I love the fact that I'm cut off, (most of the time) from the rest of the world, because I literally am writing every single day, in complete solitude. However, it fails to help me when I'm finished with my posts, and readers cannot see them because I cannot get to proper internet access. I am literally typing this on an iPad, which is more painful than smashing my fingers into the side of car window.
I will not be online this Monday, so for my twitter followed, consider this my post. Thank you for sticking with me, and please enjoy this editorial:
How come all writers ever want to talk about today is writing? Seriously, every time I see a blog mentioned, they are always talking about writing. That's like watching a movie about how to make a film, but never as well as the actually filmmaker explaining he process. I am an odd combination: I write reviews, mostly for video games, but occasionally I write an editorial, most of which discuss writing.
Occasionally, I discuss technology, because it encompasses everything from modern publishing, to film editing, to video games, and education. It involves medicine, architecture, and is so in-depth to every inch of our life, that I occasionally like to discuss the possibility of technology in how we write, how we learn, and how we educate the future.
So I do write blog posts about writing, all writers want to leave their opinions on writing. I wrote a very interesting post that I plan to put up soon on teaching English, and word counts. I love writing, and I do admire someone that can write about writing, but apparently everyone with a blog, or has authored a book, thinks they should discuss writing. I will admit this: most writers legitimately try to help other writers home their craft with generic tidbits, but craft takes more than one blurb on a blog to explain in depth.
In the scheme of writing, let's say a writers word processed the car that transports their words to print. Now, let's consider the writers style the keys to start up that car. I've discussed style before, as it's a key component to writing. Any writer knows that style is a deadly art, because there is a hierarchy of standards most people expect to meet whenever they open a book, or when they begin reading a short story. If you want to differ from the crowd, your style has to be honed so well, it's as if you have to learn how to write all over again, assuming every English professor you had was wrong.
Today, style is very, very broad. Spelling of words is even considered a style choice, like Americans who think they're posh for using British spelling. Style is used more for excuses than for the sake of the reader. E.B White and William Strunk Jr in the Elements of Style incorporate a way of writing that simplifies the process, allowing for the most comprehension for a varied audience. Strunk was right to tell us to simplify and question one term's usage over another, because cliches are like cardinal sins in the eyes of Strunk.
If you have had the luxury (or malcontent) to read any of my prose,you'll see I occasionally avoid cliches, but I also tend to create unique similarities, because I've developed an unapologetic style. I love split infinitives if they work well, and I don't believe in long/run-on sentences, if there is true passion in that said sentence. Does this mean I support such deadly sins of writing? Does style trump all laws? Absolutely not, writing still needs structure, so even the laymen of the language will comprehend your work. Remember, when you write, you represent the very best of your language. Journeymen who might use your novel as a stepping stone towards the comprehension of language need to grasp,the core of that language. In English, one can get away with only so many eccentric tactics, until it's labeled poor writing.
Style makes you special, and it will constantly change, always forcing you to question everything you know about writing. I can't explain everything about style here, or how you can personally implement it to work for you every single time you write. If I could, I'd have written a book about success in fiction writing, and full-proof schemes, and made a million dollars. I do not know what makes style float or sink, but I know that you will have to read a lot, study the language, and see what parts of the language you can manipulate to your will, granting you the Midas touch of prose.
Will you discover your true talent, and pen your Magnus Opus? Well,that is for your readers to decide. Remember that you do not decide your greatest work, and sadly, you may not even be alive when scholars, readers, etc. decide your greatest work. I don't know if you will be a great writer, I'd be lucky if I'm even considered a mediocre blog writer. What I do know is that genius comes from defying the odds, and defying the common core. Read, because you will see how those before you learned their skill, and it may help enlighten you like a Buddhist near a river under a banyan. If not, then you may have to actually work your ass off, and that does create epic results, but doesn't come as easily to those who simply get style.
I never like to say some have it, and some don't because I believe there is a writer in everyone, and that every person who yearns to write fiction, especially fiction, will do so because they study and read. I know one thing for sure: few modern writers have succeeded without validation from the generations to come after, and that means determining the style that best fits you as a writer. You can't be Stephen King, because you don't have his style. You can develop a style of horror, science fiction, and fantasy that rivals his, but you will never be inspired if you simply copy his style.
My best suggestion for you is to read quadruple what you write. If you write a book, read two-to-four books on different subjects, genres, classifications, and most importantly different styles, before you try to write another book. After you finish this, re-read your first manuscript, and you might be surprised what you liked before, may not be what you like the second, or third time around. Many people use their religion, friends, family, etc. as inspiration. Personal experience can help you, or it can mislead you. Either way remember that no matter what any writer puts up online, you are writing alone, and you will fail, or succeed on your own. If you're a great writer, style,will come easy, and it will connect well with your core audience.
I hope you've enjoyed this blog post. I wrote it completely on an iPad, which I do not recommend anyone do, but I will be posting a continuation on the subject of publishing which I believe will be more helpful than some blowhard article that tells you what you already know. That will be coming in next week's Monday blog post, either I the 21st or 24th, whenever I can get to it, so expect that to be the next post. Writing and style are great, but publishing is when the fun turns to actual work, and I have years of experience in understanding the publishing game, so I will share my experience and know-how with you in the best way I know, next week.
Thank you for reading the Malacast Editorial, you can follow me on Twitter: twitter.com/mcasteditorial, or message me @mcasteditorial. Until next time, thank you for the support.
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