Writing Creates Its Own Magic

Writing Creates Its Own Magic

I spend a lot of time thinking about writing. Almost as much time as I do actually composing thoughts and ideas. 

As a student I was taught what to write, rather than how to write. The teacher frequently said -here is the genre, here is the topic, now show what you can do. 

As a consequence I have always striven to teach in ways that demystify writing, trying to build understanding through modeled, guided and independent practice. 

Much of my teaching life has focused on sharing the knowledge I have gathered from my sustained writing life. I am keen to share what writing has taught me with young writers and their teachers. If what I share helps to set inexperienced writers up to be successful, to view themselves as confident writers, then my mission has been successful.

Writers share. They willingly unpack their understanding about writing in the hope a less experienced writer may benefit from knowing important aspects of the craft. 

You hear young writers say things like:

‘This is what I’ve noticed.’ 

‘This is what I’ve done.’ 

‘This is what I’ve learned from the experience.’

‘Guess what I discovered while writing this?’

Everyday on social media, writers share pearls of wisdom gleaned from their literary lives. These are the pearls hidden among the clutter of the digital universe.

From Kate DiCamillo I learned this priceless strategy.


I SAW…

I LISTENED…

I LOOKED…

I HEARD…

I SAT DOWN…

I WROTE TO FIND OUT…

Writing is essentially a problem solving process. Writers must be prepared to make decisions. And boy, do writers have to make lots of decisions. It is in the act of writing that a problem is resolved. 

When a writer shares their process, they shine a light on the writing life. This is the magical thing about writing. Secrets are willingly shared. My writing life is, wait for it -an open book. The mystique surrounding it is gradually removed. The process is there for others to see.  Hopefully such revelations might just lead the less experienced writer to feel just a little braver and bolder when they approach their own writing.

Occasionally I find myself ruminating about the difference between writers and magicians. It is a comparison I have thought about quite a lot over time.

Magicians closely guard their secrets, their special tricks. They draw a veil over their craft. They hold certain knowledge close to their chest, believing it to be important to the essential mystique surrounding their work. This is what separates writers from a magicians. Magicians choose not to reveal the tricks they have up their sleeves. That’s okay. It’s just a point of difference. The magic is delivered differently.


Alan j Wright

 https://www.alanjwrightauthorpoet.com/






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