Again--With Feeling!

One of the first things you have to accept if you are to be a writer is that you have to write in order to earn the title. You have to write a lot and about many things. The practice makes it easier for you to express yourself and do it well. View it as if you were a concert pianist. Just thinking about it would never be enough. You would have to gain hands-on experience to become truly proficient at your craft.

I have recently become a huge fan of the music of Sali Oguri, which you may hear at broadjam.com. Let me tell you, I would wag my tail over this stuff, if I had one. Because of that, I have taken to the almost addictive habit of posting comments at her weblog site. There, I find myself discussing music with her. And lyrics, style, conventions and trends. What makes a hit song or a classic? Is image important to the classifying of the music? Even discussion about the type of chords she likes to use or avoid. I find all of this quite fascinating. Sali is a very nice lady, too, so the exchange is fun.

I think it is good advice to write about many things that interest you, whether they be travel, music, art, science or any other thing that takes your fancy. You will be a better-rounded author because of it, I assure you. You may find that the exercise alone sparks the topics that make your next story or book or poem a success.

Your brain and your PC, or pencil and paper are your instruments of craft. Use them often and you will grow. If you have writer’s block, write about your frustrations with it, until you overcome it. Ironic, isn’t it, that when you have writer’s block, you can always write about that? Rather like the advice that when you don’t feel like praying, you should pray until you do. Think of this as a journal entry, if nothing else.

So, once more, with gusto!