Magic
I look up to Stephen King, as a writer at least. I don’t love his stuff (I’m not much into horror stories or thrillers), and tell you the truth, I haven’t read many of his books. But without a doubt, he’s a top professional, and he’s wicked good at what he does. Best of all, he’d know exactly what I just said – ‘wicked good’ is just part of the vocabulary of a rough man grown up in Maine… working in a carpenters family, and doing night-shift at the mill (at least before his popular success). He doesn’t waste words, and he doesn’t dance around any points. He just writes good stories and good books.
One of them, my favorite, is On Writing, his own how-to book for aspiring novelists. It’s a great read, and really, has been integral in the formation of my own writing (as much as a single book or teacher can be). In it, he analogizes writing to a toolbox. You work to develop specific skills (vocabulary, grammar, dialogue), and as you get them, you put them in your writing toolbox. Then, you lug it around with you, and use the proper tools in their proper place to get the job done.
I like the analogy. First, because it works. And second, because it underlines the point: writing is not about genius inspiration. It’s about building stuff - about communicating ideas and stories as simply as possible. It’s more a carpenters job than it is a divine right. I think that’s cool. Keep in mind that King is talking fiction, but it works for startup copy too. And I talk about it here – I say that EVERYBODY’S a writer… it just takes a straight-forward approach, a little work, and of course, a couple lessons from the farm.
But lest the bigger picture get lost here. Copy may be about just doing it (and doing it simply); working hard until you have the right company or personal brand. Hell, I think that’s most of it. But it’s also more. It is, in some (if not many) cases, the lifeline of your brand. It can be really bad (and believe me, it can), but it also can be GREAT. I’ll let King explain - he writes, after the toolbox analogy (and before he goes ahead), that: “We are talking about tools and carpentry, about words and style… but as we move along, you’d do well to remember that we are also talking about magic.”
We’re talking about working-class copy. About getting your point across, and getting it across well. But we’re also talking about magic. About the written word becoming more than the the letters, sentences, and paragraphs combined. About it tapping into pieces of universal truth that inspire, frighten, or delight the reader. For fear of sounding whimsical (it’s copy here… not the next Gatsby!), I think that’s true.
What if it is true? Then you’d be better off keeping magic in the back of your head. Don’t get off track - don’t go looking for the creative fairy to bless your every word (she won’t come on command anyway). Keep your head down, and work hard to create good copy and a good brand. Do it right, and every once and awhile, you may just get a visit.
8 comments
I like this post… but I still can’t figure out whether it’s good or not. Did I capture what writing CAN be, while still encouraging people to not focus on it? Or in the process of talking about magic, do I automatically encourage people to write whimsical stuff (and contradict so much of what I tell people about just working hard to create working-class copy)?
Did I fuck it up? What do you all think?
One more thought on the “magic” versus “roll up the sleeves and work” from [someone’s post that I’m still trying to find and will give them credit when I do, but I’m hoping it’s not you because that would just be embarrassing…] that said that somedays the writing flowed, you tapped into that creative spirit, magical energy, oneness with the universe and it was so… easy. Other times, you fight and claw and scrap for every word. When you take some time and step away for awhile and come back to it later, you can’t tell from the pages which was written the “easy” way versus the “hard”. So I think feeling the magic is just a perk. Enjoy it and then let it go.
IMHO, the magic is the *result* of the hard work needed to create good copy, not the precursor.
As they say: “Luck favors the well prepared”. I truly feel that’s right, and applicable to writing as well (whether copy or fiction). Certainly there is the talent that good writers are born with, but I don’t believe (and I think King would agree) that talent alone is enough. You need to practice, just like anything else in life. Sometimes you’re no good, but other times you’re brilliant.
The brilliant times are when the magic happens. If everything you wrote was magic, it would lose its luster very quickly and no longer be magic. It would simply be status quo. Certainly King has written some stinkers, but he has also created some unbelievably good stuff too. (Full disclosure: One of my top 3 favorite books is “The Stand”)
Bottom line for me? Keep working hard and the magic will happen.
@Jennifer: I love this: “So I think feeling the magic is just a perk. Enjoy it and then let it go.” Well said.
You go chasing it… and you’re not gonna get it. You work hard, find it occasionally, and accept that. Then you let it go.
@Jared: PERFECTLY said, man. I’ll get back to work… back to doing what I do best. I’ll work hard to produce good stuff, and maybe sometime soon, she’ll come visit… and make it GREAT.
BTW, I hope you don’t think I literally meant “You” when I used the sentences:
“You need to practice, just like anything else in life. Sometimes you’re no good, but other times you’re brilliant”
I meant that to be completely generic, as in “We all need to practice, because sometimes we all suck at what we do, but other times we are pretty darn good”
Just thought I’d clarify….
Hey Jared. I appreciate the clarification. I took it how you meant it, and even if I hadn’t, I still wouldn’t mind you telling me I need to practice - I tell myself that all the time!
But… thanks again. I always appreciate your contributions (and I’m looking forward to your blog).
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