What I Learned From the Law as Applied to Writing
March 10th 2008 04:06
Right, Wrong, and Law
The person who is devoted to doing good, to loving God, and loving people tends to do what’s right naturally. He doesn’t need to be told what to do. He doesn’t need to have the rules and regulations spelled out and placed before him repeatedly. And while he is by no means perfect, and even fails at times, he knows what’s right, and his goal is to do it.
He may occasionally need a little encouragement, a touch of inspiration, or a little reminder now and then—after all, none of us is perfect, yet—but by and large, his actions square with his personal ideals, which tend to mesh with society’s general consensus of good versus evil and of legal versus illegal.
Writing and Its Laws
In a similar sense, the writer who loves words, thoughts, and noble ideas, and is willing to surrender to her creativity and inspiration also tends to almost miraculously fulfill the “laws” of good writing. And while writing is, to a large extent, an intellectual exercise, there’s a sense in which the ability to write in this almost “exalted” manner is a matter of the heart and not the head.
In Writing, as in Law, Heart Can Neither Be Legislated Nor Taught
In the same sense that goodness cannot be legislated, inspiration and creativity cannot be taught. One can study and practice the principles of good writing all he desires; but if he lacks the spark of creativity… inspiration… imagination— of innate talent, if you will— the principles of writing will do him little good. His writing will be cold…dry…clinical—perhaps technically correct, yet lacking in heart.
Heart-Learning, as Opposed to Book-Learning
By the same token, the writer whose talent, creativity, and inspiration come from deep within may not be well-studied in the principles of “good” writing, the nuances of grammar, or the particulars of punctuation; yet he wields his words with power, delivers his message with impact, and wraps the fingers of emotion around the hearts of his readers in ways they couldn’t possibly understand. Like the person who does good without needing to be shown the laws that say he must, this writer is a law unto himself.
While far more could be said on this topic, these are a few of my musings about “the Law” as it applies to writing.
May you always be a law unto yourself when it comes to your writing!
Best wishes,
Jeanne
This post is my entry to the Middle Zone Musings “What I Learned From…the Law” group writing project.
Did you enjoy this post? What are your thoughts on creativity, inspiration, and the "laws" of writing? We'd love to hear them!
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Comment by AmyHuang
Project Job Search
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Love Adventures
Comment by Jeanne Dininni
Writer's Notes
Rules it is, then! Since this post is my entry into the MZM group writing project about "the Law," though, that was one aspect I needed to explore.
Remember, though, that when inspired, the writer is a law unto herself.
Thanks for the visit!
Jeanne
Comment by Robert Hruzek
Thanks for getting your WILF entry in - congratulate the cows for me!
Comment by Laura Spencer
What an interesting twist!
There is an ungoing discussion about which traits and abilities are inborn and which are learned. I'm not sure that I have the answer, but it's certainly fascinating to think about.
Comment by Brad Shorr
Comment by Jeanne Dininni
Writer's Notes
Thanks for the opportunity to enter--and for challenging our creativity with the topics you choose! This topic presented a greater-than-usual challenge to me, at first. Couldn't really think what I wanted to write about it; then finally came up with this angle.
This is, of course, quite an involved thesis (with aspects that I barely touched upon)--one which I didn't really have the time to explore as thoroughly as I might have liked in this piece. Maybe I'll write about it again sometime--sort of a follow-up piece.
Thanks again for a great WILF!
Jeanne
Comment by Jeanne Dininni
Writer's Notes
Yes it is a fascinating discussion--and there are many nuances to it!
I've always personally believed that we are all born with certain natural talents--things we do better than the average person does. It doesn't mean the average person can't do these things in one manner or another; it simply means that it's easier for those of us who have the inborn ability to do them and the finished product is more inspired.
Now, of course, it's also true that native ability will only take us so far. Training can help us perfect our innate skills, making them even better than they were before. Training cannot give us natural abilities we don't already possess (though it can help us perform passably in many areas and thus get by).
The writer who already possesses that spark of creative genius (or that inborn talent for expressing ideas in ways that have real impact) can certainly benefit from learning the "laws" of writing (i.e., grammar, punctuation, etc.). But learning these "laws" will not give a person the ability to "be a writer."
Many believe that "anyone can be a writer." My only response to that claim would be this: That all depends on your definition of the word "writer."
Thanks for the visit!
Jeanne
Comment by Jeanne Dininni
Writer's Notes
I've never read Theodore Dreiser. I'll have to check him out. Thanks for backing up my thesis with an example!
I hope no one who's read this post thinks I'm advocating the abandonment of learning and improving at one's craft, because that's not my point at all. Any writer greatly benefits from studying the "laws" of writing, which can only help improve his facility with his craft. Polished work is always better than unpolished--no question about it. But polish isn't enough; there must first be something there that's worth polishing.
Thanks for your input!
Jeanne
Comment by Lillie Ammann
I agree that the spark of creativity that comes from talent is the beginning point of great writing. Most of the self-publishing clients I work with have that talent but lack technical skills. I love helping them turn their great ideas into well-written books.
Comment by Jackie Cameron
Jackie
Comment by Jeanne Dininni
Writer's Notes
It's really a great feeling, isn't it? Being able to help someone realize a dream--someone who has natural talent but may lack the skills to polish an inspired work--is the best part of editing! Editors make it possible for so many wonderfully expressive people to present their work to the world in a professional, polished manner.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts!
Jeanne
Comment by Jeanne Dininni
Writer's Notes
Thanks so much for stopping by to check out my entry! It's great to meet you!
Glad my post made you think. Certainly can't complain about that!
Stop back again soon!
Jeanne