A good point at which a writer can truly consider himself a professional in the literary arts is when he begins to take pleasure in the study of language, that is, when he begins to enjoy delving into daunting grammar books, highly complex linguistic studies, and the like. It is when, in this realm that is inscrutable to most, he finally feels at home. And it is when he realizes he is capable of truly polishing a text, paying close attention to details, aware of the immense power of words, of the fact that, sometimes, a single word is enough to change everything in a speech or a narrative. Every difficult skill, mastered with great effort, usually bestows this reward: the difficulty begins to delight. But there are skills whose difficulty has a clear limit; in the letters, there seems to be none.
Tag: writing
If an Author Takes a Moment to Reflect…
If an author takes a moment to reflect, he will discover that he always has something to teach someone. And if, instead of following the irresistible tendency to imitate what others have done, he focuses on teaching, to the best of his ability but with sincerity and purity of intention, what he knows to those who do not, he will surely gain at least one good reader. But it turns out that, in doing so, he discovers that he knows more than he thought, learns more than he knew before, and manages, all at once, to grow and create something of value.
Irony Is a Delight
Irony is a delight. Irresistible, at times. And for some temperaments, essential. But it is difficult not to see where it leads, or rather, it is difficult not to see the effects of its prolonged, regular practice on the practitioner’s personality. To understand this, it is enough to investigate where one’s motivation stems from. There are forms of irony that, in short, uplift; others degenerate. And this is perceived not by the reactions they provoke, but by the sentiment the ironist nurtures within himself. To always sit at the table, to center one’s life on scathing criticism, is something that should only be done with a constructive and purifying purpose.
It Does Not Seem at All Reliable…
It does not seem at all reliable to try to draw parallels between writers’ physical fitness and their intellectual character, and the proof of this is that, based solely on their writing, one can hardly glean any clues about the former. However, it is very interesting when we discover that a writer was also an athlete during his lifetime. The fact is less interesting for the possible feats achieved, and more for the importance of the athletic habit in daily life: for the necessity of it, and for reaping the benefits of exercise. There are, of course, different kinds of exercise; however, it is clear that, provided they are performed with some intensity, work flows much better afterward. The difference is noticeable: physical work is followed by a sense of relaxation, a positive serenity that benefits intellectual activity.