When writing loses touch with the beautiful surface of the world, it loses its way. You always want to be in touch with how things look and what people say and what they call their dogs.
This reminded me of a favorite exercise and a favorite practice for writers.
A favorite exercise
This is from Writing Tools: 50 Essential Strategies for Every Writer by Roy Peter Clark. The books gives sensible advice and exercises, useful to both fiction and nonfiction writers. One exercise asks you to contact five acquaintances and get the names of their dogs. He then asks you to list the names in the order that sounds best.
A favorite practice
I cannot remember the source of the practice, but someone suggested that every day, a writer should write down five things he or she sees. I've fallen out of this habit, but perhaps tonight I'll fall back in again.
What are your habits or practices that keep your work "in touch with the beautiful surface of the world?"
The Roy Peter Clark book is on my top 5 list of writing books. You can read the rest of my picks here.
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