Learning to Write, at Twenty Years-Old.
What is your craft, and how long have you been working on it?
It may sound strange, but for somebody that regularly publishes his work online, I have not always enjoyed writing and neither have I been particularly good at it. In school, I was absolutely not an arts and humanities student. I was going to be a doctor. I was going to study medicine. To that end, I geared all my studies towards the sciences and for my A-Levels I took biology, chemistry and mathematics. I visited medical schools, volunteered in hospitals, spent time in care homes for the elderly, and did work experience in a special needs school. I was ticking all the boxes. In short, I lived and breathed medicine.
But then, after a strange turn of events, right before applying to university I decided to switch focus and study theology instead. Although there is a longer story — one which I may write about some day — the gist is this: I was truly passionate about theology. I was never passionate about medicine. I had just thought medicine to be a wise and sensible decision, a respectable career, and one for which people could be proud of me. But it was theology that kept me up at night, made my blood boil, and set my heart racing. It was theology that I loved, even though, in my naïvety, I only had the slightest inkling of what theology was really all about.
After a gap-year of working out what this all meant, I landed at Durham University as an ‘Arts Student’ — a badge I never thought I’d wear but now one that I pin on my figurative lapel with pride and honour. But then arose a problem. All of a sudden, I had to write. I had essays to craft, and a host of literature to read, comprehend, and evaluate. Plus, if you’ve ever picked up a vaguely theological book, you’ll know that the subject matter and writing style is not always easily comprehendible nor penetrable (some call it ‘dialectic’ apparently). Nevertheless, there I was. And I was there to stay.
And here I still am. I have had to learn to read and write all over again. And I am still learning. As it happens, I have surprised myself over the past two years. The transition to theology has been smoother than I had anticipated, and for that I am greatly thankful. But still, I am learning. Still. Every day, I am learning. I recently read ‘IN (PRAISE OF) PROCESS’ by Coleen Baik, and it really spoke to me. Do read it. I found myself nodding along with every sentence in total agreement. The piece helpfully highlights the importance of process when creating, whether that be creating a piece of art, composition of music, or whatever. Yes, the finished product is important, but we must also celebrate the journey — the process. I’m writing this post, like Coleen’s piece, to celebrate the journey and to highlight the importance of the process.
Our culture is obsessed with immediacy and instant gratification. It goes without saying. We become increasingly impatient in queues, struggle to read more than one-hundred-and-forty characters at a time, and lack the long-haul determination to get fit and lose weight or reach some other goal that we set ourselves. Such short-termism is only perpetuated by the prevalence of fast-food, and instant-celebrities who become famous in a flash of reality TV. Our society is quick and fast.
This isn’t always bad. Real breakthroughs come in our ever-faster society. There is certainly a time and place for ergonomics and efficiency (as well as a time for rest). But this short-termism and immediacy risks diminishing the value — and necessity — of process. It takes a long time to build something that will last for generations. It takes time and effort, sweat and tears, to create something meaningful and of value. And in my case, I’m creating written content. I write academic essays and keep an online publication called The Coffeehouse Cleric.
I know that my writing can improve. I still have a long way to go. Those that read my work may think little of what I have to say, whether it be uninteresting content or poor style. But I am on a journey, and I realise that my progression with take time. Treating my writing as a craft, I know that I am still only at the beginning of a journey that will last a lifetime.
Let’s be patient and persevere. Whatever your craft is, whatever you’ve been given to do, hang in there. Keep plodding. One day at a time. Keep moving forwards. But enjoy the journey. Look out of the window and enjoy the view, even if you’re headed some place else and you’ll never again be back where you are now. Here’s to process.
Thanks for reading this far. If you enjoyed this piece, please do recommend it by clicking on the little green heart below and share it with friends on social media. You can find out more about me here: www.coffeehousecleric.com.
