The Writing Game

At the moment, I'm reading Ira Berkow's new book: Full Swing: Hits, Runs and Errors in a Writer's Life. His writing is exceptional and as a young writer, I sought his expertise on writing and how I can become a better writer. I've been asked by many, including some on MLBlogs, my road to writing. Well, it's not easy and I must say I've had good times and bad with it. Though, I don't discourage anyone from being a writer, it takes a lot of hardwork and concentration to make it.

So, in saying, I would like to share a letter from Ira Berkow and others on becoming a writer.

Dear Joe Boesch:

It's been a little busy around here so it's taken me some time to get around to responding to your letter.

My first suggestion, above all others, is to read, read, read.
Read all the good writers you can lay your hands and eyes on. That's
true for anyone who wishes to be a writer. Make sure you read
thoroughly E. B. White's The Elements of Style, perhaps the best book on what a writer should be all about in his work. I was also moved, as a young writer, by people like Dylan Thomas (his prose stories, primarily), Willa Cather (especially My Antonia), Faulkner, Hemingway, P.G. Wodehouse, Isaac Babel, Doyle's Sherlock Holmes, and the list goes on and on.

The second suggestion is to write, write, write. Learning, of course, from the good writers by closely observing the tricks of their trade, and then applying in your own way what strikes you.

For now, I'd concentrate on such things as: when you quote someone, make it an interesting quote in taking some unusual or emphatic tone, expression, or viewpoint. Stay away from the predictable, the lackluster, the tired.

Stay away from the cliches such as "cardiac hill." Be careful about usage,
such as "the grass was a mild green." What does "mild" mean? Mild
usually has to do with weather or a sedative or a manner, or a number
of other things. But I don't think grass is one of them.

Anyway, keep at it. Keep trying. Try not to get discouraged. Like most other things, the harder one works at writing, the better one gets.

Best wishes,

Ira Berkow

The New York Times

This next letter is from a very special person, who's one great writer: Bernie Bard of the New York Post.

Joe--

Your stuff sings. You write a nice, tight story, with a lot of pizzazz, and easy to read. That's everything.

Two Newsday pieces had a lot of sparkle. Piece in Islander News also had plenty of splash, and a nicely turned-out feature that could do credit to any paper, from The Times on down. Solid reporting, probably the definitive piece on AHA program, I would guess.

Keep slugging. You're knocking 'em out of the park.

Warmest regards,

Bernie

For every struggling writer -- keep at it. Don't give up, you never know what happens next.