I picked up a book titled The Writer's Handbook,© 1964, at a flea market in the summer of 2002. I laid it back down on the table. Later that day my parents stopped over. My Dad said they had been to a flea market and picked up a book for me. He was so proud of the fact he only paid a dime for, you guessed it, The Writer's Handbook.
The book is chocked full of neat essays on how to write techniques for every type of writing imaginable in addition to writers writing on writing. (I have no idea why I didn't shell out a dime for this one myself) One chapter that caught my attention was titled The Essence of Good Writing by Taylor Caldwell .
" Like all other artists, writers are not made. Writers are born," claims Caldwell. She goes on to depict the born writer as a slave-master to his work; as someone who must write, no matter what else is sacrificed; as someone who must be born with an ear and eye for creativity; as a lonely, solitary and miserable man; as someone who truly values the monetary worth of their work; to work with rejection slips as an impetus to improve and states that writing is the most arduous, disciplined work in the world. Here are the last few sentences of the piece:
But what can a writer do? He must write. That is his destiny, and his curse. Writing has its rewards, I admit*. But few writers attain a tranquil old age, or merely old age. Creative writing burns you out, physically and spiritually. But go to it! There is nothing else.
One feels that Caldwell had the ability to delicately balance these opposing thoughts in the palms of her hands and still thrive as a writer. She must have been quite a character!
In between her cold doses of reality, Caldwell did unearth the following gems:
Writing is the most intimate art form for communication. Above all things, the real writer, usually inarticulate in speech, solitary and retiring, desires communication with his fellow human beings.
The very essence of good writing is in expressing a common experience or emotion in fresh language and with new vitality. But it still must be a common experience or emotion, so that every reader will exclaim in himself, "Why, yes, that is exactly what happened to me and that is exactly how I felt, even though the words and descriptions are different! It's wonderful to know that I'm not alone, as I thought."
*Taylor Caldwell wrote for thirty years before she was published.
Hey dude- it's been a while. I'm coming down to florida- orlando on the 21st of Jan. would love to see you guys at least for a moment or 2. contact me: chilliestwilly@hotmail.com
Hugs & kisses
Tim Uher
Posted by: Tim | January 12, 2008 at 11:18 AM