Lumber of the Beast
First, here is the obligatory Happy New Year! May this year be better than the last. For me, it has already had a better beginning. January 1st of 2006 my life was shattered. January 1st of 2007, the worst thing that happened is that I had to endure articles in the paper about my favorite team losing the game on the previous day. All in all, I’ll take the latter over the former (though some football fans would disagree). Enough about me, let’s get to some serious elucidation on writing!
Writing, in all forms, is a craft. True masters of this craft raise it into artistry. How does this help a budding writer maximize the impact of his endeavors? Allow me to elaborate with simile and metaphor.
Writing is like carpentry. The ability to swing a hammer does not mean a person is a carpenter. While this ability does allow an individual to create an impact, only with the use of more advanced tools and techniques can an individual create works worthy of entry into the illustrious guild. In time, the carpenter will develop a fine eye for his craft, being able to choose the finest of raw materials to use with his always increasing stock of ever improving tools and continually evolving techniques until he reaches the point of true artistry.
The written word is the writer’s hammer. Everyone who uses the written word is not a writer, but all can use it to make an impact. What else does a writer have in his tool box? What other techniques does he need to know?
Dictionaries, thesauruses and encyclopedias have been long standing tools in the writer’s tool box. Similes and metaphors are the most basic of techniques. Practice with these basic items can lead to ever increasing ability, allowing the writer to best choose his raw materials of words and subjects for the most useful application of advanced tools and techniques. With extensive practice, even the dullest of wits can produce true master works of poignant beauty.
So to all of the would be writers out there, I charge you with the following. Go out and repair some fences. Refinish some furniture. Examine quality works that have come before. Only when you have completed these tasks should you try to build your own. Start small. Build some bird houses and then move to more advanced pieces. I look forward to sitting at your newly constructed tables and admiring your fine wooden sculptures.
Writing, in all forms, is a craft. True masters of this craft raise it into artistry. How does this help a budding writer maximize the impact of his endeavors? Allow me to elaborate with simile and metaphor.
Writing is like carpentry. The ability to swing a hammer does not mean a person is a carpenter. While this ability does allow an individual to create an impact, only with the use of more advanced tools and techniques can an individual create works worthy of entry into the illustrious guild. In time, the carpenter will develop a fine eye for his craft, being able to choose the finest of raw materials to use with his always increasing stock of ever improving tools and continually evolving techniques until he reaches the point of true artistry.
The written word is the writer’s hammer. Everyone who uses the written word is not a writer, but all can use it to make an impact. What else does a writer have in his tool box? What other techniques does he need to know?
Dictionaries, thesauruses and encyclopedias have been long standing tools in the writer’s tool box. Similes and metaphors are the most basic of techniques. Practice with these basic items can lead to ever increasing ability, allowing the writer to best choose his raw materials of words and subjects for the most useful application of advanced tools and techniques. With extensive practice, even the dullest of wits can produce true master works of poignant beauty.
So to all of the would be writers out there, I charge you with the following. Go out and repair some fences. Refinish some furniture. Examine quality works that have come before. Only when you have completed these tasks should you try to build your own. Start small. Build some bird houses and then move to more advanced pieces. I look forward to sitting at your newly constructed tables and admiring your fine wooden sculptures.