What Isn't About Writing?

In talking about this blog, I've made the comment that I could turn any subject into a post on writing. Though I say it in jest, it's probably true. This can only mean one of two things. Either I am an excellent BSer, or everything actually is related to writing.

I like to believe that it is the latter option. After all, what is writing? It is either a record of things humans have done or it is a story meant to sound like such a record. So if writing is a record of humanity, then any subject about people is automatically related to writing.

Humanity is more than just humans. Humanity is also about human actions. Subjects like relationships, building things, doing jobs, all are part of human existence, and thus are related to writing.

But humanity is even more than that. Humanity is a lens through which we see the world. When we see two animals together, say a pair of cats, and we see them running around, playing together, eating from the same dish, sleeping next to each other, we view them through a human lens. Those cats affect us because we see the humanity in them. They have feelings, relationships, and desires, just like us. So since everything we see is through a lens of humanity, that means that everything can be tied back to writing, since it is a record of humanity.

So, to all writers, I have a bit of advice: take a step back, polish off your lens, and really look around. Look at all the things that you don't pay attention to. Look at the things that you always see, but never think about. Those are the things nobody talks about. Those are the wells full of untapped ideas that will give you all sorts of material to work with. And, failing that, ask your friend to give you a subject that isn't about writing, and then make it about writing.