Studio Blog

It’s not unusual for me to sit in front of the computer for hours and contemplate what to write. My attention jumps from the point I am trying to make, to what song is next on my playlist, to an itch on my right foot … and then back to the initial reason I sat down in the first place. Then comes Joan Didion’s essay, “Why I Write.” It’s a second-hand title from George Orwell, who initially mused about why he became a writer, but I always refer to Didion’s perspective. She goes on to explain what she thinks being a writer is:

“By which I mean not a "good" writer or a "bad" writer but simply a writer, a person who’s most absorbed and passionate hours are spent arranging words on pieces of paper.”

I keep this essay bookmarked in my browser for those days (about seven per week) when I sit down to write and end up just staring at my cursor as it blinks … slowly … like a ticking clock … taunting me to write that first opening sentence. The essay reminds me that writing is not about perfecting the art of spelling or mastering grammar. Writing is the ability to put words in a logical and cohesive order. Some people are very clear, some are very creative, some are just plain awful, but each and every writer brings a different organization of words to the page, and no two writers are the same. That, in my opinion, is what makes writing so fascinating and is partly why I love it so much.

I was reading through some Studio articles and noticed that we have titles that are very similar (and by very similar I mean identical), and the content in each and every one was absolutely unique. Part of it is because we require it, but part of it is that each writer carries and maintains an authentic voice. I honestly think that is the greatest proof of quality. When you think about how your articles are rated, what that means and what a “5” article compared to a “3” article looks like, it is important to remember that even though we have strict guidelines and formats that may dilute the creative structure of the article, it does not—and should not—offset the authenticity of your voice and writing style. 

I can’t wait to provide better examples of “5”-rated articles in the Resource Center. In my opinion though, an article you should be proud of, “5” or not, is one that you read, and—no matter how stringent the guidelines are—your voice still carries out. That is the most powerful thing a writer can do, and it is tremendously impressive when you see it done right.