How To Be a Good Writer

One of the finest university professors I have had told the class in the first five minutes of the initial meeting what it took to be a good writer. She said that the way to become a good writer was “to write every day.” It was that simple. She said that was the key point of her time with us for the year; the rest of the school time was just to fill in the technical details.

That class was endless work because there were writing assignments every day. It didn’t matter if it was a weekend or a holiday. There were work assignments. And I resisted. I believed that I did my best work when I was “inspired” - or when the stars were aligned correctly - or when I was truly ready to write - or if I had a cold drink - or… well, you have the idea.

The work for that class was endless. The assignments seemed relentless. There was always an assignment for tomorrow. The grading was brutal. The feedback to the writing was prompt, insightful and rigorous. The comments were honest and direct. As a class, we were not very good - and that was putting it mildly. And I spent months and months looking for “inspiration.”

I never did find inspiration to write. I did learn, eventually, to sit at a desk and to put words to paper (or computer screen). It would not be my magnum opus. That elusive magnum opus might never come. What I write might rival a grocery shopping list for inspiration but I write every day.

I am some years removed from that class, which everyone passed. That professor still reads what I write here on Chris’ Nexus, on my own site and elsewhere. I do write every day and hope that I am improving - and becoming a good writer. Last week, that professor sent an email with some comments about an article that I wrote and jokingly asked if I was still looking for “inspiration.” My reply was “no.” It was not necessary. I had the great fortune of having a stellar, hard working, caring professor - and I am grateful for that inspiration.

Catherine Forsythe

[tags]class, professor, writing, inspiration, assignments, magnum opus[/tags]