The Dialogue Between Teacher and Student:
Through the Words of Jay Stewart

Dr. Brooks :   When you look back on your lifetime of writing, what do you hope to be able to say about your long-term motives for writing?

Jay Stewart:   First off, I would say that I have been writing for fun or personal entertainment since I was in the 8 th grade (or about 6 years).   I remember sitting in my room memorizing the song lyrics of all of my favorite bands.   At that time period is when I started learning that one could really express his emotions when putting them on paper and make it seem so beautiful.   I was quite inspired by the way some of these writers could express their rage and anger with such energy that the person listening to the song or reading the lyrics could nearly feel the same rage and anger.   Then I got in a band and I was the lead singer.   I copied off my idols' styles of rhyming lyrics of emotions and wanted to do the same.   However, about two years after I started that silly writing, I realized that there could be so much more.   Rather than just putting my words onto paper I also wanted to expand my mind.   I learned this from another singer/songwriter named Brandon Boyd of the band Incubus.   He wrote lyrics that didn't always rhyme and used alliteration, metaphors, symbolism of all sorts, and words that were very grandiloquent.   I remember reading some of his words and not even knowing what they meant.   That's when I decided that I wanted to write as an educated writer rather than just someone who puts mindless, thoughtless words onto paper.   Ever since then that has been my main goal in writing; always just trying to write lyrics/poems filled with literary devices and words with creative meanings.   So to answer the question, I would say my main motive is to always write something better than what I have already written because it is nonsense to rewrite something you have already written.

Dr. Brooks:   That's a wonderful answer and very well thought out!   It also leads me to my next question...What do you hope your writing will have accomplished for you and others?

Jay:   Well, I'm glad you asked that because I wanted to explain that I love sharing what I write with others.   Normally I like to put my lyrics to songs, but there have been times when I would write poems for girlfriends.   I have always felt that taking the time to express my feelings to the girl I love in a poem is the best gift I can give; especially when I had no money!   But to answer your question, I have always hoped that people can relate to what I'm saying/singing when I share my words.   I was in another band one time and I wrote a song called "Adoption" because I was adopted and had some feelings to share about my adoption.   Several people listened to the song and I received many e-mails and other sorts of messages regarding the song from listeners who felt as if I were "writing the song about them."   That is a very gratifying comment and I love hearing things like that any time I share my emotions.   But within myself, I just hope to accomplish something better than before all of the time.

Dr. Brooks:   Wow, you really had people share those same feelings as you and give you those words? That's amazing.   Well, how do you hope your lifetime of writing will be judged or viewed by others?

Jay:   Quite honestly, I don't hope that my writing is judged because obviously I am no "big name author" and I don't think I can contend with the famous authors.   I just hope to gain respect for having the courage to put my feelings out there for others to hear; however, sometimes it's a little bit harder to share with others.

Dr. Brooks:   I can completely understand, Jay, and it does take a lot of courage to do that sometimes.   I fully respect you for that!   But, what would you say are your highest long-term motives for writing?   Do you hope your writing helps you seek fame, influence, entertainment, fun, self understanding, truth, knowledge, understanding, justice, social change, love, friendship, beauty?   Please take your pick!

Jay:   Well, frankly, I hope my writing seeks all of those mentioned and then-some.   I have wanted to be a famous "rockstar" since a very young age and I have always felt that my writing of lyrics and songs was a way to do that.   I also have some poems about friends who messed up in life and even some about mistakes I have made in the past that I hope can influence people to make the right decisions.   It is also very fun and entertaining to write especially when I finish something that I know is great; and I can tell it's great because after I play a song people can recite words back to me.   I always hope to achieve the truth through my words to get a better self understanding because sometimes I just sit down and write because I'm confused and it's a way to just get your thoughts together.   Like I said before, I've written songs for girlfriends, so I obviously write for and because of love.   But I think what is most important to me is the knowledge that I put into something I write, and what I can take out of what I write.

Dr. Brooks:   That's all very interesting, but I have one final question.   How would you consider yourself among other writers?

Jay:   Wow, that is a tricky one!   I guess I would say that I consider myself an adamant writer.   I love doing it.   Sometimes I find myself in class re-writing song lyrics by writers I look up to that have struck a nerve or that I find interesting or sometimes I even just start writing poems of the top of my head.   I would say that I am always thinking of a line to start with.   Every second of the day I think of the situation I am in and how I could turn it into a verse in a song.   It's kind of dorky, I know, but it's basically like habit.   But among other writers I would say that I consider myself the fish that is just too big to be caught.   You always hear about that historic fish that no man has been able to catch, that is almost a myth or a legend.   Well, sometimes I feel that people will eventually just not come out at the right time to find me.   But I feel that in the future my writing will be something I would love to offer the world, even if it is in just one song or one poem.   I love sharing what I write; all I ask for is the chance.

Dr. Brooks:   Well, Jay, I have enjoyed hearing your words greatly and I hope for you that one day you will "be caught."   If I were grading you on what I just heard, you would get an A+, most definitely!