A Gift to Remind You Why

INTRODUCTION

WHY.

Ah! The word Why:

It serves as a raw undercurrent within the English Language:

Why! Why? Why is it so, and Why for such a reason?

This query troubles many, often leading to distress and confusion. Why am I also afflicted—why is it so empty yet holds no blame?

This word is fused with concepts that I know too well—though not as oblivious as others when I speak it; there's a subtle audacity, a slyness that lingers as it evokes ideas. I feel as though I am traversing a deserted and hollow valley whenever it approaches.

Let us first consider the Whys:

The heart and forge of the English Language; alongside Nothing and Tomorrow.

Oblivion and Hope captured in short yet deeply significant phrases—like it.

When you write, Why transforms into a persistent burden, questioning the reason for your actions—Why? To what end?—Why must it be?—Why can it not be?—Why do I write—or Why I write. Thanks, Mr. Blair.

In estranged musings, prompted by the whims of life, Why can be the most powerful inquiry—Why is he present? Why must he be?

And this chain of questions can indeed spiral endlessly if unrestrained. It may cause you to abandon your pursuits, or it may unveil profound insights, revealing contrasts that stretch beyond your youthful reasoning; perhaps leading you toward maturity!

Disregard those trivial ambitions you set for yourself;

Forget the hollow chants and excuses that require an audience.

Without a firm grasp on the reasons brought forth by the word Why, no amount of examined pages will guide you to the destinations you seek.

Wrapping up with Whys and the elusive Wherefores, I wish to present a question I encountered in a discussion with one of my admired writers, or as I affectionately refer to them, a Writer-in-Being.

Estella Rua—a wonderfully brilliant name—radiates a magnificent energy, especially for budding writers.

But the pivotal question posed was:

J.A.: “If I could ask you this: What is something you wish you had known when you began writing?”

E.R.: “Hmm, I think it boils down to focusing on crafting scenes rather than overarching narratives. The details matter more than grand themes. But honestly, I probably wouldn’t have heeded that advice.”

Substance, dear Estella, is what I would distill it to.

Thematic elements and grand visions are splendid, but without the foundation, they lead nowhere—especially in a tumultuous environment that may dishearten many.

Focusing on Substance and how a scene unfolds—briefly for now, though I will elaborate later.

Substance resembles the slow burn following an impactful strike;

Realization—provided only by the vibrant essence of a setting.

Themes cycle into one another, yet Substance is where revelry meets relevance to the specifics.

It's akin to the deep breath before diving in.

The awareness of how you might drown washes over you, unlike any other moment—after toying with thoughts leading up to this point; the lines linger on your face and in your mind, but the dawning or slow-burning realization is the Substance;

It’s History—the act and the pivot that gently nudges you from behind until it finally lands—one character's connection, particularly History to another.

Two long-time adversaries may find themselves facing an unexpected conclusion, whether through a duel or some acknowledgment of their enduring animosity—

It isn’t revenge; that is merely a theme of the craft. It’s rather an amalgamation of countless small factors merging to create an undeniable History.

This History serves as a robust core, distancing itself from superficial tropes—like using the Nazis to symbolize evil without understanding why they embody that evil. One day, they might not grasp Why or How they came to be seen as evil by those who heed their rhetoric.

You see the red and black banners; the eager faces; the armbands—the spotlight—but Why?

Substance in a character weighs their History and relationships, influenced by their actions, the discomforts they navigate, and how they transition from their world into the broader surroundings.

Of course, this discussion is limited to the dynamics between individual characters.

It’s crucial to recognize that this doesn’t merely apply to fate—it’s always about the conclusions of these interactions; where can this lead?

Posing simple questions can deflate many themes with the most basic of analyses;

If you can articulate the Why, the Substance will manifest before you.

Even if it emerges through someone else's reasoning, if it withstands its own scrutiny—as in the context we’re discussing here, singular narratives—then it holds true in itself.

Whether or not you agree is irrelevant; its History is intrinsically linked to the forces surrounding it.

Yet, the breadth I’ve explored is quite limited, and I must restrain myself from laughter at the thought.

In writing, there are no hard and fast rules—though I favor the traditional approach.

Why. Why! Why?—Question it, and continue questioning.

PART ONE—AN INTRODUCTION

I recently overheard a delightful conversation while seated at a café, my curiosity piqued by their engaging exchange.

Thankfully, it was far more enlightening than an earlier, rather absurd conversation I had encountered—Ah!—This one was filled with curiosity, a much more digestible subject!

As I listened in, I followed this path of pitfalls and joyful moments, all revolving around the intrinsic desire to know—guess what?

Writing—the art of becoming that indefatigable or tempestuous writer; seemingly touched by the divine in their sudden flashes of creativity or desperately trying to avert the jolting shocks that life can bring—if everything collapses, if you catch my drift.

In this public dialogue, a literal lightbulb flickered over my head, plunging me into darkness—

But a fortunate Jim rekindled the illumination, and all was bright once more.

This ignited a surge of excitement within me, and wow!

I stumbled upon a brilliant notion—which we are racing toward at quite the pace, I trust you’ll agree.

From these two delightful individuals, I gleaned insights into what binds a Writer—though I must generalize, so forgive my tendency to do so—allow me to refer to them as Authors, as it encompasses a broader spectrum of what a Writer may experience when they face the blank page for all to see.

As their own Authorial figure… Ah, the puns.

Self-publishing, you owe us many of them!

Referring to Nighthawks—I feel an expectation to adopt a Sayy-Accent of a Nightly Detective, but this old Doctor from the North shall suffice!

I often ponder when I first picked up my pen and poured myself onto the page, a flurry of ink and ideas whirling about—driven by a similar desire as they.

To know, the Desire to know.

An ethereal child that I once was, or perhaps still am—what would you be without your experiences?

If you stripped it all away, where would you find yourself without it?

Like a musician lacking any knowledge of Harmony or Chord?

The notes would clash, and the audience would erupt in chaos. You become utterly unprepared—only capable of crossing your legs and bowing repeatedly as they cast you onto the stage for your lack of preparation.

The sheer violence of stripping away what you could not have possibly understood. Once known, it is always known; like History, it becomes your Substance.

Indeed, I use the terms Aged to the Virgin—this is what Writing does to you; it Consummates you into Being, into the ebb and flow of memory and unfiltered thoughts—regardless of how constrained, hungry, or festering they may seem.

God forbid we uncover where half of those strained, squeaking, and lamenting notes emerge from in those Blues Records—Oh Lord!

It is their Substance; it’s Ma Rainey’s subject to understand herself as well.

All the scandals and tribulations behind her darting eyes.

Through the expanding landscape of writing instruments, one may confront terrors—if you are a soulful individual open to reflection—or armoring yourself with a protective coating to endure the darkest of times; as all dark times are never static, they often progress in the most grueling and painful ways imaginable if the fierce desire possesses you.

But how does this all tie back to First Drafting?

In jest, I believe it’s all the things you wish to articulate—minus the grammatical errors, incoherence, and erratic logic one might express after a few pints of whiskey—but honestly, some thoughts are best left unsaid.

Not everyone wishes to hear absolute honesty, especially all the time; most can agree on this sentiment.

Like a romantic relationship seeking to unite, living with utter transparency would dissolve that union before the honeymoon phase even begins.

It requires a certain temperament to temper the urge to release those raw words onto the pages.

Some may jest that it’s merely Writing.

Anyone can write, but to shape it into something coherent, distinct from the chaotic ramblings of madmen—that is true Writing, i.e., Editing and Drafting.

I revisited this piece before adding these thoughts, and lo and behold! I believed I had a gem on my first attempt—Ah! Doctor, that is never the case!

Something quirky and small always lingers in my mind, causing me to see the faults, teary-eyed and weary.

Even through a glaring error.

So that’s the basics laid out—again, in writing, there are no definitive rules to adhere to; you can be as erratic as peroxide on virgin hair.

But I almost believe that, in the end, one must submit to some form—can anything truly be transformed in itself?

Would that necessitate an impartial observer—can that ever be?

Certainly, we all perceive things differently, but unless we take action, things remain unchanged.

Am I rambling like a soggy biscuit for the sake of it?

Haven’t we all pledged to uncover what Drafting entails?

Let me guide you to some form of clarity in the next act.

As I compose this, I am immersed in the Latin masterpiece of Carl Orff: Carmina Burana—

PART TWO—A FASHION OF WORDS

I liken drafting to the construction of a ship.

There are long planks that form the core structure, yet amid it all are small wooden pegs that hold everything together.

I refer to wooden ships here; I’m unsure how applicable this analogy is to steel-hulled or carbon-fiber vessels; perhaps even more so, considering the meticulous decisions required to meet standards.

Yet a peg has its own unique, unspoken purpose, woven into the ship's framework, much like the themes and Substance I previously mentioned, where the core structure is akin to the historical context within.

Guide your course wisely, Master Shallow, or you may find yourself beached upon abrupt shores, convinced of your fate!

Once a form begins to emerge before you, it may require some shaping or perhaps hammering to achieve.

Then you can strip away the unnecessary padding that generates frowns and perplexed looks, leaving behind all the jokes, Idiot's idioms, and any other convoluted phrases you thought were clever when you borrowed them from that billboard.

Stop, Master Shallow! You risk becoming an evasion of Substance, floundering like a beached wall that ventured too close to treacherous shores.

You’re borrowing someone else’s potential for failure, especially if they wielded their ill-conceived pen without considering your own.

Raining cats and dogs!—Oh, you weren’t thinking at all that day, were you? Fish, yes, I can accept that, but large mammals twisted from Virginia to land somewhere in Alberta?

No—don’t entertain that fanciful notion!

When you reach for the dictionary, perhaps a sudden shock will stifle your will to think—tongue-tied, as they say.

And when you believe a synonym will seamlessly accompany the preceding word of the same family you just penned, stop!

Don’t you dare do it!

It would make as much sense as saying: Yes, Yea, Aye, Affirmative in a single convoluted sentence.

Unless your clever tongue wields wit, even then, use it sparingly, as it burdens the reader without clarity.

Why not always start with the simplest of words when you feel overwhelmed?

Avoid acronyms; they only drag language deeper into an abyss of meaninglessness.

Exercise prudence in your word choices—be wise like an enigmatic wizard from a far-off, undisclosed land—conjure your words carefully, for time is precious;

The rhythm of your phrases can carry the weight of everything you apply your wit to, shaping it into something meaningful,

Rather than the chaotic ramblings of a disoriented fool.

Apathetic reading is no enjoyable experience for anyone.

I could never provide specific guidance for all the pieces you are currently crafting—from which I hope my coaching words will resonate without fault; frankly, it would be astounding on my part if I could deliver all that advice—perhaps a hotline for writers.

But by principles, I can offer you considerations to ponder, allowing you to discern what must be done in your unique situations.

Are you ready?

1. Draft your vessel’s skeleton well—when it starts leaking, you’ll know precisely where to find the offending peg.
2. Never attempt to deceive an audience with forced humor—the essence of wit may carry you through, at least to the most attentive;

But when a joke fails, the stench lingers on the remaining pages.

3. Resist the urge to add distractions that might divert the reader—perhaps from your poor writing or because you enjoy disruptive influences. Few readers share your mirth over extended scenes—especially if they resemble the Overthrower’s scene from Macbeth.

Dear Lordy me.

4. Avoid using unnecessarily long words when shorter ones will suffice.
5. Never become so enmeshed in a form that you become as fragile as the structure you weave every word into.

Let some of it slip out—every once in a while.

6. And ease up on your use of "Ands," "Buts," and "Becauses."

Show us, don’t tell us. I’m not yet in the grave, and neither should you be.

7. Lastly, eliminate pretentious "Therefore" and "Thus." Use sound logic to support your arguments, not ornate language that burdens the reader, leaving them with a sense of discontent.

If you catch yourself adhering too strictly to these rules,

Shake yourself awake—reconsider the entire canon.

Writing cannot be confined by authority; even by the most enduring legacies that cling too fondly.

Believe me, I am guilty of this as well.

And if you’re reading this in hindsight, you know where the last part originated—Mr. Blair.

Ultimately, it boils down to this:

What you ought to say; what you needn’t say; and what you desire to say.

Helpful, isn’t it?

But never view this as the knobs that transition a picture into full resolution.

Rotate as you see fit—rather, consider these principles as tools to help tame the unruly beast, casting only in sunlight.

Never be swayed from putting pen to paper.

It cannot harm you, but once it is published, the shifting tides of envious critiques will reshape your words in all manner of reasoning.

Woe to you, dear Author, for tempting the conjurations of others.

You played your part.

Let the placating voices of other soothing crafts shape the ripples of your words.

Understand why they advise against writing in a certain way; once you grasp that, write in that manner to gain experience and knowledge of placement and proportions.

This ladder of importance, with varying rung sizes and distances between them, measures the significance of the motivations behind the words that convey your ideas.

A ladder where many tumble off or remain stuck on a rung of their comfort.

Whether they should or not—that’s a truth requiring careful application, akin to a dutiful lawyer assessing each case.

Not mass-produced.

To avoid this becoming an arduous exercise for the painfully verbose,

I’ll wrap it all up now.

Ah!

So irresistibly enticing and calm in the preface, yet once engaged, it can transform into a whirlwind of complex thoughts and emotions.

Of maladies that cause one to quiver and quack in a nonsensical manner, as if traversing a set of weathered, moss-covered stairs!

Come Along with the Doctor’s Newsletter

AMERICAN AUTHORS IN EXILE:

I just hope America isn’t only that: Reverence had only in Memory.

The Curation; Our Publication:

Might I entice and welcome one to a precious center of adoration for Words; A Publication; A Curation—May the…

A WORLDLY LEISURE TO SEDUCE PAIN:

To Acknowledge and Counteract the grizzled face of Pain in this World.

As ever, Dear Reader.