At its best, writing is observation, reflection, and expression. Most people see. Some observe. People can see when someone is angry. The one who observes perceives what makes them aware of the anger. Reflection provides the reason for the anger, whether accurate or not. Ideally, expression is both clear and lyrical. One of my favorite examples is in a short story. Antiquities by John Crowley. The setting is an exclusive mens club in England and Crowley has a character caressing an ashtray with the tip of his cigar. This is very clear -- it is the exact gesture used by some. It also informative about both the setting and the character. It is only a sentence long but gives much more depth than some could in a paragraph. And, finally, it is lyrical. When it comes to writing, we can all learn from Crowley.
Posted on: Tue, 13 Jan 2015 03:52:22 +0000
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