By Fred Fields Writing is a more difficult task than neophytes imagine. Getting "A" on your essay in 12th grade English is not comparable, although it's a good start.
You
must acquire knowledge of the craft. Learn how to write for a more discriminating
audience. Let your characters tell the story, and short paragraphs are more
willingly read than long ones are important examples.
Surprisingly,
correct language or grammar is not always required. The best illustration of
that, for me, is the character Holden Caulfield in J.D. Salinger's epic, Catcher in the Rye. As the narrator of
the tome, almost the entire book is told in Holden's voice, which is, for me, a
very annoying ultra-typical teen vernacular.
An
important element of the craft is getting your facts straight, which requires
considerable research. As the author of a story you are expected to be the
expert of your tale. If your research is incorrect, it detracts from the
reader's concentration and the believability of the story. Luckily, that is
made somewhat easier with today's computers.
For
the beginner, most writing coaches suggest writing about something you already
know. Catcher in the Rye is also a
good example of this. Like Holden Caulfield, Salinger went to private schools.
And his personality issues revealed in later life suggest the experiences and
thoughts of the unhappy teen were likely autobiographical.
There
are many other considerations to taking up the craft of writing, not the least
of which is getting your work recognized and purchased by the public-at-large.
Many writers write for their own gratification. Most, however, prefer to write
for the public's enjoyment and the resulting profits. Thus, an author will
spend a lot of time marketing his work, often with unsuccessful results.
A
professional writer soon learns that the pursuit of the craft demands more
talent and effort than merely writing a good story or essay.
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