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What I Like About Writing

General

pink striped dress
In the interview for my current job, they asked, “What do you like about writing?” I said “the style of it,” but I wasn’t very good at describing what I meant. I’ve been thinking about it ever since, and then one day, I was reading Murakami’s 1Q84 when it clicked. In the book, he describes the main character’s writing process:

“…he did another careful read-through of the text…. Again he deleted parts that seemed superfluous, fleshed out passages that felt underwritten, and revised sections until they fit more smoothly into the rest of the story. He selected his words with all the care of a craftsman choosing the perfect piece of tile to fill a narrow gap in a bathroom floor, inspecting the fit from every angle. Where the fit was less than perfect, he adjusted the shape. The slightest difference in nuance could bring the passage to life or kill it. … Then he reread the revised text on the screen. Not bad, he told himself. Each sentence possessed the proper weight, which gave the whole thing a natural rhythm.”

So that’s it! Anyone can share an idea or story. But making your words sing and leap off the page? That takes style. ðŸ™‚

p.s. I love this quote by Aristotle that reminds us to keep doing what we do to be who we want to be.

we are what we repeatedly do quote

(bottom image via Inspower)

Last modified: January 10, 2019