Thoughts On Writing (from and inspired by CS Lewis)

CS Lewis was, of course, an amazing writer, who wrote with both truth and imagination. What an inspiration! And as I try to make sense of the plan that God has for me, I'm reminded that I have a gift and a passion for writing. Sadly, this summer (aka my supposed "summer to write") didn't turn into much of a writing summer after all. Instead, I've seen much of this summer wasted on re-watching movies that aren't that great and checking Facebook when I'm not working. As I read through this list of rules for good writing by CS Lewis, I paid special attention to the first one in particular. Here are his "rules" sent to a girl who was looking to him for tips on writing (my own commentary is added in for kicks after the "<--"):

1. Turn off the radio (and the television). <-- why can't I seem to do this this summer!?
2. Read good books and avoid most magazines. <-- I feel like I do this.
3. Write with the ear, not the eye. Make every sentence sound good. <-- I couldn't agree more.
4. Write only about things that interest you. If you have no interests, you won't ever be a writer. <--well, I think I have interests... is too many a problem?
5. Be clear. Remember that readers can't know your mind. Don't forget to tell them exactly what they need to know to understand you. <-- makes sense.
6. Save odds and ends of writing attempts, because you may be able to use them later. <-- this is definitely true, yet I somehow convince myself that my "odds and ends" aren't good material and sometimes (usually) just delete them from my computer.
7. You need a well-trained sense of word-rhythm, and the noise of a typewriter will interfere.
8. Know the meaning of every word you use <-- something I am learning since I started writing in 3rd grade.

And a very helpful and encouraging quote that has been officially dubbed my quote (maybe of my writing life):

"Even in literature and art, no man who bothers about originality will ever be original: whereas if you simply try to tell the truth (without caring twopence how often it has been told before) you will, nine times out of ten, become original without ever having noticed it" ~CS Lewis

Oh, I do hope that I will write. More. Often. Always.