Every week I read the New York Times’ Modern Love column. Not because it’s about love (although that helps). I read it because it’s often a good story. Occasionally it’s written really well. And since a different contributor writes the column each week, it always has a different voice.
In other words, reading this column is not only enjoyable, it makes me a better writer.
This week falls into that occasionally category — it’s written very well. This woman’s words are simply pasted together beautifully. And to top it all off, she tells a great story, mixing background into a scene in a way I’ve grown to appreciate since I started writing my book.
But the best part — the reason I’m sharing this story with you — is that I’m betting each and every one of you will relate to it, particularly the last paragraph. And that’s what good writing is about. It’s about telling an awesome story (check), pasting your words together beautifully (check) and weaving together something that will make the reader say, “Wow, I totally get that.” (Score!)
Thoughts?
Thanks for the tip off!
Thanks for providing the link to such a beautifully descriptive piece of writing. I’m hoping for more suck links from you.
I Re-Tweeted your tweet regarding this post. Nice words, worth spreading.
This is a gorgeous piece – the last paragraph took my breath away. Thank you so much for sharing it. (I do enjoy the Modern Love column, but hadn’t read it in a while – thanks for the reminder.)
i haven’t read that column in a while but i actually heard a talk from the editor of the column. he is very open to receiving material and you get paid for it if any of you haev ever thought of submitting work there!
I was recently introduced to Modern Love through the essay writing class I’m taking. Love the stuff I’ve found there and now I read it regularly. I agree that reading this column can make you a better writer…it is helping me to figure out what works and what doesn’t work in essay/memoir.