In light of Charity’s recent post about becoming masterful, I looked back on a list of Five Writing Strengths I wrote four years ago, to see if I would change or add anything—to see if I can still draw from these strengths to be the best Ann I can be as a writer.
I like to think I have more than five, but this is a good start.
The Meme Instructions:
So, here’s the challenge: make a list of five strengths that you possess as a writer/artist. It’s not really bragging, it’s an honest assessment (forced upon you by this darn meme). Please resist the urge to enumerate your weaknesses, or even mention them in contrast to each strong point you list. Tag four other writers or artists whom you’d like to see share their strengths.
Five Writing Strengths:
1. The ability to sit still for long stretches of time.
Not everyone can do this, you know. Some people get antsy, restless. After a few minutes of sitting still, they fidget and have to get up and make hot chocolate or call a friend. Writers need to be able to sit still for hours in order to get their work done. I can’t help but think of that famous advice writers hear at conferences and in books: How does one become a successful writer? “Apply [bottom] to chair.”* I can do that. I admit that I do head into the other room to grab a handful of nuts now and then or fix a cup of tea. But I can sit still when need be.
2. Curiosity.
Each person I meet knows something that I don’t—I can always learn something new if I ask the right questions. All it takes is a little curiosity. Whether working for a newspaper or corporate client, finding interest in some aspect of a new industry, person, story, or methodology is a strength—if I myself am interested in it, the way I write about it will probably be more interesting, as well.
3. A Commitment to Lifelong Learning.
I’ve abandoned the pursuit of higher education in a formal sense, but Autodidact Ann lives (and reads and researches) on. The more I learn, the more I have to write about.
4. Love of Reading.
Numbers 2, 3, and 4 are suspiciously interrelated. It might seem that I’m taking one idea and stretching it out to fill space—which might be yet another strength in itself—but I do think they deserve to be singled out. Curiosity often leads to learning and reading, and one often learns via reading. But there are other ways to learn and satisfy curiosity, and there is more than one motivation to read. Yet (and this is the point) reading inevitably enhances writing—the content may inspire (or not), the writing style may be worth imitating (or not). Either way, reading widely only helps a writer. Storylines linger, nonfiction facts inform, ideas from texts comingle with others in my mind to form something new. A writer who doesn’t read is doomed to compose in a narrow style and draw from a limited library of ideas. I relish a good book, and I believe that makes my writing richer.
5. Perseverance.
I wrote about this in a previous post. Never, never, never give up. Stick with it. Persist. I may not have the greatest writing talent—I know I don’t—but I stick with it. I try to improve and learn from my mistakes, continuing to forge ahead the best I can. As a friend of mine said (I paraphrase), the most successful writers are not necessarily the ones with the greatest talent; they’re the ones who persevere.
Now.
It’s your turn. I’m posing the same question to all who write:
What five writing strengths do you possess?
Consider writing a post exploring your own strengths and link back, so we can read and learn. I’ll include a linky tool below. If you don’t want to publish a post, jot some notes in the comments.
* Note: For family-friendly reasons, I’ve substituting the more economical and punchy three-letter word for one’s posterior with the far tamer “bottom.”
I particularly resonated with the “curiosity” factor. I love new things, new places, new adventure. It’s what keeps my brain engaged with the world around me
Yes, I see that in you, David. Definitely.
I agree with David.
I have that strength also. Curiosity, I think, should be the platform of any writer.
Good list!
And I see that in you, too, Duane. It comes out in both your and David’s work.
Thanks, Ann. I needed to consider these things. I’m particularly grateful for the broad boundaries you’ve drawn.
1. I value clarity
2. I know how to spell and punctuate–this skill saves me time in looking up spelling and rules.
3. I have a sense of when the rules need to take a rest.
4. I am unusually observant.
5. My brain is my favorite toy.
Love your list, Sheila! I am fairly good with spelling and punctuation, though I keep a style manual at hand for the moments I hesitate.
Wish I were more observant.
Honestly, I don’t consider myself a writer in the formal sense of the word. A mom with a pen and a journal, yes. Scribbling my thoughts, sinking them deep, lessons I’ve learned so I stop cyclic relearning, yes. As I jot and dig, my list would have to include … beautifully busy (which means no time to edit and redraft, just capture and go), obedient (to carve time out of the day and grab a pen), with a bit of spunk.
Delighted to meet you today. I hope you don’t mind if I splash around a bit to get to know you. This looks like a refreshing place to dip into some serious goodness.
Splashin’,
Sarah
Cyclic relearning–great phrase (and a problem of mine).
Love the spunk and the quick-turnaround requirement of your life. It’s a pleasure getting to know you!
Hmmm…not sure I can come up with five (wait, did I violate the rules already by identifying a weakness?) Anyway. I’ve been thinking about this post throughout the day and came up with a couple. I think each person’s story is valuable and deserves to be written down, and I enjoy listening to people and writing their stories. Also, I think I’ve lived long enough to have life experiences from which to draw. That’s it for now. I’ll keep mulling.
Good stuff, Nancy. You encourage us here.
Ooooh, now that is a challenge! Especially (for me) not enumerating my attendant weaknesses to counter-balance. Gotta swirl that one around a bit, but I think I want to try it.
I look forward to your list!
Ann – I think this is a crucial first step to becoming a master writer. Identifying what we can do so that we can work on those things.
I think I share a few of your strengths – particularly curiosity, love of reading, perseverance. I guess I would add the ability to synthesize thoughts from various sources and perspectives, and a love of words. (I think you share both of these things with me, too!)
Thanks for moving me along on my writing journey, friend!
Oh, that’s good, Charity, the synthesizing of thoughts (you’re better than I at that) and a love of words (again, as a skillful poet, you clearly linger over words more lovingly than I, a spitter-outer of words).
1) Read a lot and varied things.
2) Days I don’t write feel like a waste of a good life.
3) Ability to find and create patterns.
4) Good listener (when interviewing), especially nonverbal cues (thank you, half-deafness!).
5) Voracious consumer of music, theater, and podcasts to have a sense of how words sound.
I love #2. It’s the sign of a born writer. Number 3 makes for great flow/rhythm/sentence fluency in your work–I wish I were better at that. And #5 is absolutely fascinating, to think of absorbing the sounds of words in order to use them better. Love that. Love this whole list, actually.
1. I follow rules and I break them – school gave me a structured understanding of the technicalities of the English–and Spanish–language. I have seen how the houses of our words are constructed. I dwelled from one abode to the next, gettling situated and acclamited to the environment. Recently, I have just begun settling into a more permanent location and I want to do some renovations.
2. My art encompasses a broad spectrum of what I do – my godmother told me that my writing also constitutes as “my art” in addition to my visual artwork. Words and images are closely intertwined within the engine of my imagination.
3. I not only read but I read INTO
4. I adopt new words into my vocabulary – there are so many orphaned words in our English language, desperate for utilization and affection.
5. I strive to do something everyday – I want to be an active co-creator along with God. He never sits still so neither should I.
Hi Ann,
I finally managed to think through this question of yours and write about it on my blog. Here’s the short list:
1. I can sit still (yes, I stole this from you).
2. I haz grammar (and speling, too, apparently).
3. I love learning.
4. I can laugh at myself.
5. I write slowly.
I went into more detail in my post, of course, but those are the highlights.
Thanks for suggesting this. It was interesting to think and write about my strengths – and hard, too, to do so without apology or equivocation.
Warmly,
Kimberlee