Sharpen Your Craft

A good book should leave you… slightly exhausted at the end. You live several lives while reading it. – William Styron, interview, Writers at Work, 1958


So what makes a book good? In a novel, is it the characters, the plot, setting, point-of-view, or dialogue? Is it the use of metaphor and imagery? What about non-fiction? Is it the topic, organization, data, photos?

We could sit here all day, refilling our coffee cups, and analyze these questions down to the last period and semi-colon.

In the end, however, the answer is simple. After a reader turns the last page and mourns the fact that the inspiring, exhilarating journey has concluded, the question of “what makes a book good” boils down to one thing: the writing. It’s the writing that makes the book. The writing embraces all those elements mentioned above –character, imagery, organization, and it is the skilled writer who can assemble those elements and produce an exquisite, memorable tome. It is this writer who has sharpened and honed the craft of writing.

Indeed, the best writers take the time to learn and develop their craft — to learn their trade, just as painters, musicians, graphic designers, architects and others learn the technicalities of their profession. While it may be helpful to earn an MFA in creative writing or a degree in journalism, you can hone your skill as a writer without having to ante up such concentrated amounts of time or money.

Join a critique group.

This might be a group of five to ten writers who convene regularly in order to share and critique work. Find writers from whom you can learn.

Read books on writing.

Hang out at your local bookstore and page through the books about writing. Study these books. So many are filled with advice, exercises, and examples. One of my favorites is Self-Editing for Fiction Writers by Renni Browne and Dave King.

Read well-written books with the eye of a writer.

Again, this is a way to learn. Note how the writer develops character, places backstory, employs foreshadowing, appeals to the senses. So many would-be authors have created intriguing plots and sketched out unique characters, but their writing lacks texture and pacing. Francine Prose’s book, Reading Like a Writer, offers invaluable suggestions on what to glean from others’ writing.

Work with an editor.

A good editor is indispensable. Look for a professional with editing experience in your genre.

Practice.

Practice, practice, practice. Pianists, pitchers, public speakers, poets – these and others excel, because they practice everyday.

Attend writing conferences and workshops.

They abound. Keep your eye on writing events sponsored by community colleges and universities, by local writing groups, by bookstores. Poets & Writers magazine always includes a list of conferences being hosted around the country. These venues are where you also learn the business of writing – how to write query letters, book proposals, and story synopses, and how to conduct publicity and book marketing campaigns.