Wrtiting is an Art

One definition of art is “the creation of beautiful or thought-provoking works.” –Encarta dictionary.

So is writing the creation of something beautiful or something thought-provoking? Let us take a deeper look, shall we?

For most of us, the word ‘art’ evokes the picture of a painter bending over a piece of canvas with a dripping paint brush in his hand. So this is the example that we shall use to prove that writing is an art in its own right.

What is the goal of the average painter bending over his canvas? It is obvious that he wants to create something beautiful, or something that evokes thought in the observer. On the writer’s part, words do for him what paint does for the painter. Just as the painter skilfully combines and mixes different types of paint to form a beautiful painting, the writer carefully selects words to form a beautiful piece of writing. Though different in their approach, both the writer and painter have only one objective in mind—to leave a lasting impression on someone’s mind and hopefully alter that person’s perception of things.

It is a proven fact that as humans, we tend to remember easily things that we can visualize. This, irrefutably, is the reason why it is so easy for us to remember a painting or drawing. On the other hand, and seemingly at great odds, the writer has to create a picture, not on a piece of canvas, but in the reader’s mind. Though not an easy task, good writers are able to create pictures in reader’s minds that linger on for a long time after reading the text. How do they achieve this? The answer lies in their selection of words and the skilful use of these words.

Read the following passage and see if you can visualize the picture I am trying to paint:

 

“Mrs. Stuart is a fearsome-looking lady. Her spiky hair sticks out from her head like porcupine quills sticking out of a large basketball. Her head rests on her broad shoulders seemingly without a neck. Her small eyes look like narrow slits above her huge, round temples. Her lips are so thick that one would think that they are swollen from bee stings.

“Her chest is so large that it is almost as if she has squeezed a pillow under her thick heavy shirt. So large is her tummy that the buttons on her shirt look as though they are going to pop off. Her waist and hips are as broad as the trunk of a baobab tree. She is always wearing a black jean skirt which extends all the way to her ankles. But even this is not sufficient to conceal her large legs—which look like two little tree trunks—when she is walking with her large heavy strides or when she is seated at her desk. She wears boots with thick brown socks and when you take a closer look at those boots, you might be tempted to conclude that she stole them from the giant in the proverbial fairytale story.”

 

After reading the above passage, do you see Mrs. Stuart in the way that I do? I am sure you do. How easier it might have been, you may think, if I simply drew a sketch, and showed it to you. Well the picture in your head is probably so vivid that you can draw the picture yourself!

See what I mean when I say writing is an art?

If you are kin enough, you will see what writers employ to create such lasting impressions. The passage is full of similes and a hint of hyperboles. These along with metaphors, when skilfully used, can create vivid images in the minds of readers.

For Poets, the use of such thought provoking words is indispensible and lack of them simply defeats the whole purpose of poetry. In a few words, this is because poetry is the art of painting with words. Check out the following verse and see what picture it paints in your mind:

“Large fluffy pieces of wool,

Soft and gentle,

Floating lazily against the blue sky.

The summer grass,

Green as life,

Cushions the back of little Johnny;

And the sun

Smiles down at him,

And caresses his face

As he watches the parade

Of those fluffy pieces of wool.

They take whatever form he wishes;

Those fluffy, large pieces of wool

Soft and gentle

On their trek across the giant sky.”

I am sure that you have come across a good book with good illustrations (e.g the one above). These illustrations compliment the writer's descriptions, creating a picture that is impossible to forget. And if you are having a hard time creating character sketches, illustrations play the important role of filling in those details that you cannot find words for.

Would you like help on how to create the perfect illustrations for your story or book? check out this great site:

fantasy-art-and-portraits (opens new window)

I think I have proved my point: writing is certainly an art. But if you are still incredulous, I have no idea what will ever convince you, because write I have!

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