I Was A Terrible Writer: Proof to Inspire Others to Keep at It

The way back machine offers this college era writing that is just dreadful.

College Essays are among the least pleasant genre of writing . I have a number of issues with the structure of education, but if of the issues is we both force young people to write too little, and about things too dreadfully boring. If everyone was forced to write a daily newsletter they would get better fast. Having me write about my favorite book, less good. This is the completely unedited piece I wrote about a book I love, and the writing is just so painfully bad, I am sharing it with my readers who think I sprung from the womb as a good writer. I am not, and in that there is hope!

—Owen Scott Muir, M.D.

Victor Frankenstein and His Monster: Misery Hates Company

     Victor Frankenstein and the monster he creates share many qualities.  Both of them are eloquent and are exquisitely sensitive to their emotions.  Most importantly however, they are both miserable bastards who spend a substantial portion of the story bemoaning their fates.  

     As soon as Victor creates the monster h…