Five Thoughts on the Art of Writing

“The art of writing is the art of discovering what you believe.”  ― Gustav Flaubert

Writing a story, like painting, is filling a blank canvas or paper with creativity that touches people’s emotions; niggles sensations; and inspires thinking. Words are used as brushstrokes to convey to the beholder vivid scenes, tumbling one after the other. Enticing the reader to fall into your imagination and follow a story you have carved out of words.

“Writing, at its best, is a form of thinking. It clarifies our thoughts. And it leads to new thoughts. It even expands us, when it’s done right.” ― Tom Morris

The thing is that creating a story is not done all on the paper. For me, at least, it’s the ruminating of ideas; it’s the imagining that goes on in your thoughts; it is the building of moments in time that forms a scene. Once I get to that point, it’s imperative that I begin to write or like dry leaves blown in the wind the thoughts can be whisked away before I can capture them.

“Fill your paper with the breathings of your heart.” ― William Wadsworth

Like painting, writing should be done with passion. My best writing is done because I want to create – not just creation for creation’s sake, but to create this story because it demands to be told. I write because I enjoy the process of writing – the love of writing. When I write with my heart open my thoughts can bleed onto the paper which leads to the authenticity of emotion in my writing.

“You will never write better than you read.” ― Erin Paulicek

Reading is the foundation of writing. It teaches me about all the components of writing. Learning to read as writer has given me the literary palette to compose my writing. The  dabbings of the plot, theme, sentence structure, grammar, etc., become the varying shades that I can use to compose my stories. Reading absolutely has expanded my vocabulary. I try to not only read the classics and those novels that are within the genres I enjoy best, but also to challenge myself to read beyond those most loved in order to open myself to new ideas and voices that I had not heard before.

“10 Steps to Becoming a Better Writer

Write.
Write more.
Write even more.
Write even more than that.
Write when you don’t want to.
Write when you do.
Write when you have something to say.
Write when you don’t.
Write every day.
Keep writing.”
― Brian Clark

There is no doubt that writing is one of those things you have to practice. To be a writer you just have to write. It really is the only way you can improve. I must admit that my writing was elementary when I began to seriously write. When I look back into my notebooks of stories and poems, I know that my voice, style and content have changed for the better.

How about you? What are your thoughts on the Art of Writing? Comments are welcome!