Creative Writing Newsletter October 2025

A Writer’s Craft

There are two types of writers, architects and gardeners. The architects
have the whole thing designed and blueprinted. The gardeners dig a hole,
drop in a seed and water it. They know if they planted a fantasy seed or
mystery seed. As they water it, they don’t know how many branches it’s
going to have, they find out as it grows. (George R.R. Martin)

As we practice our craft, we are called upon to read both writers on writing
and fiction. Here is the Chinese poet SuShi’s (1037-1101) secrets of writing:
Not liable to any set rules, a good piece of writing moves on freely and smoothly like floating clouds or flowing water. Clouds drift and form new skyscapes every other day; a good writer develops fitting styles for different
purposes. Water shapes its course according to the nature of the ground over which it flows; a good writer works out his excellence in relation
to the materials about which he is writing. Thus is created the natural unity and coherence with rich spontaneous creativity.

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