Falklore: Intangibles

I hope whoever is reading this column is getting some good from it. I find writing this particular one helped me to remember or recall some of the important things I have left slip away. Intangibles in writing effectively are what slip away if we are not careful. A while back I listed a number of things writers need—necessities such as a computer, a quiet room, a ream of paper, a cup of strong coffee, etc. These and others are tangible items, easily attainable and easily maintained. However, it is the intangible things that really need personal attention and as a writer, one must strive vigorously to master them. And that takes work. Intangibles worth striving for were compiled by members of our Pen to Paper Writer's Club in Tecumseh, Michigan.

1. Self-confidence or Ego. As a writer, you have to fully believe that you've got something worth writing about, something that others will find worth their time (and perhaps their money). You can't harbor self-doubt or excesses of humility.

2. Inner Discipline. As a writer, even if you are a pro with a paycheck and deadlines, you need to motivate yourself to sit down (repeatedly) and write; to sit down (repeatedly) and re-write. You have to provide and maintain your own structure to keep up productivity.

3. Sensitivity. As a writer, your senses need to be heightened so you hear, see, smell, taste, feel in a vivid and deep way. You need a sensitivity to language—to develop your skill at selecting words.

4. Flexibility. As a writer, you need to be able and willing to shift gears, to discard what doesn't work, to make repeated trips to the drawing board, to start over, to accept criticism.

5. Sense of Humor. As a writer (and as a human being), you can't ever take yourself too seriously. If you can't draw back and see the humor in about 80 percent of human activity, you can easily grow neurotic and morose. What you write from that perspective will not be worth reading except by those who are neurotic and morose.

6. Curiosity and observation. As a writer you need to be detail-oriented. An exceptional curiosity will serve you well whether you are writing about people, places or designing a plot. Relating the truth, employing a keen awareness of the senses, and noting details sets a written work apart.

As you read works of publishing authors, you will surely find that each possess virtually all of the above attributes. Join the posse.

Questions/Comments? Contact Jim at james@jamesfalk.net, or visit www.jamesfalk.net.

James Falk, as a teen-ager, used to dream of being a big-time racketeer. Fortunately, his dream didn't come true. A 10th grade dropout, he finished highschool after four years in the Marines and went on to earn a B.A. in Journalism and an M.A. in Communications.