Early thoughts on writing better
We can improve our writing. I have posted a few little essays about that here. We can begin to identify processes whereby we can better our writing. Here is an early post with my attempt to identify such processes.
The following sentences point to ways to improve our writing which may be obvious:
~ Read my posts here.
~ Read for pleasure with some awareness of the writing process.
~ Read about writing.
~ Try to see how your favorite writer wrote.
~ Study under a good writing teacher.
~ Join a writing group.
~ Form a writing group.
~ Start writing.
~ Keep writing.
We can learn by practice. I hope to be learning as I essay this writing. I intend to pass on as much of what in seem to be learning as I can. I have tried to follow all of the suggestions above accept joining a group for writing and forming a writing group.
Participation in a writing group strikes me as being an agreeable and productive activity. I have read about writing groups and there is a special kind of group which I find attractive. A kind of group improved and practiced by a special teacher and writer, an Englishman by the name of Peter Elbow. One of his books is entitled Writing Without Teachers. The following is in large part my interpretation of some of this book.It is an accessible work which offers a variety of help for writers. A secondary title for that book might well be THE POWER OF GOOD FEEDBACK.
There are plenty of books about improving ones writing and some of them are very good, but this one by Mr Elbow is high in my consciousness. I have written more about this special kind of writing group in other essays on this site. I believe that we can learn a lot by helping others better their craft. I suspect that our learning can be better as members of a writing group.
Many find that our writing practice can be part of an important personal growth process. As our writing develops so do we. It seems a good deal As we grow and mature, our writing gets better. as our writing gets better, we grow and mature.
We may not be surprised to find that while while completing a single piece. the writer herself may be surprised that she grows grows and matures with her writing.
My Recent Experience:
I have found that I am now not surprised that I can find a "center of gravity" in a piece of work as I write it. I have found that it may move around as I write. But find it is most often the pleasant process of discovering the sharp short form of what what it is am really writing about.
The list below includes ways, I have gathered from Mr. Elbow, for getting a center of gravity or unifying theme around which I can organize my writing. I am trying to be helpful and this could my way of saying that you have my blessing to stray from your original outline. Even so, discovering your real unifying theme could be more useful than your outline or your original idea.
Okay, here's the list:
~ Starting with X because it seems more believable than Y; note that as you write about X, that you are beginning to understand about Y.
~ Continue your struggle with X and Y and see "A" come up.`
~ As you write along you may honestly say, "Ah, now I see what I have been getting at."
~ Finish what you have been writing about. Put it aside for a time. See useful implications as you look it over again.
~ See that your good idea is crap. Then see that part of the crap looks less crappy. You sort out the good parts from the bad. You do not have to throw anything. Some of it may turn out to be better than your favorite idea.
~ Your first writing may prove a good scaffolding for your next writing.
~ You find a powerful spark in a tiny digression. You keep the same elements of your work, but change the whole orientation for the better.
~ As you progress in your writing, be alert to emerging focus of theme.
~ If nothing emerges, sum up that which you have written, then sum it up again.
~ Push yourself a bit to keep getting some center of gravity or summing up to occur.
~ Work gradually toward moderation of extreme positions.
Don't try to do all of the above at once every time! In fact you may find other ways of doing things excellent for you. For example you may find it better for you to work allout in your mind before beginning to write. I understand that some do so very well. Many of us do something very like the above, turn out good work, and find out that we learn a lot in the process. You may benefit a great deal by rereading the items above and then comparing them to your process. I have found that at times just one of these items can be saver.
Peter is a great teacher and better writer. The entirety of the book I have mentioned is mostly about writing groups and the center of gravity for this book of his could well be The Power of Feedback.
Several of essays on this site deal with writing groups.
Thank you for reading.
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RCS