What Makes Writing Worth Reading?

Grading papers is not usually the highlight of my day, but I look forward to Fridays because that's the day my students turn in their writing journals. Each night of the week, the students are expected to write for 20 minutes. They can write in any format about any topic which results in an often delightful afternoon for me. I get to read plays, comic strips, stories about space hamsters, reports on African animals...anything imaginable. What appeals to me the most about reading my students writing is not the topics they choose, but they way they choose to express themselves. The lack of formality is almost shocking at times, but I feel that I truly know my students. Voice is what makes writing worth reading...the writers ability to share herself with an audience without hiding behind a set of conventions that stifle creativity. I always hated writing when I was younger because I never felt as though I could communicate as myself. Until I got to college, my goal during writing assignments was to please a teacher, not necessarily express my own ideas and feelings. The unapologetic frankness with which my students express themselves is not only humorous but refreshing. As an adult, I've also grown to enjoy books written in the same manner. I love to travel, and reading first hand accounts of travel adventures is something I love to do, especially when they are not written by a "writer". I also love to read my students books that aren't afraid to say what most teachers tell their students not to write about. For example, I'm currently reading The Day my Butt went Psycho (does anyone know how to underline?) to my class. The enthusiasm generated by that book and the reactions garnered by the author's use of imagery are enough to convince me that writing worth reading is anything which is meant to be unapologetic.