Uncategorized

Five observations on writing

30 Comments
I often think of this Indian vegetarian "thali" I had in Journal Square in Jersey City when I think of perfect writing. The ingredients come together well in each item in its own bowl and then all the bowls come together in a beautiful arrangement making the eating experience fun.
When I think of perfect writing, I often think of this Indian vegetarian “thali” I had in Journal Square in Jersey City . All parts are well integrated. The ingredients come together in each item in its own bowl and then all the bowls come together in a beautiful arrangement making the eating experience fun.

Food is fun but this post is about writing. But I’m okay with calling it Cheesy Nuggets of Wisdom about Writing from Bottledworder if that makes us feel hungry for words:

  1. Writing is not just about the extraordinary moments. It’s about making the ordinary moments extraordinary.
  2. Writing is like cooking. You don’t want to become a recipe collector. You want to cook.
  3. Some writers win and some writers lose. But writing is never about the race.
  4. A boring life need not create a boring writer nor an interesting life a cool one.
  5. Nothing is good or bad but writing makes it so.

More nuggets as they strike me on my Facebook page!

30 thoughts on “Five observations on writing”

  2. Pingback: but writing makes it so | Francis James Franklin (Alina Meridon)
  3. Pingback: Blogs | Books: Publishing, Reading, Writing

  12. You are so right! I’m a cook and a writer and the analogy is perfect. I’m always excited when unlike things can be compared so perfectly. Thanks.

    Like

    Reply

  15. The first point is so important, but also one of my personal biggest challenges with writing. It takes a certain flair to truly make the mundane something exceptional and entertaining.
    P.S. I’ve never been inspired to cook Indian food and write all at the same time 🙂

    Like

    Reply

  16. So…in response to #1, writing really is about the extraordinary moments, since even the ordinary moments are to be extraordinary? 🙂 I totally get what you mean, but had to comment on your word choice. I love how using the same word twice can often lead in two different directions, depending both on reader and context.

    Also, to say “nothing” is good or bad, seems somewhat ignorant of reality. We all experience things daily that we would mark as good or bad, even without the need for them to be written (universally sometimes). Care to elaborate? I read this from a philosophy of life perspective. Were you stating it from a strictly philosophy of writing perspective?

    Fun post! Made me hungry too. I had to wait to read it AFTER lunch! 🙂

    Like

    Reply

    1. That last one is really my variation on Hamlet’s words about his perception of his situation in Denmark in Act 2, Sc 2: “for there is nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so.”

      I guess what I meant in that point has been better described by another witty dramatist: “”There is no such thing as a moral or immoral book. Books are either well written or badly written. That is all.” Oscar Wilde.

      I don’t really believe that books have no relation to ethics all the way but Wilde’s wit fascinates me always. And I always enjoy reading books that are well written even though I may not agree with their ethics or ideology.

      Like

      Reply

  20. This is so, so true. I love sifting through moments that I want to write about. It’s always for me about what is touching. If it gives me pause – a gasp, a clutch in my throat – then I want to write about it. My complete goal is to convey that in a way that touches other people. The hardest thing I ever wrote was the story about the death of my 5-year-old son. I am proud that I was able to do that, and at the same time it was so cathartic for me. Great post!

    Like

    Reply

      1. Thank you for your reply. I have chosen to look at my loss at something that completely changed the direction of my life. As much as it was a dreadful horror to have lived through it, I have come out the other end with gifts to share my heart. My son has never left me!

        Like

        Reply

  21. “Writing is not just about the extraordinary moments. It’s about making the ordinary moments extraordinary.”

    Wow. This point, in particular, really hit home for me. I am a person who often thinks: “I have nothing to write about. I’m too boring.” I am going to try my best to keep this in mind from now on. 🙂

    Like

    Reply

Comments welcome