Words

The writer’s trade is one of words. Whereas painters paint, sculptors sculpt, and singers sing, a writer deals in a commodity that almost anyone and everyone uses daily. You can’t go anywhere or do anything without words. Sure, you can go on a hike in the wilderness, but you’ll probably see a sign at the trailhead with words of instruction. In the same scenic spot, the odds are you won’t see a sculpture, a painting, or a soprano singing an opera. Yes, we writers deal in the common currency of speaking and writing, something everyone can do. What makes a novel any different from an ad on a billboard? They’re both made up of words. One deals in long-form output, while the other (if done effectively) is a testament to brevity. Do you ever read something and think to yourself, “I could’ve done that”? Maybe. After all, it’s only stringing words together. Do you ever see Michelangelo’s sculpture of David and think, “I could’ve done that”? Of course not. What’s the difference? Anyone can write, but not everyone can sculpt. Does that devalue the written word, particularly in the form of fiction? Rather than downplaying the written word, I look at the commonality between the creative arts. Just as with sculpting, singing, painting, etc., writing something worthwhile requires honing the craft. Years of practice. Michelangelo didn’t just sit down one day and decide to sculpt David. He spent years and concentrated time making mistakes and learning. In much the same way, writers hone their craft over years and decades. Is this a long way of saying practice makes perfect? No, but practice does make better.