In awe of great writing…

Some days, I dream of being a writer.

I’ve always loved writing. High School, even college, writing assignments were the ones I loved. Not sure why. Not sure it matters. Bottom line: I like writing.

I don’t love reading.

Wait, let me rephrase… I don’t love “forced” reading. I understand that John Steinbeck is considered a great author. Same with Jack London, etc. I thought the story of White Fang was awesome. I thought the story for Of Mice and Men was awesome.

I hated reading it. The language, the style… put me to bed. They were chores to read (at least for me).

Much like art, writing is in the eye of the bereader. 

That is why I am simply awed by great writing. Yes, argumentatively, I am awed by what I consider to be great writing.

To Kill a Mockingbird? I couldn’t put that down. The writing, the story… to this day it remains one of my favorite books.

Of course, a good writer to me uses language and set-up in such a way, that I (1) enjoy reading their work and (2) see contexts that I couldn’t accomplish myself. Maybe this set-up/delivery is why comedians are some of my favorite authors.

What triggered this post? Easy. Tina Fey.

Yes, Tina Fey is funny. But, Tina Fey is a great writer.

May she be Beautiful but not Damaged, for it’s the Damage that draws the creepy soccer coach’s eye, not the Beauty.

That’s a line from Bossypants [The Mother’s Prayer for It’s Daughter]. That line, that sentence… I think I’ve read it 200 times. More.

I’m in awe of great writing.