Within all people there lies a potential to write. Inside of this idea that humans possess this ability to create something from nothing lies the individual. Delving into the individual is a further theory that a person is able to display that person’s sole thought process. This in turn allows for a completely distinct piece unlike any other. From the beginning of Donald Murray’s The Interior View: One Writer’s Philosophy of Composition the reader is able to instantly recognize, and relate to the personal process of writing.

The journey to completion in writing a piece on any subject in any form is a singular activity that is unique to that writer. As Murray states “A writer is an individual.” (Murray 26) the author explains from the very start of the writing process there is a “fundamental loneliness” (Murray 26) the writer experiences. Expanding on this loneliness the author points out that beginning this process there are only two things: the person writing, and a blank page. This is the “center of the process” (Murray 26) by which every person who is to approach the task of writing. This task of creating an original piece of literature may also be viewed as a discovery of one’s own personal course of thought. Just as a person’s path in life reflects onto him or her a distinct perspective, it is argued people’s writing should be just that. A collection of lifelong occurrences enable the writer to achieve the most positive outcome for the writing process. 

The empowerment of the pen allows for limitless possibilities. When examining the writer “who uses language” (Murray 27) in the forms of words, sentences, and paragraphs allow for the mind of both the writer and audience to evolve along with the literature. Just as Murray compares artists fitted along with their respective works, a writer must arrange “language that is always changing” (Murray 27) to successfully portray the uniqueness of a work. Word choice is a pivotal part of a piece that may make or break a segment when writing. Finding the correct combination of words in the extensive vocabulary available to an author is a puzzle-like task. Refraining from inhibiting the potential for responsible writing can often times become a challenge but even the “most irresponsible word play may come his most responsible writing” (Murray 27). 

 The third piece in the quad of Murray’s writing philosophy reads “to discover meaning in experience” (Murray 27). Including other author’s thoughts on why they write concludes that writing is a way of listening to an individual’s own personal thoughts. These insights available to the writer are unlike that of any other, allowed through free flowing thought on a page. When looking back on an episode in life one is able to develop a significance to remember the chosen moments in specific ways. Thinking along the with writing on experience allows for a person to place deeper meaning with thoughts, and those meanings take on memories of their own. 

“communicate it” (Murray 28) concludes the writing theory the author molded. Communication is the final and arguably most integral part out of the four steps to successful writing. Finishing with communication, one of the most important shows the reader that without this last part writing anything would lose purpose. When communicating there is a revision operation taking place in the writer’s mind that allows for the most effective style. “The good writer communicates by building…a sturdy discovery of thought.” (Murray 28). This is only achievable after the prior steps have been put in action and, as the author explains the writer should be displaying an entire experience as opposed to just reading language.

The next area of emphasis is placed on tweaking the full sentence “A writer is an individual who uses language to discover meaning in experience and communicate it.” (Murray 26) to accompany the student. While discovering meaning in experience and communication stay constant, there are two features added to the statements entirety. The first being “a student writer” being inserted before “an individual” (Murray 29). This simply allows for the reader to understand the slight difference when in a learning position as opposed to a more academic standpoint. The point is made that a student must find his own way through the writing process due to individuality just as those before him have. That is the only way a student may learn the writing process and display their works as an individual. 

Without there being a correct or incorrect way of writing due to the fact a student may make a mistake, however, this has the ability to lead to the right way of achieving something. These mistakes are only actual mistakes in the case that they make it to the final draft and serve no place to portray the author’s intended final message. Writing without including mistakes at some point in the draft process does not produce as genuine a work when compared to a well revised final draft that included “experiments that didn’t work” (Murray 30) at some point.

Manifesting itself within each writer is this interior view of how to perceive personal experiences and how they affect a writer’s expression on the page. Leaving no area unattended to, Donald Murray was able to clearly define the writing process that may be applied to every person. Using the combination of prestigious author’s views, personal insight, along with examples Murray is able to encompass all writers through a formula with the individual at the helm. Including variations of this formula allows for students to also be affiliated into the philosophy of writing. This process individuals are capable of is singular in that every writer will have a different way of completing a piece as well as a unique destination unlike any other.
