May 30, 2005 8:54 AM
The best writing
It's funny, but often when people set out with the goal of producing their best writing, they end up with their worst. They try too hard and the strain is evident.
The best writing is simple and effortless - so effortless that the reader has no idea the work that went into it. All they know is how easy it was to get from beginning to end - as though the author took them by the hand and led them, then waved a fond farewell.
This doesn't mean the subject matter can't be weighty. It's just that a good writer has the ability to take weighty matters and make them look light - like a picture I once saw of a sumo wrestler in tutu and toe shoes in the midst of an entrechat.
C. S. Lewis did this well, which is why he has such enormous appeal. Though we would classify him as an intellectual, he never came across as someone who would classify himself that way - just as someone excited about his ideas and eager to communicate them.
The best communicators don't have to remind us of their gifts to get or hold our attention. In fact, because they want to impact as wide an audience as possible, they work to come across as "just one of us." Ronald Reagan was the Great Communicator because he understood this. And he was no dummy, as the media elites would have had us believe. He had a wealth of ideas to share, as witness the writing collected in In His Own Hand.
Then there's Jesus. Back in the 90's, a revolution swept through the Christian writing community as we all finally realized that of all the writing gurus out there, we Christian writers had the best teacher of all - one who kept things simple and kept things real.
My own motto is from an old Frank Capra film called Meet John Doe: Say something simple and real. Something with hope in it.
The other equally important thing any aspiring writer needs to know is this: it doesn't matter how much your experience speaks to you. What matters is if it speaks to your reader.
This is called take-away value.
No matter how interesting your experience, unless what you write has take-away value, it has no value at all. Here's a clue: If I's march across your writing with the unremitting force of an occupational army, you can bet your writing is just about you. And while that's okay on the blogosphere - because, let's face it, anyone can publish here and never find out whether they're any good or not (relatives and friends don't count and people tend to delete their detractors) - aspiring writers need to subject their writing to this test: What is the take-away?
Writing is the one thing almost everyone thinks they can do. When I meet new writers at conferences, they are almost always surprised by the critique process and how much they need to learn. Some are taken aback completely by the amount of work involved inproducing good writing. Some are angry or resentful. Those who are truly called and truly teachable press on.
But think about it: A writer is an artist, like any other artist. No one can wake up and decide to be a concert pianist without committing to years of study. Neither can a real writer.
While the blogosphere has leveled the playing field in giving everyone a chance to self-publish, writers aspiring to professional publication will never find here all they need here to grow. While it is good practice to write every day, even those with raw talent have a craft to learn, which the blogosphere - with its lack of experienced feedback - works to thwart. Bloggers with loyal followings are always at risk of becoming unteachable - a sad place for any believer to be.
These words are not meant for ordinary bloggers, but for those who feel called to write for publication. If you are one of these, please answer your call. Become teachable. Start by attending a Christian writers conference, or look into an online mentoring program.
I am always excited by writers I "discovered," like Kathleen Popa,whose articles I critiqued a few years ago at Mount Hermon - she was already quite good!- and who kept coming back until now she has a multi-book contract.
I've also seen aspiring writers come who had great ideas and apparently not much talent. But their passion to communicate their ideas motivated them to work hard until they were able to.
Teachability. As in all other areas of life, it's what separates the wheat from the chaff.
Comments
Thank you for the timely reminder.
Posted by: Meredith | May 31, 2005 12:24 AM
Great info. Thanks for sharing your experiences, specifically as they relate to blogging.
Following your advice, hubby and I are attending our first Christian writer's conference this weekend (on our 10th wedding anniversary). We're both looking forward to it.
I hope to remain teachable...not only in writing, but in other areas of life. (Ouch. Struck a nerve there in anothre area.)
Be blessed.
Posted by: Lexie | May 31, 2005 9:20 AM
Just stopped by for a little writing inspiration. Thanks for making it available.
(Catching a glimpse of your writing area as I skim this category made me smile. What a cool place.)
Posted by: Lexie | August 13, 2005 6:24 PM
