The writer as a social phenomenon

Anybody who writes is considered a writer, even if none of his writings is ever published. A writer’s life is essentially lonely because he has to write all by himself. His constant and faithful companion is his music so any writer should cultivate a taste for good music. Nobody would choose writing as his life-long work or hobby unless he is truly enamoured with the beauty of the written word!
Writing is a highly specialized skill as a writer must be able to put his thoughts clearly and precisely in writing. He must be able to integrate his thoughts into a coherent whole so that his readers are able to understand the topic under discussion. A writer must be able to help his readers “see the splendour in the grass and the glory in the flower” or “see the world in a grain of sand and hold eternity in the palm of his hand” as so aptly put by the English poet, William Wordsworth ( 1770-1850). Therefore, he is also an artist.
A writer has a responsibility towards his readers. It is his responsibility to establish that what he writes is the truth and that his writing does not corrupt the readers in thought and deed. A writer is irresponsible to advocate dishonesty, theft or murder. He has to have integrity because whatever he writes must be true. It is unethical for a writer to put somebody in a bad light because he has an axe to grind with the person. Vindictiveness is pettiness of character and true writers do not indulge in such unfair practices.
Sometimes a writer plays the role of a social critic. All societies have their shortcomings and irregularities. Such a writer would normally highlight the shortcomings in his society in the hope that the people involved do something about them. When a writer criticizes a situation he never does it out of vindictiveness but does it with the hope that something positive materializes from his writing. Society or an individual should never take such criticisms negatively and react childishly to them. Instead, they should resolve to turn a bad situation around. If they are unable to see constructive criticisms in a positive light how is there going to be progress and improvement? Some people equate criticism with disloyalty. It has nothing to do with loyalty but with the desire to see change.
Some writers are misunderstood and at times some people try to curtail a writer’s freedom of expression. They try to dictate as to what could or could not be written. No writer worth his salt would take kindly to such interference. As such, writers and others in the expressive arts would not thrive in a country where freedom of expression is controlled and where closed-mindedness is the norm. In fact, dictatorships would watch writers closely because anything in print affects society powerfully. Writers are found in abundance in the “cultured” cities of Paris, New York and London because western societies are mature and comfortable with almost anything. Any society needs people who would dare to criticize and to speak up for social justice and betterment.
A writer is therefore a social phenomenon and only a mature society would feel comfortable with the writer who highlights its weaknesses, showing up its rot and maggots. Such a society nurtures the writer, the poet, the playwright, or the artist. Is the Malaysian society ready and mature enough for the writer? If, as a society we like to sweep our rot and maggots under the carpet and pretend they aren’t there, we aren’t ready for the writer. If, however, we are brave enough to acknowledge that weaknesses exist in our society then we are ready for the writer to exist in our midst.