Originality? Maybe You're Trying Too Hard

I love to read an author who's truly an original, don't you? Perhaps that's why writing conferences devote so much time to techniques for developing our own "voice." It may also explain how we get trapped in a ceaseless round of rewrites, trying so hard to say something in a fresh way.

I recently came across a comment by C.S. Lewis that pulled me up short. Here's his "take" on original writing:

No man who values originality will ever be original. But try to tell the truth as you see it, try to do any bit of work as well as it can be done for the work's sake, and what men call originality will come unsought.--"Membership," quoted by Patricia S. Klein, ed., A Year with C.S. Lewis, April 29.

Faithfulness to the Lord demands that we invest every story with the best efforts of which we are capable; but when we obsess about giving the story our own unique "brand," we shift the object of our faithfulness--to ourselves!

Lewis' comment reminds me of the time a friend tried to teach me golf. Having never played golf before, I needed to start at the most basic level, so he took me to a driving range and began giving a series of instructions: Stand this way...grip the club that way...turn your shoulders, but not your head, etc. I eventually grazed the ball with my club. I kept on trying, and my friend kept on instructing, until he finally said, "You're being too self-conscious. Forget about yourself and just hit the ball." When I did that, it flew down the range.

"Try to tell the truth as you see it," Lewis advises. "Try to do any bit of work as well as it can be done for the work's sake." In other words, forget about yourself and keep your eye on the "ball," story that needs to be told. Then originality will take care of itself.

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Joe Allison and his wife, Judy, live in Anderson IN, where Joe serves as Coordinator of Publishing for Church of God Ministries, Inc. Joe has several nonfiction books in print, including Swords and Whetstones: A Guide to Christian Bible Study Resources. He's currently writing a trilogy of Christian historical novels set in the Great Depression.

Visit Joe's blog at http://hoosierwriter.wordpress.com

Self Expression Joins Fiction to Poetry

What a joy self-expression is. Whether writing fiction, poetry, or non-fiction the way the author presents the material, the choice of what is said, even what is left unsaid are indicative of the writer’s personality and experience.


As a child I was delighted when my father made up little ditties or spoke in verse. I never considered how they impacted me until I wrote a poem a day to sharpen my skills of observation and description. Later, I entered the La Porte County Poet Laureate Contest and performed in Arts in the Park for several years.



While studying the gospels, I imagined the motivations and conflicts of the individuals and framed fictionalized poems to express them. “Journey to Christmas” was followed by newly released, “Ten Days to an Empty Tomb” which is the good news of Easter told in story-poems. These contemporary poems explore thoughts and emotions of those encountering the days leading to the Passover, crucifixion, and resurrection. Human nature, reasoning, and choices are revealed provoking thoughtful meditation for those wanting to draw closer to Christ or simply share the story in a new way.

Here are three excerpts. Can you guess the character viewpoint?

These fools will serve this King of Plenty
as Servant Leaders and Ransoms for Many
as for me—there’ll be money and goods to disperse;
I’ll be Minister of Interior, Treasurer of Purse.


I wish I’d been cast from Temple
defrocked and shunned by Jews
for then I’d be pure in heart
with no regrets for what I’ve withheld from You.


Does the earth quake for a human?
Will lightning and thunder toll?
Does the sky split with the world’s weight
while gambling dice are rolled?



This is a FREE DOWNLOAD TODAY, SUNDAY, AND MONDAY, MARY 9, 10, 11.  If you do not have a Kindle Reader, that is a free download too. I hope you will follow the link, download a copy, and share the link with your friends. Perhaps you would even write a review on Amazon or comment on blogs about it. I value your feedback.

http://www.amazon.com/Ten-Days-Empty-Tomb-ebook/dp/B00BQN29TA/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1362835269&sr=1-1&keywords=Ten+Days+to+an+Empty+tomb

 Mary Allen writes from NW Indiana and prays that this Easter be one of deeper joy and greater commitment to our Risen Lord. Many blessings IN ACFW friends.