What makes a good writer?

A lot of people have said to me in the past 'I love reading your letters' or 'I love reading your emails'. In my earlier years people said I should be a writer.

I've often wondered: 'What's the secret?' Or even, what are the secrets? What am I doing that makes the words special to others? It's only now, in my adult years, that I've finally come to a few conclusions:

Show your soul

All writers have something of the romantic... of the idealist... of the dreamer in them. That's my personal belief. In all the letters and emails I've ever written, I've hardly ever held back. Some of my deepest feelings - love, joy, sorrows, fears, hopes, aspirations, wishes, regrets - have permeated the pages or the screen. I've put a lot of myself into the words. By doing it, I've connected with the reader.

Love what you do

Possibly the key to success in anything we do, not just to writing well. Enjoy what you do and you'll do it so much better. I love writing. I love it! And back in my years as a translator, some of my very best literary translations came from my passion for words, from the wish to reproduce the original text's elegance for the reader.  

Be original

This has a lot to do with personal perception. The work of the Impressionist artists was great because they painted scenes they way they perceived them, not the way artistic norms dictated. For instance, they would sometimes paint hazy grey skies instead of clear blue ones, because that was the impression they had of the sky on the day. 

And so you must be original with your words. Avoid clichés. Describe things as you perceive them. The chances are your description will be much more original. An honest description is much more rewarding both for you as a writer and for your reader.   

Be a bookworm

As well as being passionate about writing your own stuff, be passionate about other people's stuff. See how others express themselves. Find out what themes interest you. Discover new authors, new words, new ideas, new perspectives, new narrative techniques and even new worlds. Develop your own style. There's more fact in fiction than you'd imagine.

Time to spare a few thoughts?

And so I snap out of 'reflexive writer mode' now, to ask what you think makes a good writer. Do you agree wholeheartedly with me, or do you disagree violently! 

In fact, what do you think about this blog? Have I been practising what I've preached today? Or should I pick up a few more books and learn from the masters? Do tell!

Good Finds, Great Feelings

Whenever I'm back in my hometown, which isn't often, I do a tour of the charity shops. Carrying my trusty backpack on my, er, back, I stride in and out of charity shops, hunting bargain books.

And if it's not the charity shops, then it's a trip to the boot sale! Fans of Stephen King, J.K. Rowling and Dan Brown should all get themselves there!

Based up in Edinburgh, yesterday I popped into a Barnados for the first time in a few months, just on the off chance. Imagine my delight to see Gabay's Copywriters' Compendium in the Special Interest section! It's nothing short of the copywriter's equivalent to the Bible.

'Don't mind if I do,' I said to myself, after letting out an unmanly squeal at my find. Coming across such a specialist book at just 5 pounds, when it costs 17 pounds or so in the shops or online, brightened up my day. Not that it was going badly in the first place, but you know what I mean. 

Sometimes there's nothing like the lift of a good discovery. It doesn't always have to be finding money on the floor either. For instance, a friend and I discovered a quaint little coffee shop that we'd never noticed before, while strolling together down Leith Walk.

This month it's been Gabay's Copywriters' Compendium for me, but what's the best discovery you've made recently. And is it something to write home about?

Chat-a-touille for dinner anyone?

Best chat-up line you've ever heard, or favourite chat-up line. Come on, let's be 'having 'em.

Just had a quick peep on Twitter at what's trending and, tonight, it's Harry Potter chat-up lines. Thought we could have a giggle (or a cringe!) at some of the cleaner ones:

• Get your cloak - you've pulled
• I didn't need the Marauder's Map to find you - I just followed my heart
• You don't have to say 'Lumos' to turn me on
• You must be Berti Botts - you've just turned my legs to jelly
• Assorted unoriginal 'wand' and 'Chamber of Secrets' ones.

Chat-up lines from your trusty blogger?

Favourite one ever: If I could change the alphabet I'd put 'U' and 'I' together. Does it work? Well, chat-up lines aren't my style, so I don't know and don't care! 

Second wittiest one I ever heard: Is that a ladder in your tights or is it the Stairway to Heaven? Credit where it's due, the inventor really grafted with that one! Not sure what Plant and Page would make of people using their masterpiece like that. Who knows... maybe they use it themselves - and pull it off, to boot!

Chat me up!

Come on, it's your turn now. Would love to hear some of your chat-up lines or stories that involve chat-up lines. But please, no 'I'm not Fred Flintstone but I can certainly make your Bedrock's. That one's been around as long as the Flintstones themselves and doesn't work (or so I imagine haha)!