Clarissamo

[you are here]

Posted by Clare , Tuesday, April 6, 2010 10:21 AM

Welcome one and all! -To my blog!

I'm positive you are all stoked to be here, and don't tell me otherwise because that would just hurt my feelings.

My name is Clarissa (however I am more commonly referred to as Clare), and I have set up this blog as part of my Junior Composition class (more commonly referred to as Women & Writing). In my postings I will be writing about class discussions, class readings, as well as my opinions and outlook on each.

To kick things off:

What is the distinction between public & private writing?

At its simplest we can divide these two as to where each writing is taking place. Public writing may be published writing- what we read in text books and the articles we read the newspaper. Private writing, on the other hand, might be things we write in our journals/diaries or on the wall of a bathroom stall (after all that is a very private place).
More specifically, it is what we write, or how we are expected to, in these separate realms that create the distinction. Public writing is often that which we aim towards an audience. We may appeal to their academic side or try an enable a reaction from the reader. Private writing is things we do not intend others to see (well except for that bathroom wall thing- perhaps that is public writing after all). The author does not have an audience in mind and writes only for themselves.
If we look at books such as, Bridget Jones's Diary, we see a clear example of private writing (that ironically, we all have access to). In her book the author, Helen Fielding, chooses a style in which there are no inhibitions, and through her character, Bridget, she can create a deeply personal and blatantly honest text.
We can perhaps assume then, that while writing a private text, the author is more honest and open- less restricted to what is socially acceptable and others' feelings. Which brings to mind the question: while reading public writings how honest is author being? and what are they really feeling? It would be wrong to assume all published writers are liars with a secret agenda; however, there may be something under the surface of the visible text. Something the writer had wished to express, but because of social confines had to modify or eliminate their opinion all together.

I hope my rambling wasn't too awful!
Until next time - Clare