Barry Lopez writes about nature, people, and places. Lopez was on a plane crossing the Pacific, and, in the process, writing. His seatmate noticed and asked if he was a writer. One thing led to another, until the man revealed that his fifteen-year-old daughter wanted to be a writer. What advice would he give her?
Barry Lopez said: "Tell your daughter three things: 1) Tell her to read, anything that interests her; 2) Learn who she is, her convictions, values, beliefs. She must write out of her own beliefs, not those handed down, caught or taught. Until she knows herself, she will write nothing of much value; 3) Travel. Get out of town. Leave the familiar.
Every writer I have read, who writes on writing, emphasizes Lopez's first piece of advice. Writers must be readers. They also concur that a writer must write out of their own soul. It must ring true. Readers best connect with that writing that makes them feel that a real person, an actual human, is speaking to them in print. Lopez's third piece of advice is valid and appropriate, However there have been notable exceptions, writers who never left their familiar territory, Emily Dickenson, for one.
If you have interest in nature and geography, Lopez is a good place to begin number one. Read Barry Lopez, a recipient of the National Book Award for nonfiction.
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4 comments:
I am really glad I found this blog, Wallace. Next semester I am teaching Advanced Grammar for the first time ever in a long semester (though twice before in summer sessions), and I want to direct most of the content toward having an advanced understanding of grammar help the students' writing become more advanced.
I am going to try to have each student choose some thoughtful, admired, nonfiction writer and obtain a book by that writer that they can study and learn from over the semester. I myself just finished reading Joan Didion's account of the year after the death of her husband (The Year of Magical Thinking). The challenge will be to have the students work through their chosen book and find a way to direct their reading usefully--have them notice sentence structures, vocabulary, the writer's voice, etc. But I'm looking forward to it.
Glenn,
Thanks for writing.
You would do me a great favor–whenever, if ever, you find opportunity--if you would read a few of my posts, on two or three of my other blogs, then evaluate them for clarity and for whether it sounds pedantic or might actually gain and maintain the interest of readers under forty-five.
Also, since you know my public speaking voice, does that same voice come through in the writing? If not, do the different posts come through with a consistent voice?
I am not looking for you to spend much time on this, nor to criticise beyond what you might want to.
Much, if most, improper usage of grammar, is intentional, for better or worse.
I have the Didion book on my nest to read stack.
I have been reading over the past week a number of your other blog entries, particularly the IKANT, and have enjoyed them very much. This one just happened to be the first one I replied to. (I wasn't sure how easy or hard it would be to register myself.) They are, in my view, clear, non-pedantic, grammatical, and interesting to adults of all ages. I think IKANT is making philosophy clear to interested non-specialists and making people interested who might not otherwise be interested. That, I think, is what the best writing and the best teaching does. I can try to give you feedback along these lines as I read more. I think the voice in the postings is a consistent and effective one. I hadn't thought to compare it to your public/classroom voice, but I think it is concise and effectively informal.
This critique, coming from you, encourages me to devote the time and thought these blogs require. You addressed nearly all my concerns, with to the point comments. I hope to see comments on other blogs.
I did not realize that you had to register in order to respond. I have been told that a registration requirement discourages most potential respondents. If there is an easier way, I will try to find it. Is IKANT any easier?
Again, I appreciate greatly the attention you have given. Are things in the English Department going as well as always?
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