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 be_reader_. **
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.