Writing is not a craft

Writing is driven by the Muse, the source of the writer's inspiration. From the flash of the idea to the completed text, it runs like a river freely flowing, bound only by the constraints it has placed on itself.

What is written may be edited, re-written or tossed out altogether, but that is a different matter. One writes because one has something to say. And to say it well, one writes and re-writes a number of times. One is not writing to an audience or has a reader in mind. One writes for one's own satisfaction, for one's fulfilment. It is an expression of oneself in myriad ways. And one hopes that it will also interest others sufficiently to read through what one has written.

In a script for a movie, on the other hand, the compulsion is different. The script writer focuses on the audience; rather, he knows his audience and what they expect from the script. The script writer puts in effort to create the effect that the script produces. It is intentionally done, carefully planned and executed with skill.

The novel or the short story are not intended to address a specific audience, nor is it is designed and crafted for any purpose. An artist draws a picture because s/he sees the world in a certain way. It is his or her own personal expression. It has no critique or the viewer in mind. It is there because someone pictured it that way and gave expression to it. The same to my mind is true for the author.

To apply the techniques or the craft of movie-making to writing a novel or a short story is to defeat the very purpose of the Muse, who is hovering over the writer in mysterious ways. The techniques of the screenplay work for the movie, since movie-making is a craft and not an art at all, in my opinion.

Perhaps this is the reason that most writers don't like to talk about the art of writing fiction, though there are many schools teaching it. It is perhaps more useful to discuss one's work in a school with other writers, and also discuss what similar works have been handled by the masters (not the technique, but the content).

Above all, I think writing comes from writing, lots of writing and reading, lots of reading.

There is the matter of the structure of story telling. Again, it is a matter of craft. Every artistic work has structure, no doubt. But to put it into repeatable patterns is to turn it into a craft. While craft might determine success, it cramps the writer into a stylistic straitjacket and may fail to fulfil his basic need: to flow with the Muse.

Writing Seminar by Markus Vattulainen

After waiting eagerly for Saturday to come, I was excited to attend the seminar by Markus V, a would-be author from Finland. Markus posted the details of the seminar and invited participants to join him for a whole year in learning the craft of writing. A session would be held for three hours every Saturday morning to discuss not only the personal approaches to writing, especially fiction, but also to learn and analyze the time-honored techniques employed by published authors. I was hoping to be able to be part of a group of aspiring writers for a long time. Markus's offer came like a soothing balm to my aching heart.
The first session was introductory and began with three men and three women apart from Markus who headed the session and drove it skillfully forward with the tools of the trade, beginning with a short introduction on the purpose of the seminar and ending the session with a film clip. Markus has a pleasing personality with a jovial face and a friendly demeanor. He greeted all of us with warmth and introduced us gently to the writing process. Everyone participated in the discussions that followed. The session held promise for more interesting and useful interactions in the future.
Markus made it clear at the very outset that he had made a choice between writing and not writing. The decision must necessarily be irreversible, leaving no scope for dilly-dallying. He decided to write, quit his job and settled down to writing full time. It was clear I am sure to everyone who did not take as seriously to writing as he did that it ws important to decide NOW, which is what Markus told us to do before going ahead with the seminar. It remains to be seen how many will go through with it and with how much hard work and enthusiasm.
The first session began with the screening of The Lion King, pausing the flow often to make a point or deliberate on some aspects of story-telling. Markus is articulate, clear in exposition and often invited the opinions of his eager listeners before offering his own. He gave an assignment which involved analyzing a scene from the film and posting answers to queries he posed in a hand-out. He expected everyone to join the forum on the seminar's website and participate in the discussions. The days of enjoyment are over, Markus announced; it is time to be analytical whenever we watch a movie or read a story.