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Writing Hacks from Cormac McCarthy

Let me just say: Cormac McCarthy is a damn good writer.  The man can put words to page.

I finished "No Country for Old Men" last week and am still blown away by it.  Unlike his earlier and more experimental work (see Blood Meridian), the writing in "No Country for Old Men" is terse and immediate.  He uses simple declarative sentences.  The violence is raw and the tone is apocalyptic.  I didn't want the book to end!

We can all learn a lot from McCarthy
The book made me want to learn more about the man behind the book.  I dug around a little and found an old interview he did with Oprah.  At one point, she asks him if he's passionate about writing.  McCarthy responds, "I like what I do."  He says he doesn't understand writers who find the work torturous and then says, "You always have this image of the 'perfect thing', which you can never achieve, but which you never stop trying to achieve."

I thought this was so brilliant.  In two sentences, McCarthy summarizes some of the key habits of successful writers.  He enjoys writing and he enjoys trying to get better at it.

Even if we can't all be McCarthy, we can learn a thing or two from the old man.  We can use goals to motivate us and discipline our time.  What is your writing goal?  How does it motivate you?  And what would "perfection" look like in your work? Developing proficiency and skill (at anything) requires a lot of practice. It's also made a little easier if you enjoy the process of trying to get better.

Start your next writing session with a general mindset of improvement.  Set a goal to "improve the flow of my introduction" or "polish my thesis statement" or "flesh out my analysis." Or, start your next writing session with an affirmation: "Today, I will make my paper better" or "Today, I will become a better writer."  I bet these little practices will motivate you. At the very least, they will inspire you to keep going, even when things aren't going your way.

Please comment and let me know if this helps.  And as always, keep fighting the good fight and take care of each other. Oss!


Comments

  1. AnonymousFebruary 11, 2017 at 4:52 AM

    I needed this today as I take my first step to sit and write about my newest research! Let me see if this inspiration can get me through. Every little bit moves me toward my goal!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Jooyoung LeeFebruary 11, 2017 at 4:56 AM

      Nice! Let me know what works well for you! I am glad that this gave you a little boost. I often find it hard to sit down and just think about the entire project. I find it's easier to start by just chipping away at something small. Once you have completed that, you will feel a surge of positive emotions and then will be even more ready to move onto the next thing. When all else fails, tell yourself, "I got this!"

      Delete

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