So glad I've stumbled across your Substack. I'm currently feeling frustrated about my lack of writing consistency, which really just stems from extreme self-doubt. I think I need to just follow Austen and read, then write. Repeat.
I think the writer/professor you might be talking about is George Saunders? I know he's very much a fan of just noticing the details of a work and whether you feel a positive or negative reaction to what you're reading.
Hi Candy--Glad to have you here! Have you read ELizabeth Gilbert's Big Magic? She is great on fear and self-doubt. I suffer from them as well. I think we all do. It's the writerly condition. Best to accept that and keep writing. The more we know about what writing is like for other people, the more we realize we aren't alone!
I think you raise some super interesting points here Anne, truly. I wrote my first book in my twenties and it got sentenced to solitary confinement as soon as I edited the last word. It still remains there today. It took me another fifteen years to work up the courage to write my next book which was my debut mystery book published in late 2022. I read, read some more, imagined then I wrote. Loved this insight.
I'm so glad I finally got to read your latest @letterfromanne! I read it at the perfect time--at the end of a long work week, in which I felt I was slogging along, checking the box each day but not sure that I was really accomplishing anything "good." Your insight are a fine reminder of how it takes time, energy, and attention to learn. (BTW, I assigned my grad students in their required research methods course an essay on various modes of teaching creative writing. Your comments send me back to that essay and our discussion of it!)
Lol! I threw the paper copy out this week as I was purging teaching files. I likely still have an e-copy, since I have not deleted those yet! I will take a look later and send it to you.
Great article, Anne. It's fun to hear your thoughts about this. I had so many responses!
I definitely believe writing can be taught. I am a good case for that. I've been writing for 30 years, and I am happy to say that I continue to learn how to write well. Last year was a quantum leap in my understanding of how to tell a story, specifically in a novel.
One of the problems with learning how to write well is that we are all taught to write in school. So when we embark on becoming a writer, or should I say, storyteller, we realize that we have no clue how to craft a compelling story. This presents a painful learning curve that calls for a lot of humility.
I am constantly humbled by the labor required to write well. Luckily for me, learning is one of my favorite things. And, who doesn't need more humility? I know I do.
I think most things can be taught. What isn't always available to us is the willingness to show up and do the nitty gritty labor of writing things others will want to read.
How it's best taught is how someone best learns. As you said, there are so many resources out there. Last year I learned about novel writing from short classes offered by experts through Jane Friedman. I got a lot from books such as the Emotion Thesaurus, Story Genius, and others.
I pay attention to TV and movies to see how the things I learn are put into action, and reading novels gives me a lot to study as well.
I haven't taken longer courses lately. I've benefited from hiring an editor for a deep review of my manuscript. Her editorial letter and extensive comments on the document are a masterclass in writing. I am forced to analyze, re-read, consider, make attempts and write my way to understanding how to make my work better. This 1:1 kind of support is super valuable for me.
As a coach, I also give feedback on my clients' work, mostly non-fiction. Reading carefully and crafting critique that doesn't just tell them my opinion but hopefully teaches them something new also benefits my own writing.
I'm fortunate to have a life immersed in writing and reading, and even luckier to love how much I learn every single week.
I love this, Cynthia! Learning to write well is certainly humbling and probably a life-long journey. I too love learning new things, and it seems there are always new things to learn about writing. I just love listening to writers talk about their work. And reading novels has become a more regular occupation for me. I’d like to read Francine Prose’s book to read more like a writer.
Hi there. I could mention that I have gotten the most from a weeklong intensive course - 7 days - which happened to be with Donald Maass. I also gravitate toward his books and webinars because his style of teaching makes sense to me. I share that to say that I find it helpful to immerse myself in a particular expert, which is useful for building on someone's body of work. That all said, while a weeklong course is really effective, it is expensive and usually out of reach for me.
Podcasts... a few of my go to podcasts have been Fiction Writing Made Easy (small, simple bites of advice based mostly on Shawn Coyne's Story Grid), First Draft Friday, First Draft: A Dialogue on Writing, The Writing Life Podcast (which you might particularly enjoy, as it is based in Norwich, England and leans more academic), Lit Match, The History Quill podcast (also based in the UK; is specific to historical fiction, which is my genre), The Manuscript Academy, Camille Pagan's You Should Write a Book, and The Shit No One Tells You About Writing. One thing that I have found disappointing with podcasts is that they disappear for months or disappear altogether.
I would love more podcast recommendations. Good podcasts can be hard to find, especially on craft. And many podcasts interview an author, which I do like, but I don't aways get much craft advice from those. Still, there is always a tidbit or two, or something motivational that I can grab on to, so I do like them. Podcasts, more than any other resource, keep me going when doubt sneaks up on me.
Wow, Nancy! So many great suggestions. I love what you say about podcasts rescuing you from doubt. I agree there aren't many good podcasts out there about craft. I have always loved author interviews, though. There was a great one with Jesmyn Ward that veered into writing process quite a bit. I found it super interesting! https://thestackspodcast.com/2023/11/08/ep-292-jesmyn-ward/
This was such a meaningful post for me. When I retired and finally had time to write, I considered an MFA. But I already have a master's and a doctorate in another field and didn't want another degree, I wanted skill and insight that I felt that I could get by taking a different route. Instead of paying tution to a college, I personalized my learning to enable me to learn what I needed, when I needed it.
This individualized approach has worked very well for me. I invested in hiring developmental editors to get 1-1 feedback from a professional, going to conferences, signing up for webinars, joining two critique groups, listening to podcasts on writing, reading craft books - and following people like you! You name it. There is so much out there right now. And I read a lot of well-written novels in my genre too.
But a personalized approach requires a great deal of motivation and self-directedness, which I knew I had. The result has been signing a contract for my first novel to come out in 2025. So can writing be taught? Yes! In oh so many ways! But I don't think a passion for writing or the kind of perservance that is required of a serious writer can be taught. Those must come from within. It's hard work, and there are a lot of stumbles that lead less determined people to give up. That said, passion and perseverance grow with becoming more skilled. It's very motivational to see the fruits of one's learning show up on the page.
My response so far has been about my preferred approach to learning writing. You also asked, how is writing best taught? That, too, depends on the learner's point of view. The best instruction I have had includes two key things: 1) Information on craft - here's what you need to know - in small bites; and 2) time to apply the new learning right in the workshop. The works particularly well when a person has a WIP to use as their sandbox, so to speak. Some of my best prose has come out of the classes and workshops that have provided participants with time to apply and process the point(s) which the instruction is trying to get across. A third piece would be sustained interaction with the instructor(s), such as over weeks or over days, which allows for a deeper dive, as well as recurring commitment on the part of the leaner. "One and done" sessions are less effective for application but are useful for building awareness.
Anyway, thanks for the post, and thanks for inviting comments!
Hi Nancy—It’s great to hear about your path to becoming a better writer. And congratulations on your contract!! That is wonderful news. I’m so happy for you! Some people need the structure of a longer course, of which there are many nowadays. But it sounds like you got what you needed from shorter courses and books and podcasts. I forgot to mention podcasts! I love listening to them. Were there any that you found particularly helpful or interesting?
I’ve noticed that my writing has improved over time--but my limits frustrate me. I’m in the early stages of a nonfiction book project. I’m confident that the ideas I want to share could be very helpful to lots of people. I’m less confident that I’ll be able to present those ideas in a way that penetrates to people’s hearts. I’m left with needing to learn to become a better writer.
Hi Dan--Touching people’s hearts with your writing is a challenging but worthy goal. That desire will drive your writing and your motivation to improve. Which writers touch your heart? And how do they do it?
I recently finished reading Love in the Time of Cholera (G.G. Marquez). That touched my heart. I’m writing nonfiction. But it’s usually story that penetrates me deeply. There are some nonfiction writers who use story well—I usually get more from story told in first person rather than nonfiction illustrations that use the stories of others. Rachel Naomi Remen for example. But also excellent story-telling, even if the story itself isn’t deep or particularly compelling. I think that’s how Malcolm Gladwell is able to convey information in a way that is memorable and page-turning. For my topic, I’d need to follow the excellent storytelling model rather than the compelling first person narrative model. And there’s a reason there are very few Malcolm Gladwells—authors who write nonfiction on a variety of topics and have a readership that wants to read their writing regardless of (nonfiction) topic.
Storytelling is crucial in nonfiction! You can infuse your work with narrative in lots of ways. Basically you want tension and suspense to keep the reader moving along. But stories of people’s experiences are certainly opportunities to touch your readers hearts.
I'm really just starting to take my writing seriously again in the past year or so, but I think this is a fascinating question. Part of my "taking my writing seriously" process has been to share my work for feedback because I realized I couldn't get better being the only eyes on my work - it was an echo chamber. This has been hugely helpful for me. Sometimes even just knowing someone else is going to read it makes me think about it differently enough to improve it. (I think Rick Rubin talks about this idea.) And I signed up for two writing classes recently as I want to learn more about craft. That said, I really do think the most important thing is just to keep writing and reading. And then give yourself boosts like a class, editor, etc., when needed.
Hi Stephanie! Excellent point about sharing your work. It can be hugely helpful! Just having other eyes on it, as you say. I hope you enjoy the classes you signed up for!
Hi Anne, I can certainly relate to early 90s English departments and the thinking being done in them. I left a PhD program in English in the late 90s because I felt like the writing and thinking I was doing, didn’t serve enough of a real world purpose. Of course, there are arguments that could be made in both directions there, but the decision was the right one for me. I spent the next 25 years, mostly unable to write, stopping and starting, never really getting anywhere. in the meantime, I read and thought about words all the time and wrote in my head. A couple of years ago, at the end of a long cycle of internal healing, I started writing. I’d like to take some classes or workshops
at some point just to see what they’re like. But I do agree that reading and writing, and just keeping going, are the most important teachers. Thank you for your letters!
Thank you, Emily! And I applaud your decision to leave academia behind. It took me longer to realize how closed a world it was and how unsatisfying it was talking to a handful people, and by then I was already deep in it! Like you, I also did a lot of stopping and starting with my writing. When I cleaned out my house I found untold number of aborted stories and novel ideas. I don't think I was ready yet, though. After thirty some years since college, I think I have the backbone finally to carry it through.
I am with you. I wasn’t ready, or in my case, there was just too much in the way. I literally couldn’t. I have a sense of self now and therefore, a voice, so I’m using it!
Thank you so much for such a thoughtful response to my question! The last couple of years, I have been consciously working on my writing. I've taken a couple of writing classes online with writers whose work I admire; their feedback and exercises have been very helpful. Right now, I'm doing Janisse Ray's "Journey in Place" workshop with Sunday night online workshops. Using nature as a prompt to write has surprisingly allowed me to write about topics that I've been struggling to write about before.
I certainly think that writing skills can be developed and that one can be taught/learn how to write. And much of this comes from analyzing other work, as you talk about, as well as spending focused time doing it.
Even as someone who studies literature for a living, there are some works of fiction that still elude me to figure out their magic. The power of Jessmyn Ward's Sing, Unburied, Sing--that ending snuck up on me and hit me over the head. As did Robert Gipe's Pop, in a similar way--I was in tears at the end of that. I'm torn between wanting to know how they did it, while also enjoying being caught up in the magic.
Sounds like a great class you are taking, Monica! I know that when I read for pleasure, particularly contemporary writing, I let myself get carried away by it, and only recently have I paid more attention to what it is doing and how to create a certain effect. It certainly does change the reading experience, though!
So glad I've stumbled across your Substack. I'm currently feeling frustrated about my lack of writing consistency, which really just stems from extreme self-doubt. I think I need to just follow Austen and read, then write. Repeat.
I think the writer/professor you might be talking about is George Saunders? I know he's very much a fan of just noticing the details of a work and whether you feel a positive or negative reaction to what you're reading.
Hi Candy--Glad to have you here! Have you read ELizabeth Gilbert's Big Magic? She is great on fear and self-doubt. I suffer from them as well. I think we all do. It's the writerly condition. Best to accept that and keep writing. The more we know about what writing is like for other people, the more we realize we aren't alone!
I love Big Magic! It never ceases to calm the anxious mind.
Very true about just accepting and moving forward anyway.
I think you raise some super interesting points here Anne, truly. I wrote my first book in my twenties and it got sentenced to solitary confinement as soon as I edited the last word. It still remains there today. It took me another fifteen years to work up the courage to write my next book which was my debut mystery book published in late 2022. I read, read some more, imagined then I wrote. Loved this insight.
So glad you enjoyed the post and got something from it! ❤️
I'm so glad I finally got to read your latest @letterfromanne! I read it at the perfect time--at the end of a long work week, in which I felt I was slogging along, checking the box each day but not sure that I was really accomplishing anything "good." Your insight are a fine reminder of how it takes time, energy, and attention to learn. (BTW, I assigned my grad students in their required research methods course an essay on various modes of teaching creative writing. Your comments send me back to that essay and our discussion of it!)
Hi Etta--I’m so glad you enjoyed the letter! Sounds like an interesting article! You don’t still have it, do you?
Lol! I threw the paper copy out this week as I was purging teaching files. I likely still have an e-copy, since I have not deleted those yet! I will take a look later and send it to you.
Yay! I’d love to see it.
Great article, Anne. It's fun to hear your thoughts about this. I had so many responses!
I definitely believe writing can be taught. I am a good case for that. I've been writing for 30 years, and I am happy to say that I continue to learn how to write well. Last year was a quantum leap in my understanding of how to tell a story, specifically in a novel.
One of the problems with learning how to write well is that we are all taught to write in school. So when we embark on becoming a writer, or should I say, storyteller, we realize that we have no clue how to craft a compelling story. This presents a painful learning curve that calls for a lot of humility.
I am constantly humbled by the labor required to write well. Luckily for me, learning is one of my favorite things. And, who doesn't need more humility? I know I do.
I think most things can be taught. What isn't always available to us is the willingness to show up and do the nitty gritty labor of writing things others will want to read.
How it's best taught is how someone best learns. As you said, there are so many resources out there. Last year I learned about novel writing from short classes offered by experts through Jane Friedman. I got a lot from books such as the Emotion Thesaurus, Story Genius, and others.
I pay attention to TV and movies to see how the things I learn are put into action, and reading novels gives me a lot to study as well.
I haven't taken longer courses lately. I've benefited from hiring an editor for a deep review of my manuscript. Her editorial letter and extensive comments on the document are a masterclass in writing. I am forced to analyze, re-read, consider, make attempts and write my way to understanding how to make my work better. This 1:1 kind of support is super valuable for me.
As a coach, I also give feedback on my clients' work, mostly non-fiction. Reading carefully and crafting critique that doesn't just tell them my opinion but hopefully teaches them something new also benefits my own writing.
I'm fortunate to have a life immersed in writing and reading, and even luckier to love how much I learn every single week.
Thanks again for this thought-provoking article!
I love this, Cynthia! Learning to write well is certainly humbling and probably a life-long journey. I too love learning new things, and it seems there are always new things to learn about writing. I just love listening to writers talk about their work. And reading novels has become a more regular occupation for me. I’d like to read Francine Prose’s book to read more like a writer.
I love this!!! So happy for you!
Hi there. I could mention that I have gotten the most from a weeklong intensive course - 7 days - which happened to be with Donald Maass. I also gravitate toward his books and webinars because his style of teaching makes sense to me. I share that to say that I find it helpful to immerse myself in a particular expert, which is useful for building on someone's body of work. That all said, while a weeklong course is really effective, it is expensive and usually out of reach for me.
Podcasts... a few of my go to podcasts have been Fiction Writing Made Easy (small, simple bites of advice based mostly on Shawn Coyne's Story Grid), First Draft Friday, First Draft: A Dialogue on Writing, The Writing Life Podcast (which you might particularly enjoy, as it is based in Norwich, England and leans more academic), Lit Match, The History Quill podcast (also based in the UK; is specific to historical fiction, which is my genre), The Manuscript Academy, Camille Pagan's You Should Write a Book, and The Shit No One Tells You About Writing. One thing that I have found disappointing with podcasts is that they disappear for months or disappear altogether.
I would love more podcast recommendations. Good podcasts can be hard to find, especially on craft. And many podcasts interview an author, which I do like, but I don't aways get much craft advice from those. Still, there is always a tidbit or two, or something motivational that I can grab on to, so I do like them. Podcasts, more than any other resource, keep me going when doubt sneaks up on me.
Wow, Nancy! So many great suggestions. I love what you say about podcasts rescuing you from doubt. I agree there aren't many good podcasts out there about craft. I have always loved author interviews, though. There was a great one with Jesmyn Ward that veered into writing process quite a bit. I found it super interesting! https://thestackspodcast.com/2023/11/08/ep-292-jesmyn-ward/
Wonderful. Thanks. A new podcast for me to follow!
This was such a meaningful post for me. When I retired and finally had time to write, I considered an MFA. But I already have a master's and a doctorate in another field and didn't want another degree, I wanted skill and insight that I felt that I could get by taking a different route. Instead of paying tution to a college, I personalized my learning to enable me to learn what I needed, when I needed it.
This individualized approach has worked very well for me. I invested in hiring developmental editors to get 1-1 feedback from a professional, going to conferences, signing up for webinars, joining two critique groups, listening to podcasts on writing, reading craft books - and following people like you! You name it. There is so much out there right now. And I read a lot of well-written novels in my genre too.
But a personalized approach requires a great deal of motivation and self-directedness, which I knew I had. The result has been signing a contract for my first novel to come out in 2025. So can writing be taught? Yes! In oh so many ways! But I don't think a passion for writing or the kind of perservance that is required of a serious writer can be taught. Those must come from within. It's hard work, and there are a lot of stumbles that lead less determined people to give up. That said, passion and perseverance grow with becoming more skilled. It's very motivational to see the fruits of one's learning show up on the page.
My response so far has been about my preferred approach to learning writing. You also asked, how is writing best taught? That, too, depends on the learner's point of view. The best instruction I have had includes two key things: 1) Information on craft - here's what you need to know - in small bites; and 2) time to apply the new learning right in the workshop. The works particularly well when a person has a WIP to use as their sandbox, so to speak. Some of my best prose has come out of the classes and workshops that have provided participants with time to apply and process the point(s) which the instruction is trying to get across. A third piece would be sustained interaction with the instructor(s), such as over weeks or over days, which allows for a deeper dive, as well as recurring commitment on the part of the leaner. "One and done" sessions are less effective for application but are useful for building awareness.
Anyway, thanks for the post, and thanks for inviting comments!
Hi Nancy—It’s great to hear about your path to becoming a better writer. And congratulations on your contract!! That is wonderful news. I’m so happy for you! Some people need the structure of a longer course, of which there are many nowadays. But it sounds like you got what you needed from shorter courses and books and podcasts. I forgot to mention podcasts! I love listening to them. Were there any that you found particularly helpful or interesting?
I’ve noticed that my writing has improved over time--but my limits frustrate me. I’m in the early stages of a nonfiction book project. I’m confident that the ideas I want to share could be very helpful to lots of people. I’m less confident that I’ll be able to present those ideas in a way that penetrates to people’s hearts. I’m left with needing to learn to become a better writer.
Hi Dan--Touching people’s hearts with your writing is a challenging but worthy goal. That desire will drive your writing and your motivation to improve. Which writers touch your heart? And how do they do it?
I recently finished reading Love in the Time of Cholera (G.G. Marquez). That touched my heart. I’m writing nonfiction. But it’s usually story that penetrates me deeply. There are some nonfiction writers who use story well—I usually get more from story told in first person rather than nonfiction illustrations that use the stories of others. Rachel Naomi Remen for example. But also excellent story-telling, even if the story itself isn’t deep or particularly compelling. I think that’s how Malcolm Gladwell is able to convey information in a way that is memorable and page-turning. For my topic, I’d need to follow the excellent storytelling model rather than the compelling first person narrative model. And there’s a reason there are very few Malcolm Gladwells—authors who write nonfiction on a variety of topics and have a readership that wants to read their writing regardless of (nonfiction) topic.
Storytelling is crucial in nonfiction! You can infuse your work with narrative in lots of ways. Basically you want tension and suspense to keep the reader moving along. But stories of people’s experiences are certainly opportunities to touch your readers hearts.
I'm really just starting to take my writing seriously again in the past year or so, but I think this is a fascinating question. Part of my "taking my writing seriously" process has been to share my work for feedback because I realized I couldn't get better being the only eyes on my work - it was an echo chamber. This has been hugely helpful for me. Sometimes even just knowing someone else is going to read it makes me think about it differently enough to improve it. (I think Rick Rubin talks about this idea.) And I signed up for two writing classes recently as I want to learn more about craft. That said, I really do think the most important thing is just to keep writing and reading. And then give yourself boosts like a class, editor, etc., when needed.
Hi Stephanie! Excellent point about sharing your work. It can be hugely helpful! Just having other eyes on it, as you say. I hope you enjoy the classes you signed up for!
Thanks, Anne!
Hi Anne, I can certainly relate to early 90s English departments and the thinking being done in them. I left a PhD program in English in the late 90s because I felt like the writing and thinking I was doing, didn’t serve enough of a real world purpose. Of course, there are arguments that could be made in both directions there, but the decision was the right one for me. I spent the next 25 years, mostly unable to write, stopping and starting, never really getting anywhere. in the meantime, I read and thought about words all the time and wrote in my head. A couple of years ago, at the end of a long cycle of internal healing, I started writing. I’d like to take some classes or workshops
at some point just to see what they’re like. But I do agree that reading and writing, and just keeping going, are the most important teachers. Thank you for your letters!
Thank you, Emily! And I applaud your decision to leave academia behind. It took me longer to realize how closed a world it was and how unsatisfying it was talking to a handful people, and by then I was already deep in it! Like you, I also did a lot of stopping and starting with my writing. When I cleaned out my house I found untold number of aborted stories and novel ideas. I don't think I was ready yet, though. After thirty some years since college, I think I have the backbone finally to carry it through.
I am with you. I wasn’t ready, or in my case, there was just too much in the way. I literally couldn’t. I have a sense of self now and therefore, a voice, so I’m using it!
LOVE it!
Thank you so much for such a thoughtful response to my question! The last couple of years, I have been consciously working on my writing. I've taken a couple of writing classes online with writers whose work I admire; their feedback and exercises have been very helpful. Right now, I'm doing Janisse Ray's "Journey in Place" workshop with Sunday night online workshops. Using nature as a prompt to write has surprisingly allowed me to write about topics that I've been struggling to write about before.
I certainly think that writing skills can be developed and that one can be taught/learn how to write. And much of this comes from analyzing other work, as you talk about, as well as spending focused time doing it.
Even as someone who studies literature for a living, there are some works of fiction that still elude me to figure out their magic. The power of Jessmyn Ward's Sing, Unburied, Sing--that ending snuck up on me and hit me over the head. As did Robert Gipe's Pop, in a similar way--I was in tears at the end of that. I'm torn between wanting to know how they did it, while also enjoying being caught up in the magic.
Sounds like a great class you are taking, Monica! I know that when I read for pleasure, particularly contemporary writing, I let myself get carried away by it, and only recently have I paid more attention to what it is doing and how to create a certain effect. It certainly does change the reading experience, though!
I love your letters. So much of what you are thinking. 🤗
Aww, thanks! :)