Learning

Confronting the person in the mirror in humility changed my writing life. It can change yours too. Taking the focus off me means I can place it on others, and that's better for a lot of reasons. People draw naturally to those who care about them, and readers (not to mention editors) will know where your focus lies.

"It's what you learn after you know it all that counts." We'll keep this quote, attributed to Harry S. Truman, in mind as we move to the next step: learning. You might wonder, isn't talent God-given and so, by definition, something that can't be taught? Well, yes and no. Talent does come from above. I would never deny that. However, with talent comes the responsibility to train. After all, we'd never take a sick pet to someone who loves animals but has no training. Most of us would go to a veterinarian who has a framed license on the wall. It never ceases to amaze me the number of folks who feel a love for writing qualifies them to write for publication. And yet, at the start of my career, I was one of them. I did find my way into print, I believe more from dumb luck and the sympathy of editors who saw a spark of talent in my writing, but I don't recommend this route unless you like heart ache. Not that training guarantees publication, but it can mean editors will take your submissions a little more seriously than otherwise.

How to train? There's no pat answer. Different folks take different routes. For me, it meant undertaking a two-year course in creative writing with Christian Writers Guild (http://www.christianwritersguild.com/). Others look for a private mentor or critique group to guide them as they write. Some major in writing in college. I can tell you that, despite my formal training or my obsessive reading on how to write, writing itself has become my greatest teacher.

I'll add the caveat that too many editors have slush-piles full of material by writers who should not have submitted yet. If you're at the start of a writing career, my best advice is to spare yourself the frustration of rejection. Wait to submit until not only you, but others close to you in a position to know, approve your writing.

If you don't have others close to you who could have input into your writing, well that's the next step. More on that next time.

Learning to Learn

At the onset of my writing career, I held misconceptions about the caliber and desirability of my writing, based largely on a feeling of omnipotence. That's another way of saying I had a big head.

I've learned since then other writers suffer this affliction. In fact, it seems a common problem. I think it has something to do with the fact writers get so little support when we most need it we over-compensate. Whatever the reason, I have noticed a smidgeon of self-absorption among writers: Read my book. Visit my blog. Take my proposal. Listen to me!

Ahem. Notwithstanding we have valid reasons for assertiveness in our efforts to break out of the pack, win the field, find our place in the sun - what if we do move away from self-focus? A whole new world opens before us. When we rejoice in the accomplishments of others we grow. When we admit we don't have it all together - well, then we can learn.

In my last post I mentioned I'd take the long way round to pitching at a writers conference. Well, it all starts with teachability. Without it we'll never hone our craft because we'll never let anyone tell us anything. If we can't learn we can't grow. Teachability requires humility. Humility requires a conscious effort to put self aside.

Now we're going somewhere.

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