Wednesday, April 22, 2009

For the Love of Writing

This is my song to writers who straddle two worlds, people who are commercial writers by day and artistic writers by night. And this is my paean to people who work by day, whether as mother and homemaker, shoe salesman, CEO, or waitress, and who in their free time turn to their true passion whether that be writing a novel, poem, children's book, opera, short story or song lyric. You may feel privileged that you've given yourself this second job of making art. And I'll bet it sometimes feels as though you are cursed. Your second shift begins after dinner, after the children have quieted down. That is when you begin anew because the artist inside beckons and you must answer; because you know you can do this, and because it is something you must do to nourish your soul.

I know something about being a commercial writer by day and a novelist by night. I'm now in the final stages of a novel I started writing in May 2002. Below are a few strategies that might help you live the life of a part-time artist with grace and equanimity (when you're tempted to give leave of your senses).

Trust. It takes time. It's a journey. Trust yourself that you will never quit until you get it right. Trust that the forces of the universe will align to give you exactly what you need, exactly when you need it. Trust that you'll know when its done and you will give it up to the world when it is at its best. Trust that all this will happen in its own time.

Take out the trash. (Courtesy of Dan Millman's The Way of The Peaceful Warrior.) By this I mean take the trash out of your mind. Examples of trash: Boy, that's great writing! This is dreck! My readers will close the book on me! I'm brilliant! I'll never get this right! I've got this knocked! Damn, this is good! I can't write! I'll never finish! That's so flatfooted! No one could possibly understand this, no less love it! (In fact, when you're in this place, thinking these thoughts, you may be on the verge of the most universal stuff; it can go from ''nobody will understand this'' to ''everyone can and will understand this'' in an instant, if only you take out the trash, simplify and stick with it.)

Don't talk about it too much. Just write it. Writers have talked themselves out of stories by telling the story to too many people before they write it. Don't tacitly ask for permission to write your story. No one but you can give yourself permission to write it. Just write it.

Stay in the moment. (Courtesy of Dan Millman's The Way of The Peaceful Warrior.) There are no ordinary moments. Something important is always happening. Be part of it what is happening around you. Turn off the observer-artist that wants to stay aloof and only observe and write about what is happening. As much as possible, be part of what is happening around you.

Don't hold onto your artistic writing too tightly. Avoid getting all your identity from your artistic writing while, to yourself, you trash your commercial writing or your day job. Find the love in what you do. Every day I write, I swim in an ocean of creativity. I think we all do. We're creative in our day job; we're creative in our night job. I believe my artistic writing informs my commercial writing and the other way around. So it's not: I'm an artistic writer who happens to be writing marketing communications. It's: I'm both the artistic writer and the commercial writer. I get enjoyment and identity from both.

Don't forget to have a life. Enjoy the journey. That is all there is. (Courtesy of Dan Millman's The Way of the Peaceful Warrior.) Sometimes I won't write at night to give myself a break. That way, I'll be less likely to get burned out. Sometimes the best thing you can do to finish your story is to go see a movie.

Note: Last month's EWA brought e-mail from Kim Kaminski who wrote, ''This is absolutely your best newsletter thus far... I see a new dimension to your writing and I love your essay 'On Love of Little Words.'''

And from Gloria Rosenstock who wrote that her son ''mentioned he enjoys reading your EWAs. He finds them helpful tutorials for improving his daily business writing! A huge compliment from a young man resistant to slowing down for details.''

And from Katy Barrilleaux who wrote, ''I enjoy your emails and love this topic. Are you going to put it up on your blog?'' (Yes, you will find this an other EWAs on my blog at http://excitingwritingblog.blogspot.com)

And from Susan Mardele who wrote, ''Excellent advisory. One thing I've used to get unstuck is to envision that my higher self, guiding principle, God, whatever, already has the piece written. All I have to do is start it, and it will 'channel' through me.'' (I find this to be a deeply moving thought.)

Sound-alike Words: Do You Hear What I Hear?

Let's begin with two definitions:

A homonym denotes two or more words spelled and pronounced alike that have different meanings, for example, ''a quail,'' a game bird, and the verb ''to quail,'' to wither.

A homophone denotes two or more words pronounced alike but different in meaning, derivation or spelling, for example, ''two'' and ''too.''

These technical distinctions do not interest me. What interests me is helping people who struggle to become better writers by confronting the intricacies of ''sound-alike words.'' That is how I will refer to these word pairs and triads:

Factious, given to forming parties or factions in opposition to governments
Fractious, tending to cause or make trouble
Facetious, jocular or witty in an inappropriate or silly manner

Complacent means pleased or satisfied with the way things are, with how they affect one's self. It also means self-satisfied or smug.
Complaisant means attempting or eager to please or satisfy, obliging or affable.

Thus, complacent refers to a satisfied state of mind. Complaisant refers to a disposition
to behave or conduct oneself in a way that pleases or satisfies others, not yourself. They almost have opposite meanings, yet they sound virtually the same.

Discrete means separate or distinct. The scientists isolated five discrete viruses that they believe are responsible for causing the medical condition.
Discreet means showing good judgment, especially in terms of holding one's tongue. The best butlers are discreet. It can also mean modesty and unpretentiousness. For example, the discreet elegance of an interior décor, or a discreet neighborhood where no one puts on airs (affects an upper crust accent) and goes about his (or her) business. The word discretion is first cousin to discreet. It means displaying the quality of being discreet. Everyone confided in him because he was the height of discretion.

Allude means to hint at or refer to in passing. He alluded to the effects of a strong Euro and a relatively weak dollar. She alluded to the wide-spread aspirations created by a burgeoning middle class.
Elude means to escape, get away with. He went through security with more than an ounce of water and somehow managed to elude detection. The trio managed to elude police despite a high-speed chase.

Gorilla is an ape.
Guerrilla (1 U, 2Rs and 2Ls) is a kind of soldier or warfare.

An eminent person is someone who is well known. A cardinal in the Catholic Church is sometimes called his eminence, meaning someone who is revered or well known.
Immanent means staying within, inherent. It also means taking place only in the mind, not outside it. This word also has a theological meaning, dwelling in the universe or dwelling in time. Making matters more complicated, imminent means something that is about to happen.

Abstract means difficult to understand, theoretical or detached. It also means a short synopsis or summary of an article's main points. Oddly enough, abstract also means ''to steal,'' as in, ''He abstracted the attention of the professor.''
Abstruse means difficult to understand or dense.

Would you like more sound-alike words next month? Send me a note and allude to your favorites.

Words We Can Do Without: All, Even, Just and That

So many people say the key to happiness is finding your mission in life and living out its essence every day. I'm lucky enough to know my mission is writing and educating others on its finer points. That's why I'm so happy to be issuing my monthly ExcitingWriting Advisories. Let's get started with four little words I suggest you use sparingly: all, even, just and that.

The other day, I found myself thinking about all the ways we use words. Scratch ''all!'' Let me start over: The other day, I found myself thinking about the ways we use words.

Is the word ''all'' necessary?

Consider:
How do I love thee? Let me count all the ways.
How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.


Would we find Elizabeth Barrett Browning's poem as memorable with ''all'' in the first line?

Consider these:
Arrest all people who break laws.
Arrest people who break laws.

Color in all the blank squares below.
Color in the blank squares below.

All people have their good and bad sides.
People have their good and bad sides.


The above sentences without ''all'' are stronger and more respectful of the reader. Their attitude is calmer, less preachy and more appealing because they're missing one little word. Notice I chose not to write ''all because.''

Look: There may be a place for ''all,'' for example, when you're giving instructions and you want to make certain the person understands: Color in all the blank squares below. However, if I wanted to be emphatic, I would write, Color in the blank squares below. Check your work and make sure you don't miss any. I think it's far more respectful when you use a separate sentence to express that thought.

Getting even with ''even.''

Even you have faults.
You have faults.

Everyone is trying harder. Even he is.
He is trying harder, just like everyone else.

He collects everything, even pennies.
He collects everything, including pennies.

Even when Jim applied himself, his output was average.
When Jim applied himself, his output was average.

Even if you're extremely lucky, your chances are not very good.
If you're extremely lucky, your chances are not very good.


My point? ''Even'' is another one of those words that act as the moral equivalent of a blinking neon sign. Yes, it can be used to express surprise about an unlikely event; however, invariably, I prefer alternative sentences that avoid using the word.

Delete ''just''

I want just the facts!
I want the facts!

Just because you're intelligent doesn't mean you shouldn't try hard.
You're intelligent. Does that mean you shouldn't try hard?

We got there just in time.
We got there in time.


You get the point.

Write without ''that''

I think that you're intelligent.
I think you're intelligent.

I say that a person is only human.
I say a person is only human.

I believe that all men are created equal.
I believe all men are created equal.

This is the gift that we give each other, the gift of love.
This is the gift we give each other, the gift of love.


Some sentences require the word ''that;'' however, it is often unnecessary. When it is, leave it out!

''All,'' ''even,'' ''just'' and ''that:'' I am not suggesting you never use those words. I am suggesting that each time you want to use them, you see if you like the sentence better after you rewrite it without that word. Give it a try!

It's just better writing.
Scratch that. It's better writing!