Thoughts for writers
I always enjoyed Roger Ebert’s reviews, viewed on his TV shows, “Siskel & Ebert” and then “Ebert & Roeper”. Then he became very ill and there was a vacuum. The show, now; eh.
But as I discovered a short while ago, he’s started blogging. And his words are a pleasure to read. He crafts words and sculpts ideas. RSS-subscribe to his blog, if you wish.
From a post from last month, I think I’m musing my mind:
In May, I began to sense a change going on. At first it was subjective. This autumn it has become undeniable. My writing has improved.
By that I don’t mean it’s objectively better from the reader’s point of view. I mean it has expanded within my mind, reaches deeper, emerges more clearly, is more satisfactory. Sometimes I glory in it–not the quality of the prose, but the quality of the experience. I find myself writing more, because I will return to that zone longer.
I take dictation from that place within my mind that knows what to say. I think most good writers do. There is no such thing as waiting for inspiration. The idea of “diagramming” an essay in advance, as we are taught in school, may be useful to students but is foolishness for any practicing writer. The Muse visits during the process of creation, not before.
