Honing the Craft of Writing

by Ali Cahill

Nathan Leslie, author of several books including Reverse Negative and Drivers, gave a lecture and read at the Faculty Club on Wednesday, January 31.

Leslie's lecture was titled "The Art of Persistence," and was followed by a helpful list of Do's and Don't's for getting published. To Leslie, writing is a craft, and as such, it needs to be developed through persistence and diligence.

"Practice, practice, practice," he said. "Continue to develop your craft. The idea that writing is a 'gift' is a static way to think of writing. You can always improve, even if you aren't a 'naturally gifted' writer. It's a craft."

Leslie advises writers to apply rational criticism to their work, so that the author acts as an outsider and is aware of his own strengths and weaknesses as a writer.

"You should emphasize your strengths," he said, "and minimize your weaknesses."

Leslie advised students to keep reading: "Read what you like, read what you don't know, read what you don't like," he said. "Look for tricks. How do [the authors you admire] manipulate language?"

Leslie then followed with a long "D&D" list for getting published, although he placed this caveat before it: "Publication is the result of good writing, and shouldn't take the place of it. Too many people rush into it."

Some helpful hints Leslie shared with the audience were to read the chosen publication beforehand and know the type of work it accepts, to massage the egos of its editors, to start small, and to prepare for rejection.