Why Writing Is a Kind of Alchemy

What is alchemy?

Alchemy is the power or process of transforming something common into something special.

What is writing?

Writing is the where light and shadows meet. The act of writing is a gift, a practice, a calling, an outlet, an inlet. It's beautiful, terrifying, powerful, and strange. It's fun and funny. It's little black lines on white paper, a form of telepathy between writer and reader, a crazy combination of magic and sweat. It's wondrous and hard. In my writing life I regularly call upon my muse, try my own patience, and recommit to the practice of putting words together one-by-one. Writing is art and craft. Ideas and language.

Writing is the alchemy of inspiration and technique.

This is why I created the Alchemy ecourses. The next session of Alchemy: The Art & Craft of Writing starts soon (April 2). It's designed for people who have been writing at least a little bit in at least a semi-regular way (in a journal, on a blog, for work, for play, whatever). It's not a dry, how-to course filled with rules and regulations about what you "must" or "must not" do to be a better writer. It's also not simply a course about inspiration, even though there will be plenty of encouragement and nuggets of inspiration along the way. After all, what good are techniques without the muse?

As with all art forms, writing is a magical combination of the artist and the materials.

My photographer friends often say that it's not the camera that takes great shots, but rather the person behind the lens. But they know how the gear works, how to find the light, and how to frame the shot. Likewise, a painter creates the painting, but she benefits from knowing how to use different brushes, paints, and mediums.

And this is the magic: When you understand the tools and techniques of your craft, you know how to create pieces that express your unique vision. In Alchemy we'll explore writing tools and techniques to help you tell your stories in your voice.

I created this course because it's the course I was looking for several years ago when my writing had plateaued, and before I'd decided to pursue my MFA in writing. The elements covered in it have transformed my writing. We explore  some important foundational techniques that you may have missed or forgotten, and we look at how to apply them in practical ways to improve our writing craft. This is not about technicalities for the sake of being technical. This is about the tools of the trade that help you make art with your words. We also cover techniques that make your prose sparkle, including ways to polish it and hone it so that you're using language in a way that best serves your stories.

Class starts next Monday (April 2). I'd love it if you joined me, a community of other creative souls, and some fabulous featured guests. You can find out more and register here.