April 16, 2012
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Lord Acton
You may be familiar with this quote by Lord Acton, “Power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.”
But I tend to like one of his lesser known quotes. “Learn as much by writing as by reading.”
I love that quote. I’ve talked before about keeping a journal so you all knew that. I’ve talked before about writing a book so you all knew that. But what I’ve discovered recently is that as I write in the two of them(meaning 80 page college bound notebooks), I learn more and more about life and human interaction with every entry. To write in my journal I have to expand my vision for who and what I want to be and how I want any possible future readers to see me. Can I be completely open about religion and politics? Can I be completely open about my family and how I feel about them? I write as if I write to an audience. Right now it’s an audience of one, but I do plan entries out sometimes just in case something happens to me and they are left to my brothers.
Now my notebook in which I write my chapters. The Prologue and Chapter 1 were easy. I flew through them and had fun with them. I’m currently working on chapter 6 and it is HARD work writing a book. Even in my case where a lot of the material is provided for me. I am learning so much about my characters that it can sometimes be a little overwhelming. I enjoy it, but it is overwhelming.
So what’s my point? Sure maybe you don’t keep a journal. Sure maybe you aren’t working on a book. But if you’re reading this my bet is that you have a blog and regularly update it. Do you learn about yourself with each new entry? And if you do, what is it? Do you ever reread old entries to try and gain some insight into who you really are deep down?
“Learn as much by writing as by reading.” This could be the motto of all of us bloggers.
Have a good one!
Dan
Comments (5)
This damn thing isn’t letting me rec. this! I wonder if I broke something… You know, Dan, I used to write things in a journal, but I couldn’t read my writing. I’m being serious: My writing is illegible. So now I go back and read what I’ve typed, and for the most part, it’s a bit cringe worthy. I wonder, though; is it not the writer’s state of mind that creates what is good and what is bad? Then again, a reader may prefer what a writer deems bad. Now you’ve got me thinking on this…. Thank God I’m not a writer.
@Kellsbella - Haha my writing is pretty terrible as well. When I write for my book, I have to make sure I copy from the handwritten part to the electronic part the same day so that I know what I actually wrote and don’t have to guess. lol
I tend to think you need to learn by reading, writing and speaking it. The three together are powerful.
Kind of reminds me of the quote from Mr. Murray in high school:
“Practice doesn’t make perfect. Practice makes permanent. Perfect practice makes perfect.”
I kinda feel bad about never practicing back in band way back when. Also, sorry for switching instruments and then challenging you and taking your seat like 2 weeks later. One of these days I’ll give you star tropics 2 back too… haha
@comsciguy82 - Haha. I stunk at the baritone. I never practiced. That was mostly because I lived in an apartment and I always felt like the neighbors would hear me. I was pretty self-conscious about my suckage.
Oh and you can keep Star Tropics. It’s been yours for what? 15 years? lol