Is your writing better or worse than back when you just did a couple of newsletters for Ragan and a few articles for other publishers?

My guess is that, like me, you FEEL as if you really nail it once in a while but in general give yourself about a "good enough." When you go back and read your writing from 17 years ago, how does it compare?

I went to my files and looked at my own stuff. Because I want more time to think and tinker, I wanted the result to be that when I have more time to think and tinker, my writing is better--but it's not true. Living in chaos has been good for my writing.

Not the answer I wanted. Not sure what to make of it. Damn it, damn it, damn it all.

No, you're right, Jane.

(It's a bit of an unfair comparison, because 17 years ago I was a child, and I've learned a lot—probably about half of what I know—about writing and about life since then.)

But no, my writing hasn't suffered with the larger workload, didn't particularly shine with time to polish.

I HAVE, however, struggled on one book project that has required me to think, think, think, for long periods of time and I found my brain was trained to churn out a few paragraphs at a time and it really struggled to do that old-fashioned thing called "reflecting."

I have wondered during this project if I've trained my brain to write quick and well and ruined its ability to write long and beautiful.

Something I think about a lot, for sure. STOP No complete answers yet. Stop. Ect. STOP.

Gee, what about all those working PR types and journalists who are writing top-notch fiction and outstanding essays and first-rate, well-researched nonfiction books?

Oh, yeah, there aren't any.

That's why they take time off to write books. It's like training like anything every day for the 100 meters, then learning you need to run the 3,000 meters tomorrow -- fast-twitch muscle fibres aren't too good at endurance.

Don't beat on the brat too very much...

Sean, I did manage to finish the book, but I think it suffered for the empasis on fast-twitch--a good analogy.

This has consequences inside corporate communications too. When was the last good feature story you read in an employee publication—or the last great speech you heard?

We're paid for soundbites, so we're thinking in 'em.

P.S. What's this expression, "Don't beat on the brat ...."?

Dear David,

Quit your whining and get back to work.

Sincerely,

Mark Ragan

See what I mean, DEAR READERS?????

David:

This post would generate much more sympathy amongst your inner circle if we didn't all know that you also play golf at least four times a week and drink about seventeen times more than most married men with children do.

When one has the Life of Reily, one should be quiet about it.

Steve C.

Et tu, Crescenzo? Then fall, The Murr.

The reference is to a Ramones tune that included the deathless line, "Beat on the brat with a baseball bat." A charming image, no?
Greg