There is hope for all of us looking to improve.

Yesterday was beautiful. The sun was shining, birds were singing, and I was sitting at a table in the Library – with six hours worth of books and a pad of legal paper – trying to answer the question “how does someone learn to write well?” Gorham Munson, in his book The Written Word, has an answer. Writing can only be self taught, and good writers are self made. He says anyone can become a skilled writer, but not everyone will. Those whose desire falters and give up will not.

There is hope for all of us looking to improve. We just need to work at it. Naturally, I wondered how do I teach myself to write well? This blog is going answer that question.

Over the next sixteen weeks I will identify resources and put together writing exercises. Everything will be posted here and organized in a way that permits visitors to follow along and participate. The reason I have set a 16 week time frame is that on August 20th I am hoping on a plane and going traveling for a year. Ideally I want to develop enough core writing skills and vocabulary to carry my learning and exploration of writing into my adventures. My long term goal is that this blog evolves into a free online publication showcasing the work of talented, unpublished writers. Until then, let the learning begin.

Munson said that “talented writers read with an eye alert for secrets of technique.” Dostoevsky and Dickens may have been born with impressive skills, but most authors work at it. To write, one must read. I am prescribing myself 2 hours per day – starting now with A Farewell to Arms by Ernest Hemingway.

Would someone with some writing experience mind looking at this list of the 100 best novels and tell me if they agree with the selection? Many thanks… and happy writing!