Why the best book on writing (‘The Elements of Style’) is a lifestyle and not a manual
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I'm doing this email over coffee break, at 10:30am the day before deadline (Thursday) instead of 9pm. I like pressure but I think (hope) I write better emails when I have more time.
I was upstairs starting my coffee break (my WFH setup is a window sill in the basement) when I figured I'd take a minute to thumb through my pocket writing bible that I carry around the house and got some inspiration:
I Originally got 'The Elements of Style' because, once you get an inclination to write it pops up in all the places one might venture for studying the craft.
What I didn't realize is that the book is a lifestyle more than a training manual. What do I mean?
My first instinct when getting it (circa ~2017) was to take the business school approach: immediately read it cover to cover, embrace the secrets, and than my future would be here.
I very soon realized that wasn't possible.
When I read something technical I have a habit of making my own cliff notes. We humans never retain everything we read so I make my own crib sheet (I'm an extreme Virgo) so that I can easily refer back to the main takeaways when I'm done.
As I began reading 'Elements...' and taking my best notes I soon found that I was just copying the entire book. It's already the cliff notes.
I also realized there was no point in reading it from start to finish and no point in reading it without writing at the same time. It would be like reading a dictionary from start to finish. There would be no improvement in craft without actual practice.
At 85 pages long, to date I still haven't even read 30% of it. The best thing I can do is spend time writing everyday and once in awhile glance at a paragraph. At first I wanted to drink straight from the bottle, now I think of it more like the ratio of laundry detergent to water. A cap full is almost too much.
Take for instance, the very first line of Section I 'Elementary Rules of Usage'. The first point:
"1. Form the possessive singular of nouns by adding 's. Follow this rule whatever the final consonant."
Can you imagine reading a full chapter let alone an entire book of rote rules of writing? I don't even want to read the third sentence. This is why everybody hated English class.
And this is why 'Elements...' is a lifestyle. You have to carry it around in your pocket (it fits good) like a hipster and every once in awhile, after you have cleared plenty of room in your brain you may take it out as you sip your coffee and find a sentence or two that give you something to think about for the next week. And it will only work if you've actually been writing stuff as the context for thinking about the new insight.
Now, that said I did actually just read the third sentence, and it's worth mentioning it:
"1. Form the possessive singular of nouns by adding 's. Follow this rule whatever the final consonant. Thus write, Charles's friend."
It talks about you guys right there as the first example in the book. I kid you not:
You can't tell me that's not a sign that we're on the right path.
I'll let that sink in.
Ok, so what was today's actual lesson? It's something I've been concerned with a lot lately - imitating things I've read. This comes from Section V 'An Approach to Style.' Page 70.
"The use of language begins with imitation...Never imitate consciously, but do not worry about being an imitator; take pains instead to admire what is good. Then when you write in a way that comes naturally, you will echo the halloos that bear repeating."
Wow. The beauty of reading 'Elements...' is that it not only gives you direct guidance on the issues at hand but you also get to look at how that guidance was written. It's very meta. This passage not only tells you the main point - just read lots of great books, do you're writing, and stop worrying - it also shows you how to use a semicolon versus a comma and shows you how one can throw in a fancy word that nobody's ever heard before and yet it actually adds clarity to the sentence.
This is too much. I've got to close the book for about a week now.
I would tell you I'm going to stick it in the back pocket of my jeans for walking around town but I don't actually leave the house and I no longer wear pants with pockets. So I'll stick it in the pouch of my hoody (which I only put on when I need an article of clothing that can hold stuff) and I'll probably go make another pot of coffee, for lunch now and I'll read some funny memes on Instagram to get myself back in proper balance.
Be excellent, Charles's friends and have a great Friday.
Have some thoughts? Feel free to drop a comment or hit me up: charlie@charleskunken.com
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