Knowing you don’t know

Do you know what a bushing is? No? Neither did I until I googled it and discovered it is a rubbery ring that fits around the kingpin on your skateboard trucks and helps the board turn and pivot. A skateboarder would need to know this if suddenly they can’t pivot or turn on their board. Ah, I need my bushing fixed! But me? I don’t need to know what a bushing is. I’m not a skateboarder, I am a writer. Lucky for me, I already know about writing. I do it all the time. Emails, texts, social media posts, gushy or angry reviews on Amazon. I went to school didn’t I? Conjunction junction what’s my function? I may have the basics down but are those basics enough to become a fiction writer? In the first fiction writing class I took (virtual) I was required, as part of the class, to chat with my classmates about the craft of writing. I quickly realized I couldn’t participate fully because I didn’t understand the terminology they were using. I owned my ignorance and diligently began researching the glossary of fiction writing. Characterization, pacing, dramatic structure, inciting incident, interiority, stakes, voice and so on. If this is you, there are plenty of books to reference as well as great websites. I know you just want to write, I did too, but ‘turn and pivot’. Take some time to learn the terminology so, when the time comes to discuss why your critique reader was bored during that third chapter you can identify what is wrong (pacing) and pivot forward to that quick edit and making your work a ‘steez’. (google it) Take the initiative to learn and write at the same time. Fall in love with the craft of writing.

Here is the message for the walkers who pass by my house this week: