Goals Gone Wild August 25, 2006

The Write Stuff

Matthew Poepsel, LeftBrain/Co-Founder

How many of you enjoy reading a well-written article, short story, or book? Unfortunately, it can sometimes be a challenge to find examples of really good writing. Did I just hear someone say, "Especially in this column"? (That really hurts, people.) At any rate, I personally find that a great writer can capture your imagination and move you to a specific setting, an emotional crescendo, or an experience. A great writer can connect you not only to their story and characters, but also to a new part of yourself.

This week, I had the good fortune to hear a presentation given by fiction writer Dennis Lehane. Lehane is the author of "Shutter Island" and perhaps most famously for the book "Mystic River" which became - as they say - a major motion picture starring Sean Penn and directed by Clint Eastwood.

The evening I saw Dennis speak, he had stopped by the Cape Cod Writers Conference in Craigville, Massachusetts. As aspiring writers, my mom and I headed over to the conference to hear what Dennis had to say. Dennis had come to the conference to share a bit of his yet unpublished book, answer questions from the audience, and plug "Coronado" - his recently released collection of short stories. (Hey, the man's got to eat.)

At this point, it's important to point out that I've increasingly been thinking quite a bit about the writing craft. Don't worry - I'm not about to pepper these columns with iambic pentameter, onomatopoeia, or even proper grammar. (If I feel like dangling my participle, that's just what I'll do, thank you very much.) No, it's just that I've been thinking about how the art of writing so closely resembles the art of living. (Man, that's deep. I should write that down.) In both endeavors, I feel that to be truly successful one must connect with his or her inner essence/voice, exhibit tremendous courage, and relentlessly pursue his or her vision.

The night that Dennis spoke to a large room full of writers (and me), my "successful living" sensors were on full alert. Needless to say, I wasn't disappointed. Addressing the crowd with passion, his words rang true. (Dangle participle, dangle!) I submit for your consideration a few key Dennis Lehane quotes along with my ruminations on how these relate to successful living:

"I write to discover." - For Lehane, it seems that the writing process is, in fact, a learning process. It's almost as if he can't wait to read what comes next even though he's the one doing the writing. In life too, we can't predict with any precision what opportunities and challenges lie ahead of us. Still, we can approach the living task with similar energy and enthusiasm, anxious to see what will happen next.

"A scene doesn't work unless a main character learns something about himself or the world around him." - Flat scenes make for bland writing and boring reading. In life, prolonged periods without learning and growth are equally tiresome. Too much time spent in stagnation while on the job or in a dead-end relationship creates anxiety, frustration, and depression. For some, remaining in these situations may seem more comfortable that the alternative, but they will never provide the growth opportunities we need to realize our true potential. (And isn't that the whole point?)

"Have a structure in mind and work on the details later."- When approaching his next bestselling novel, Lehane claims he's fairly concrete on his beginning, middle, and end. He then works to connect these major elements by adding layers of detail over several years of research and writing. Again, this serves as an apt metaphor for life. Don't expect to be able to map out your road to success in any real detail, but at the same time, don't settle for not having the major pieces firmly in place. At a minimum, you should know your values, your preferred work and lifestyle, and your vision for what you'd like to accomplish in life. Then, you can figure out the rest as you go.

These were but a few of the notable points from Dennis Lehane's discussion. He provided plenty of food for thought, particularly around how the process of writing and the process of living have so darn much in common. As you begin the next chapter of your life, I encourage you to consider his observations as well as the lessons you've learned throughout a lifetime of reading.

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