Writing is an art of language. Not only must an aspiring writer choose what to write about, but the write must choose the manner in which to present the topic or information, as well as organize said information to best convey the message. That message can be for informative purposes, such as news, or for entertainment value, instructional purposes, historical value, or something else. Regardless of what one desires to write about, there are basics to any writing process, as well as particular rules or guidelines any seasoned writer must follow for the full impact. From the early formation of letters to crafting an essay or series of novels, writing involves more sub-skills than any other academic task.
To write well requires combining multiple physical and mental processes in one concerted effort to convey information and ideas. We must, for instance, be able to move a pen, or depress a key, precisely and fluidly to render letters, remember rules of grammar and syntax, place our thoughts in a sensible order, and think ahead to what should be written next. This combination of tasks makes writing the peak form and optimal use of language. As children progress through school, they are asked to do more with this skill than with any other except reading. Writing requirements increase across the curriculum, from homework assignments and classwork to journals, note-taking, quizzes, tests, and papers. Even standardized tests are moving toward fewer multiple-choice questions and more answers in the form of short paragraphs or essays.
That process, however, never stops. Like any art or skill, the practitioner has the capability of bettering the craft. Was there a word more appropriate and fitting? Did I mention all the information that was necessary for my essay assignment, or worse, put in information that serves no purpose for the thesis of my essay and detracts from my original argument? Was there a method of organization which could have more practically shared the information? If one is writing fiction, do the characters have plot development and represent real life people or struggles? An athlete never stops training their body, a grandmaster chess player always finds or studies more moves, and a writer continues to better their use of a language through writing.
Stephen King, one of the most celebrated authors of the last half century, has often been asked about his writing process as well as tips he advises for a writer at any level. Whether one is a novice or professional, King has stated that any work is done "one word at a time" and you must first write for yourself before others. “First write for yourself, and then worry about the audience. When you write a story, you’re telling yourself the story. When you rewrite, your main job is taking out all the things that are not the story.”
If an essay or story makes no sense to you or appears disorganized, how can you expect an outside reader to comprehend the material? Writing is a gateway, one where the author must communicate with the reader, and is tasked with doing so by best putting the puzzled words together. King also stresses staying true to your own style, for every writer is different and imitation will always leave you falling short. Lastly, and perhaps the most poetic advice King offers, is that writing is about happiness. “Writing isn’t about making money, getting famous, getting dates, getting laid or making friends. Writing is magic, as much as the water of life as any other creative art. The water is free. So drink.”
King is a seasoned writer who, in his late sixties, having sold over 350 million copies of his works, having had many of those works adapted into film, having received Bram Stoker Awards, World Fantasy Awards, and British Fantasy Society Awards, to list but a few, is still writing. King continues to hone his craft, which he knows to be a lifelong journey, and one he will never finish in full. Until then, he’s creating as many works as he can in hopes to share them with the world. Another author, J.K. Rowling, became the wealthiest and best selling author with her unprecedented "Harry Potter" series. Rowling continues to write afterward, refusing to rest upon her laurels, for while the wealth and fame may be nice, her priority was to share stories to the world and do something she’s done since she was a small child. It takes work, it takes discipline, and like anything worth working for, it takes practice, practice, practice. Whether the craft is physical or mental, or perhaps both, that craft cannot be exceptional without exceptional effort.
For a 20-something-year-old such as myself, it’s easy to critique this art while remaining a novice myself. In addition to writing for my college education, I’ve written for school papers since the age of 15 and written short stories for no other purpose but as a hobby. While it is an aspiration of mine to finish a novel, the half-dozen ideas with which I’ve dabbled are not finished and get half-hearted attention from time to time. It is foolhardy to compare a novice to a professional like King or Rowling, but a novice of any age is capable of great potential if only they are willing to work at the art. On a final note, and in the words of King himself, “talent is a dull knife that will cut nothing unless it is wielded with great force.” A writer is tasked with sharpening that knife over years, if not decades, of experience.
