Wind: The Way of Writing – Part 5 of 6
“Other schools make accomplishments their means of livelihood, growing flowers and decoratively coloring articles in order to sell them. This is definitely not the Way of strategy.”- Miyamoto Musashi, The Book of 5 Rings
It’s been windy in the desert lately. With no trees or tall buildings to block the wind, it sweeps across the land and gives us desert dwellers a good shake.
Wind is interesting to observe, though. It picks up bits and pieces from miles away to carry them to someplace new. The wind carries seeds from plants and drops them in places where new sprouts can flourish.
Like the wind, ideas have the ability to sweep through your thoughts to carry them to a new location.
Musashi says, “In strategy you must know the ways of other schools.” To grow as a writer, you need to study other schools of thought and see what the rest of the world is doing.
If you get caught in a rut, you’re not doing yourself any favors. Your writing grows stale.
My Way or the Highway
I’m sure you’ve heard that phrase often. Holding hard and fast to an idea only takes you so far. You might think your way is the right one, but you cut yourself off at the roots of creativity.
In writing, there is no right or wrong way to do anything – except when it comes to the rules of grammar and spelling. The rest is mostly subjective and left to personal preference.
In Musashi’s day, there were several schools of thought for training with swords. Some schools preferred the long sword, others the short sword, and others preferred to use both. Many of these schools thought their way was the better one. In reality, no single strategy was the best.
I’ve often told James to take the best and leave the rest. Take a look at how others do things. You don’t have to do the same, but rather take only what works for you. Pull the best from several resources.
Be like the wind passing through, picking up a few seeds here and there.
The Spirit of the Strong Long Sword
“If you rely on strength, when you hit the enemy’s sword you will inevitably hit too hard” – Miyamoto Musashi
Even the wind can be too strong. A heavy-handed approach isn’t always a good idea. Use some finesse. Trying to force your ideas down the throats of others only builds resentment. If you face someone just as strong in approach, you’re in for a long, exhausting battle that probably leads both of you anywhere.
Musashi also said, “There is no inner meaning in sword attitudes. You must simply keep your spirit true to realize the virtue of strategy.”
Don’t look for any single way to define your style. Ride the wind. Let your style evolve without forcing it. You might have to travel a great distance and go through many schools of thought before you find the system that works best for you.
49 Responses to “Wind: The Way of Writing – Part 5 of 6”
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I’m liking these swordsmanship posts. I can really see the evolution in my own writing, which has become much more accessible and more down-to-earth. I’m trying to write like I talk.
Michael Martine, Blog Consultant’s last blog post..Controversial Comment Policy Update
“You must simply keep your spirit true to realize the virtue of strategy.â€
Good advice. When you’re not afraid to be yourself, everything changes.
Dave Navarro – Freelance Smackdown!’s last blog post..Freelance Smackdown: Expanding Services, Part Deux
@ Michael – For what it’s worth, I’m seeing a difference in your writing too, lately. You sound more relaxed, casual and approachable.
Oh, by the way, nice branding with your name!
@Michael: It’s amazing how a suggestion or two can make a big difference in the way you write. I’m stunned at the difference in my own writing when I have to look back at old posts – or even posts as early as last week! Keep evolving, it’s good for you.
If you want to write like you talk, just imagine you’re talking to the person in front of you instead of looking at a monitor. Don’t think too hard on the words you’re using, you can always polish that up afterwards.
This post throws some interesting trail of thoughts for me. Right now I feel like I’m traveling with the wind in my hair getting to know the A-team a lot better and absorbing useful bits of information that can help me to evolve to the next step.
Lately I’ve been toying with so many ideas that float around in my head and right now I’m chewing bits and pieces whenever I have a spare second.
I twirl. Taste. Probe. And change – until I have the right combination to move ahead.
Monika Mundell’s last blog post..Is Writing For A Byline Really Good Enough?
I thought I should chime in as well – I have been lurking on this particular series of articles (spending too much time commenting on other posts…), but I have enjoyed them very much.
For me, personally, I have learned a lot just being here and reading your work, James’ work, the work of a good portion of the regulars (Michael, Dave, I’m looking at you!)
Our differences (in personality, and therefore, writing style) make us stronger – and stronger writers.
I learn a lot from the comment exchange as well. The interaction is just another form of writing practice to me.
Thanks for a great series so far.
Brett Legree’s last blog post..make “one day”, today
@Monika: Oooo…The A Team! Please don’t call me Mr. T though. James would definitely have to be Face.
You definitely have the right idea, float around and experiment. Keep those ideas on the side, they might not come in handy now, but one day something will fit.
@Brett: lurking is fine, I do it all the time. You learn a lot from observation.
@ Brett – Thank you – that’s a nice compliment
But it’s also an astute observation, in that by watching others, you learn quite a bit. What to do, what not to do, what rings out clear, what falls flat…
@ Monika and Harry – I vaguely remember the A-team. You two just dated yourselves
@James: shaddup.
@James: ….What’s the A-team? (just kidding
)
@Harry: I don’t have a whole lot to add, but I just wanted to say that I enjoyed your post.
RLD: Taekwondo Happiness’s last blog post..Invincibility
I love the lesson of flowing with finesse…”ride the wind”.
So much power can be found in the wind. I remember the Sopranos episode where Tony almost dies and comes out of the hospital in an “awakened” state. The scene where Tony notices the wind blowing things around and whistling through treetops really demonstrated a heightened sense of awareness.
Wind only exists in the “now”. When riding the wind you are no longer limited by a strict gangster code of conduct, or by a single school of sword technique.
That makes me think. I wonder if our specific personalities make us lean towards one element or another.
I think it does. I’m a little of all of them, but mostly leaning towards water. What element do you all lean towards?
Good advice….thanks.
Some of us try to fly by the seat of our pants, and then
we realize there really is a subconscious pattern there.
Call it the wind, or whatever, it is still there.
@ Terry – Ah, but some of us retain the Peter Pan belief that we *can* fly. Would unearthing the subconscious pattern remove the magic?
@ Harry – I’m Fire. Fast, unpredictable, slow burn or flaring flames, quickly started and quick to die out leaving ground ready for new growth and beauty.
@Terry: Flying is still flying, no matter how you do it. Thanks for stopping by
@James: Waxing poetic today, are we?
Fiction is often more real than reality.
We are only limited by our imigination
and our subconscious.
I wish I were a poet; it would help
with my writing of descriptions.
I’m most like water – I try to ignore obstacles and persevere. I also have the downsides of water in that I’m fairly malleable.
RLD: Taekwondo Happiness’s last blog post..Invincibility
@ Harry – it also gives me time to create some of my own stuff – no good reading all of your good tips without actually putting it into practice.
@ James – hey, what can I say, I call it like I see it. I see that the MwP “wheel” rolls pretty well, so I will model part of my “wheel” after it, rather than reinventing it, so to speak.
(General comment – this stuff is so much more interesting than discussing long-term strategy was this afternoon… ah, good to be back where I want to be.)
Brett Legree’s last blog post..make “one day”, today
I think you should change your tagline from “Shooting from the Hip” to “Mightier than Men with Swords”, at least until you finish this excellent series.
Nez’s last blog post..Why Shoddy Customer Service Exists
Nez? You may just have hit on something. Harry? A word with me, if you will…
@ Brett – We just make the machinery. Readers provide the grease to get this baby moving.
I also agree that hanging out here is more interesting than work – but my multiple spam filters believe that Brett Legree is some dirty bastard out to ruin my blog with links, cursing, foul language and graphic choice selections. We’re trying to figure out why. Stay tuned. Don’t feel lonely, though… RLD got hooked on this magnificent list that is driving me nuts too.
Anyone know how to tell Gmail something isn’t spam?
@James – you should be able to hit a “not spam” button. It’s on the upper-right on the spam mail window.
RLD: Taekwondo Happiness’s last blog post..Invincibility
EDIT – it’s the upper-left, NOT the upper-right. Sorry!
RLD: Taekwondo Happiness’s last blog post..Invincibility
Sorry to say, there’s only one part left in this series, but we have another kick ass series lined up, and there’s a *lot* of topics in that one! After looking at my outline, it’s almost a blog in itself.
@ Nez – that is poetry, my friend.
@ James – that’s because I *am* some dirty bastard, cursing etc. – not out to ruin your blog, however…
Don’t feel bad – Gmail marks anything from *my* blog as spam, no matter what I’ve done, no matter how many times I tell it that it is not spam… Probably because it isn’t with fscking Blogger (see, told you I curse).
Brett Legree’s last blog post..make “one day”, today
@ RLD – Nope. Been hitting that button for you and Brett for two days now and the stuff just keeps hitting Spam again. I can’t figure out what’s going on, because it only started about three days ago. Still working on it, keep commenting at your regular pace – because if you don’t, I can’t fix it!
@ Brett – Really? There must be a way to tell it that all mail from so-and-so isn’t spam… I’m on it.
@ James – I think it does learn eventually. A few got through as “ham” so maybe it eventually gives up.
I just had a look and couldn’t seem to find any advanced options, but maybe I’m missing something.
Brett Legree’s last blog post..make “one day”, today
WHOO HOO! I think I found the problem! But… I won’t know until both Brett and RLD post a comment, soooo…
Answer Harry’s question about which element you identify with and why
@ James – set up a mail filter (top middle of the screen).
RLD: Taekwondo Happiness’s last blog post..Invincibility
For those that are interested, the administrator email and my gmail were identical. Gmail saw the To: and the From: as being the same and alarm bells were ringing like mad. Gmail’s fault, not WP. The answer was to change the WP administrator email.
What is very interesting, though, is that everyone else’s comments were going through like butter. I don’t get it.
@ James – RLD and I are just *so damned cool* that Google is mortally afraid of us, and is trying everything nefarious to mess with us, including marking us as spammy spam spam on your blog…
(wow, I need a beer)
Brett Legree’s last blog post..make “one day”, today
*sigh*… No luck. The Gods are playing with my head. I’ll try a filter.
I identify with water, to answer your question.
I am calm (believe it or not! Never mind my kids calling me “angry dad”), I adapt to the situation, and I eventually and always find a solution to any problem.
Brett Legree’s last blog post..make “one day”, today
@ James – I’ll sacrifice a beer to the beer gods. They will cast a plague upon Google’s house to fix this evil spam filter.
(Okay, I’m losing it now – gotta go out and pick up some groceries, so I’ll be back!)
Brett Legree’s last blog post..make “one day”, today
THE GODS WANT CANADIAN LIQUOR!
*ahem* oh, wait, that’s me.
Total weirdness in my email. I saw all of James’ posts, none of Brett’s or RL’s, and it looked like James was talking to himself.
lol – nothing new, eh, Harry?
So Brett’s water, I’m fire, RLD is water, Terry is wind… Harry’s ground, definitely. We’re covered.
Not quite. There’s one more left.
*pours Brett a late and stale beer* (sorry)
@ (not) MrT aka Harry: yes, I think these ideas will float sooner than later actually. Been stewing for a while and the more I do my pub crawl rounds, the more they manifest themselves.
@ Face aka James: dating? wh@t!
@ both of you A- teamers: I tend to be a water person mainly because my star sign is cancer. But then I do have that alter ego that lurks in the deepest recesses of my mind who tends to explode with fiery passion when I have new ideas.
The danger of this combination is that I sometimes happen to douse my own creativity with stupid behavior patterns.
Monika Mundell’s last blog post..Is Writing For A Byline Really Good Enough?
@Monika: My deepest sympathies, I understand completely. Such are the pitfalls of having prominent fire and water in one’s chart.
@ Harry – then the gods shall have Canadian liquor…
(actually, I had some Maudite tonight – mmm, I feel a bit evil now…)
@ Monika – a stale beer, is still a beer in my book, so thank you very much!
You know, we really all must have a real get-together some time. Bonfire, beer, pagan celebrations (virgins optional – I sure hope this makes sense to everyone reading this, if not go back to the “7 Wierd Things About James” article…)
Brett Legree’s last blog post..make “one day”, today
Completely agree. Never limit yourself in the name of style.
Roberto Villegas’s last blog post..Futzer at Large
@Brett: Maybe someday, that would be a cool idea. It would have to be up there though, unless you can convince James to get his ass on a plane. I haven’t had any luck.
@Roberto: Welcome to MwP! I agree, when it comes to style, there are no limits except those we place upon ourselves.
@ Harry – hey, you never know – everybody goes to Vegas at least once – you have to go to Vegas!
Brett Legree’s last blog post..make “one day”, today
@ Brett: Vegas, did I hear Vegas *and she is off to book her plane* ….* and then she returns as she remembered that she needs to earn some gambling money first*.
You are welcome and the whole pagan get together thingy sounds great. I’m also happy to fly to Canada if need be, but first I’ll need to earn the big bucks to allow me to work from anywhere in the world.
@ Harry: thanks for your sympathy. Sometimes its like having two entirely different heads on my shoulders if you know what I mean?
Monika Mundell’s last blog post..Planning Your Future Writing Gigs
@ Monika – I hear you, currently working on that whole earning the big bucks thing / location independent. You are welcome to celebrate concurrently with us up here in Canada, of course the pagan holidays would be reversed as you are in Oz.
The main thing is to keep the dream alive (I never thought I’d do it, but my wife and I went to New Zealand last year for two weeks – almost made it to your place!)
Just keep dreaming, and then plan to achieve the dream – you will get there.
Brett Legree’s last blog post..make “one day”, today
Keep the dream alive.
That is mandatory.
I dream therefore I am.
@ Terry – that is so dead-on, “I dream therefore I am”.
Stephen Covey said, “All things are created twice. There’s a mental or first creation, and a physical or second creation of all things. You have to make sure that the blueprint, the first creation, is really what you want, that you’ve thought everything through. Then you put it into bricks and mortar. Each day you go to the construction shed and pull out the blueprint to get marching orders for the day. You begin with the end in mind.”
So keep dreaming. Modify as needed, and turn it into reality.
Brett Legree’s last blog post..make “one day”, today