My Writer’s Journey: A Little Musing

As I reflect on my writer’s journey, thoughts come to mind that don’t merit an entire article discussion but should be noted in passing. So today I wish to touch on a potpourri of my opinions and invite you to jump in with comments.

I don’t know about you, but I could do with a little less conflict in the world. It’s everywhere. And people are eating it up. Between politics, religion and rachity (I’ve gained an appreciation for the urban dictionary) reality TV shows, there’s no escape. And to my dismay, this concept rules the literary world. What happened to the desire to escape into a well-written yarn that tells an interesting story the average person can relate to? Why must all of our tales center around controversy? I firmly believe promoted conflict/tension is what’s wrong with the world today.

Two Substack articles I wrote address whether creative writing has fallen from favor in the publishing industry. Has Creative Writing Become A Lost Art? starts the conversation and Pen a Blennial Perspective on Creative Writing continues the discussion from the point of view of a Baby Boomer and a Millennial. I also got a glimpse of other writers’ opinions during this recorded discussion. 

A published author and I recently spoke about outcome differences between reading as a writer who critiques another author’s work compared to a reader simply seeking information or entertainment. We acknowledged writers should explore their creativity, understanding that saleable work must generate interest among readers. And readers, besides indulging their preferences, should consider written words outside their usual comfort zone.

I’ll be on this soapbox for a while and want even more writers, as well as readers, to weigh in on this topic. So, let’s continue the debate in the comment section.  

Today’s second observance: Writing and speaking would be more succinct if we eliminate ‘ing.’  

Our everyday conversation has taken on a passive form. I came across these three examples a few moments before writing this post:

• 9 Amazon Prime benefits you need to be using

• “We will be converting the limited liability company...”

• The people refusing to use AI

Technically, there is nothing wrong with these statements; however,  a more active way to phrase them would be:

• 9 Amazon Prime benefits you need to use

• “We will convert the limited liability company...”

• People who refuse to use AI

I reword people’s sentences in my head as I read and listen to them speak. I also encourage folks to write in an active voice when I edit their work. Because we’re enmeshed in passive writing, my efforts generate a lot of suggested revisions.

But like most situations, there are ‘ing’ exceptions. Here’s a perfect example.

One last thought for today: We writers need to keep each other inspired. Last year, I received an email from a woman who participated in a critique group with me. She described me as “one of my favorite authors ever.” Her declaration surprised and touched me. And even now, those kind words continue to lift me up during moments of doubt. So, let’s continue to send congrats, buy each other’s books, write reviews and encourage each other. We’re all in this together.