On Writing: Practice Excellence

Practice makes perfect. I believed this mantra for years until a music teacher changed my mind. “Perfect practice makes perfect,” he said, then explained that if you practice with poor technique or study only mediocre performances, you’ll never achieve true excellence at your craft. It was not enough to practice. The key was to focus on practicing exceptional technique.

Recently, I considered this wisdom with regard to writing. I’ve been reading. A lot. As writers we read for pleasure and knowledge, studying other authors to learn their techniques. The authors I found were good, but then I read one who was exceptional, and she challenged me. Here are the writing elements that drew my attention in her books:

• the breadth of research
• the depth of characterization
• her fully fleshed-out fantasy elements
• a storyline built on action (not chance or coincidence)

I had allowed my writing to become weak in some areas. This author made me look at my writing with fresh eyes—and higher standards.

Are you reading books that inspire you to write better? If not, seek them out. It’s true—artists improve by studying a wide breadth of creative people. However, there’s a reason artisans used to be apprenticed to masters and practice their techniques. Find those old and new masters who elevate their stories with exceptional writing craft.

Care to Comment?

Who are the master writers you study? What have you learned? I’d love to see your picks in the Comments section below.

And, in case you’re wondering, here’s the author who challenged me:

Mary Robinette Kowal writes historical fantasy. Her Glamourist Histories, set in the early 19^th century, pay homage to Jane Austen’s writing style while creating a new alternate reality all their own. Kowal’s notes at the back of her books will be of particular interest to writers. Here she discusses how she overcame storyline challenges, conducted research, and worked with other authors and period experts. Writers can find additional tips in Kowal’s “Debut Author Lessons” blog post series found at www.MaryRobinetteKowal.com.

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