What It Takes to be a Good Writer & Other Lessons
“Writers are made, for anybody who isn’t illiterate can write; but geniuses of the writing art like Melville, Whitman or Thoreau are born.” - Jack Kerouac
Is this quote inspiring? Absolutely. Does it paint an accurate picture of the process it takes to become a great writer? Absolutely not. The path to greatness is ongoing (jury's still out on what it takes to be a genius. I hear blueberries can help, though). And sure, sometimes writers may feel frustrated with their work, but it’s important to maintain perspective on the overall journey. Anytime I lose sight of how far I’ve come, I take a moment to look at the photo below—that, or lik a nice book. Usually one does the trick.
Is this quote inspiring? Absolutely. Does it paint an accurate picture of the process it takes to become a great writer? Absolutely not. The path to greatness is ongoing (jury's still out on what it takes to be a genius. I hear blueberries can help, though). And sure, sometimes writers may feel frustrated with their work, but it’s important to maintain perspective on the overall journey. Anytime I lose sight of how far I’ve come, I take a moment to look at the photo below—that, or lik a nice book. Usually one does the trick.
Image: I lik books, 1998
While a particular piece may be great, great writers know there are always opportunities to improve. Unfortunately, there's no easy way to get from point A(verage) to B(itchin’-Ass Work) without reading a lot, shitty first drafts, and being open to learning from your mistakes. Speaking of which, mistakes don't have to be colossal to have an impact. No, sometimes even the smallest memories have something to teach us, and I hope mine are able to do just that for you.
Spellcheck is Everything
I worked hard on Valints Day is Coming. Just to be safe, I even took the time to "copyrite" it. But, the U.S. Government doesn’t recognize copyrite law (yet). Taking the time to spellcheck your writing is a small way to make a big difference in the quality of your work overall. That said, sparkly heart stickers may very well lessen the impact of the typo depending on your audience. Apply sparingly.
I worked hard on Valints Day is Coming. Just to be safe, I even took the time to "copyrite" it. But, the U.S. Government doesn’t recognize copyrite law (yet). Taking the time to spellcheck your writing is a small way to make a big difference in the quality of your work overall. That said, sparkly heart stickers may very well lessen the impact of the typo depending on your audience. Apply sparingly.
Image: Valints Day is Coming, 1998
Write from Experience
When I wrote One Day in the Park, I was tasked with writing a story about nature. As a born-and-raised New Yorker, the only jungle I’d ever encountered was concrete. While I didn’t have the most intimate relationship with Mother Nature, I knew I’d spent time with her in my own way and wrote about that. Writers must be able to adapt to all sorts of topics. So, even if you're writing about something with which you are unfamiliar, put your own personal spin on it to make your writing more relatable (not only to your audience, but to yourself).
When I wrote One Day in the Park, I was tasked with writing a story about nature. As a born-and-raised New Yorker, the only jungle I’d ever encountered was concrete. While I didn’t have the most intimate relationship with Mother Nature, I knew I’d spent time with her in my own way and wrote about that. Writers must be able to adapt to all sorts of topics. So, even if you're writing about something with which you are unfamiliar, put your own personal spin on it to make your writing more relatable (not only to your audience, but to yourself).
Image: One Day In the Park, 1999
Timing Matters
Picture it: Red velvet curtains rising. A hundred 5th graders take to the stage mostly ready and very excited to dance to the poem that I wrote. Yes, it’s true. My poem won and inspired the 5th Grade Graduation Dance Contest. I chose a theme that was relevant to the situation at hand, and wrote in a style ubiquitous to the late 90’s and early 00’s: Identical rhymes (Groove on and turn it on? Thank you, N*SYNC). Making sure that your piece is relevant can take your writing from good to, as N*SYNC would say, really good… Identical rhymes, can’t live with them, can’t live without them.
Picture it: Red velvet curtains rising. A hundred 5th graders take to the stage mostly ready and very excited to dance to the poem that I wrote. Yes, it’s true. My poem won and inspired the 5th Grade Graduation Dance Contest. I chose a theme that was relevant to the situation at hand, and wrote in a style ubiquitous to the late 90’s and early 00’s: Identical rhymes (Groove on and turn it on? Thank you, N*SYNC). Making sure that your piece is relevant can take your writing from good to, as N*SYNC would say, really good… Identical rhymes, can’t live with them, can’t live without them.
Poem: The Final Hour, 2002
Break The Rules
This was an assignment on haikus. I didn’t follow the standard 5-7-5 scheme. And while it wasn’t required, I even made sure to illustrate the poems to help my teacher connect with the content. As for the grade, let’s just say the assignment wasn’t quite what she expected, but my work definitely caught her attention. During a time when people are bombarded with endless content, it helps to approach writing from a unique angle. Whether it’s through disrupting a particular format, incorporating engaging images, or even utilizing interactive infographics, do what it takes to make your writing stand out—it can make all the difference in the end.
This was an assignment on haikus. I didn’t follow the standard 5-7-5 scheme. And while it wasn’t required, I even made sure to illustrate the poems to help my teacher connect with the content. As for the grade, let’s just say the assignment wasn’t quite what she expected, but my work definitely caught her attention. During a time when people are bombarded with endless content, it helps to approach writing from a unique angle. Whether it’s through disrupting a particular format, incorporating engaging images, or even utilizing interactive infographics, do what it takes to make your writing stand out—it can make all the difference in the end.
Poems and Illustrations, 2004
A Little Humor Goes A Long Way
I studied abroad in Seville, Spain in 2013. During my time in abroad, I maintained a blog about my travels (and, as you can see, kept up with my lifelong love for haiku). You often hear that the best way to keep your readers engaged is by providing them with helpful content. Most businesses use their content and social presence to prove that they have a solution for a pain that consumers or other companies are experiencing. Useful information and the occasional joke are not mutually exclusive! In fact, helpful content is only as good as your audience’s ability to connect with it. A helpful article may inspire someone in the short-term, but an engaging tone overall can spark a long-term relationship in which people actively seek out your work time and time again.
I studied abroad in Seville, Spain in 2013. During my time in abroad, I maintained a blog about my travels (and, as you can see, kept up with my lifelong love for haiku). You often hear that the best way to keep your readers engaged is by providing them with helpful content. Most businesses use their content and social presence to prove that they have a solution for a pain that consumers or other companies are experiencing. Useful information and the occasional joke are not mutually exclusive! In fact, helpful content is only as good as your audience’s ability to connect with it. A helpful article may inspire someone in the short-term, but an engaging tone overall can spark a long-term relationship in which people actively seek out your work time and time again.
Image and Poem: American Idiot, 2013
They say (good) writers are born, not made. I say it’s not that simple. I’ve been a writer all my life—before I knew how to stick to a poem format, rhyme consistently, or spell correctly. Even when I hated it, looking back, it’s what I’ve always loved to do. But it took a lot of time and effort to get to where I am, and I recognize I still have so much more to learn. I work each and every day to become the best writer I can be, and for this reason the story of my life and passion for writing are one in the same. While the next chapter in my story is unknown, I do know that writing will always be a fundamental part of my journey—and I can’t wait to see where it takes me next.