpen is a writer who was a newspaper and magazine journalist in a previous life. A college journalism major, he now works as an English teacher, but gets his writing fix by blogging about a variety of topics, including politics, religion, movies and television. When he's not working or blogging, Capnpen spends time with his family, plays a little golf (badly) and loves to learn about virtually anything.

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