We Can Be Heroes

A while ago, we did a post about the Pirate Store in San Francisco. These are photos I found recently showing the other similar shops, all set up by Dave Eggers and his 826National programme promoting literacy and writing in public schools and the community.

I bring this particular post up again as a small thought for people, as I've had so many talks recently with fellow students who feel they have difficulty with writing and theory. Perhaps it's the looming due dates we have with annotated bibliographies and what not, but the general consensus is that people are still fighting the same fight (or what they think is a fight) with the written word.

The 826National programme takes back the power from the difficulties of literacy and gives it back to the author. Through the guise of superheroes, spies and pirates, Eggers is able to communicate the idea that writing isn't something to be scared of, that things only have power when you are ready to give it power.

I think that perhaps, it isn't until we can do this ourselves, that we can fully realise our own writing capacities. Perhaps instead, a knocking down of pedastals is needed. Too much pressure on oneself to perform at a high standard all of the time just wears on the spirit. Take the classic example of the sophomore album, musicians cracking under the pressure of producing something better and more spectacular. You, however, are not asked to be writing masterpieces. Only to be writing at the best of your ability. More often than not, that is much more than good enough.

The 826National programme is something I like to keep in the back of my mind as a way of keeping pressure at bay. Sometimes, you just need to be reminded that writing (and perhaps other things in life), is only as 'serious and difficult' (oh yeah I went there...) as you make it to be.

Writing is your Friend. Don't be fightin' with it. O.K.

- Agnes

p.s. This post is dedicated to those stressing about their a.b. Yes. You.