Rules of Literary Journalism?

After reading the Kramer's "Eight Breakable Rules for Literary Journalists," as the title suggests, I began to see them as nothing more than boundaries, either of thought or practice for the journalist. These parameters are determined by how the writer wishes to come across to his readers and source. Reconciling the truth of the occurrence and emotion is the key to maintaining the integrity of a piece. Subjectivity, inherent within the act of writing, allows people to explore the world and people within their existing realm of understanding, while also discovering entirely new lenses, through which to see the world.

The story he chooses to sculpt from his experiences depends on his depth of introspection of his experience during the writing process. Kramer writes, “This is the level that we think about our own everyday lives, when we’re not fooling ourselves.” Although this level of understanding is necessary to portray the drama of everyday people, it is impossible to understand every nuance, mannerism, and idiosyncrasy of a person’s character.

For me, the salient point of the articles is the importance of a definitive voice. The tone of a piece is determined by the personality of the journalist, who may put any spin on the person or event he observes. They are people watchers observing and painting a portrait of life for others to view and react.

Literary journalism is constructed to bring forth a certain perspective that cannot, by definition, emerge as objective. In writing a personal essay, it is almost impossible to write without bias. You are the one deciding what aspects of yourself to show the reader. What events you choose to seems significant must not detract from the main focus of your piece. Narrative journalism is supposed to convey a part of the human experience. To neglect to portray the subject, whether it is yourself or another person, honestly with imperfections and vulnerabilities, keeps the audience from connecting to your writing.

In the articles read for this week, the writers brought real meaning and personal connection to their audiences. I really related to the “Migration” one, because my parents recently uprooted and moved to North Carolina from my hometown, that I was not particularly sad to leave. The simple act of moving was taken into a bigger realm of existence, questing the value placed on different parts of experience. The “Badge of Courage” article also does the same as it describes a woman’s search for a symbolic physical representation of her battle with cancer. Her description of the YES moment has led me to think about times in my life where I had the sort of epiphany that requires capital letters.

For me, writing the personal essay is a terrifying thought. I can think off the top of my head three or four different experiences that have greatly shaped my life, forming a convoluted tapestry of events that has brought me to my current disposition. However, it’s hard to separate them and focus on maybe one with clues to how subsequent events all relate to one another.

Also it scares me to put myself out there, on the internet, so nakedly. This project requires me to reflect and determine how an experience has affected me and honestly write about it. As someone, who rarely has a loss for words, yet internalizes and keeps quiet her real emotions, I cannot fathom writing my feelings in a forum where other people will actually read them. In the meantime, I will have to do a lot of thinking about how to relate to others through my writing. Defining my “I” will prove to be an interesting and, I hope, liberating experience.