What makes writing right? When does the music make you move? When is the art piece worth millions?
Some people are good at public speaking. Some would rather die. Some people are writers, and it’s everything to them. Well, maybe not everything…but certainly something that consumes much of their time and thoughts. Bottom line is, it’s all just communication.
Like the artist who does an oil painting, or a sketch, or a watercolor–it works to the degree that it communicates. Same thing with movies, same thing with music.
If a movie or film clip is meant to be funny, then it darn well better make you laugh, or at the very least, put a smile on your face. If it’s a thriller, then it better have you sitting on the edge of your seat, feeling to hold the hand of the person sitting next to you without daring to take your eyes off the screen…or, for the more faint of heart, feeling for that hand to hold while the other hand hides their eyes. And if it is the story of a broken heart, then it should make your eyes swell with tears, having you remember when someone broke yours.
It’s all just to what degree does the piece, the work…communicate? And it really doesn’t matter how many commas are out of place, or how many rules may be broken…if it communicates to you, then it’s good.
When music, as an art form is “working”, it makes you want to sing along…it makes you close your eyes and recall moments from your own life…it makes you want to get up and dance. The artist has been successful.
And the writer–a good writer–will edit, revise, edit and revise some more, until each word, each punctuation mark, each mental image picture created, is perfect. Until it communicates. And there you have it. Write on!
February 17th, 2008 at 9:58 am
Well said, girl. Keep righten’
June 22nd, 2008 at 5:46 am
Great article.
September 16th, 2011 at 11:08 am
Excellent article!