This morning I received an email asking me for writing advice. That advice, I herein publicize.
I pray a lot when I’m writing. I do this because more and more I believe what Socrates said, that—I think he used the term poets, but I’ll say artists—artists are something of a medium. Ideas, great ideas, come from some other source than the physical world. They are inspiration, and so I am praying for new ideas constantly.
That said, when I have an idea I cannot immediately write it down. When such is the case, I’ll often follow a piece of advice from my father. He told me, “If it is worth writing, it is worth writing poorly.” So, I have an inarticulate idea I cannot write, I force myself to write, and it’s terrible. I read what I wrote, write it again, and it’s a little better. Eventually, I try to reach the point where writing becomes something like dreaming. Through all this, I am still praying.
When I am not actually writing there are still things I do to improve my ability to write. Part of this came from a good education. Having a firm grasp of the rules of grammar is invaluable. Thinking, thinking deeply and critically, cannot be overly stressed. Even a mundane point can be a source of hours of intense thought. Practice articulating arguments with others, you’ll realize you’re not as clear spoken as you think, and you’ll learn how to communicate.
To read the rest, please follow this link: Regarding Writing
Tale Told 