I’ve always enjoyed looking at the world through a creative lens. I don’t believe in the “Black & White”; almost everything in nature is complex and nuanced. There are limits, but there are exceptions to these limits. Nature contradicts itself all the time. It made the game that we all play, so it can do whatever it likes.
But because of this fluid way of thinking, it’s very difficult for me to see the world as static. And when it comes to writing, since I’ve spent most of my life trying to get better at writing creatively, I’ve never really used my free time to learn how to write technically unless it was in an academic setting. This became evident when I tried writing a grant proposal for the first time. I thought that since I’ve spent a lot of time writing on my own time, it would be a natural fit for me. However, despite how much I enjoy writing, I typically write a bit slowly (if I can). Sometimes I jump into what the next paragraph might be like in my head before I’m even done with the current one. Yet after spending some time trying to edit, revise, and add to the proposal, I finally had to force myself to look at this project with fresh eyes.
Technical writing is a skill that involves explaining a subject precisely. The writer doesn’t explain a topic any more than they need to. Instead of using academic jargon, they use simple language that any reader can understand. “Short and sweet”, as the saying goes. Of course, whenever I think of nature, I always think of it more in the poetic or philosophical sense, not in the most simplest terms. Someone will say the sky is blue and I would say it’s cobalt, then light purple at twilight, then orange in the morning. I overthink things--it’s in my nature. While learning how to write technically, I had to try and dismantle this behavior. It’s something I will have to learn how to do time and time again.
And as I started thinking more about technical writing, I started seeing it in places I never really thought about before. A guide before a trail post informing hikers about trail etiquette before they enjoy the forest. A careful biography detailing the life of a poet. Or a grant proposal for an environmental organization that educates people about how complex the natural surroundings in our community are. People need to know the basics so they can enjoy the intricacies of life. Funny how that works?
So if anyone asks me what color the sky is, I’ll tell you that it’s blue because that’s how most people see it. Even if it’s technically cobalt that day.
Jessica, a half-year member serving at the Green Mountain Conservation Group, is really enjoying the beautiful New England fall weather and is looking forward to apple-picking this year. You can learn more about Jess here!