Grr! I don't know what else to say. Thanks to the generosity and impeccable taste of Ms Baroque, I've received the award A Roar for Powerful Words, initiated by The Shameless Lions Writing Circle in recognition of powerful writing. Naturally, I'm privileged and flattered by the award, and also, oddly, emasculated, as though everything I'll write from now on will be floppy and lamb-like and utterly unworthy. Such is honour.
And like most honours, it comes with strings attached. I have to: "list three things I believe are necessary for good, powerful writing; and then pass the award on to the five blogs I want to honour, who in turn pass it on to five others, etc etc." Hmm. I'll do my best.
Three necessary things (assuming that one has something to say) for good, powerful writing:
1. Experience of other people's good, powerful writing. By which I mean that you shouldn't just write, write, write, but read, read, read, read. Read.
2. The ability to revise, ruthlessly, and to listen to criticism (which doesn't necessarily involve its blind acceptance).
3. An awareness that what you write might have weight, might hurt or flatter, or change someone's day or invite response; in other words, that what you are doing is not solipsistic, but social, and consequential. Be brave, be honest, but listen.
Five blogs I'd like to honour? This is much easier:
Writing Neuroses
Vanessa Gebbie
David Isaak
Chancelucky
Fictionbitch
Go forth and multiply.
4 comments:
Charles,
thanks for passing the Lion on to me...I'm still not sure how to make the thing work.
You can click on my lion (see sidebar) and copy it. Otherwise, go to the Shameless Lions site and pick one up from there.
Either way, you deserve it.
Thanks Charles. I'll try the click and pickup method as long as it has nothing to do with cottages.
Charles, what a lovely post. And I'm glad you covered the reading angle. Of course it is critical.
When I wrote my "three" (ahem! five) elements of good writing I tried to cover things you;d need if you were writing a professional paper or a business letter or anything. You've gone a step further back into time and the brain, to where writing comes from. I like that.
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