Rick Chambers & Associates, LLC
Strategic Communications
  • Home
  • What We Offer
  • Guiding Values
  • Blog
  • Books
  • Contact Us

Preserving the Joy of Writing

11/13/2013

 
PictureImage: Simon Howden/Freedigitalphotos.net
The guy was talking about Shakespeare, and he had my attention.

Neil MacGregor, director of the British Museum, was on NPR to discuss his new book, Shakespeare’s Restless World: A Portrait of an Era in Twenty Objects. I happen to enjoy history and respect William Shakespeare’s work, though I wouldn’t call myself an expert on either.

But what drew me into the interview was MacGregor’s passion as an author. The energy he channeled while describing the events that influenced Shakespeare reminded me of a delighted child.

“Henry V is where this book began,” he enthused. “We the public work with Shakespeare the writer to imagine a new world.”

Within 24 hours, I encountered two other interviews with authors mirroring MacGregor’s joy.

One was another NPR interview, this one with best-selling author John Grisham, whose latest, Sycamore Row, currently resides at #2 on the New York Times list. Grisham clearly enjoyed discussing his work—not in a prideful way, but as a child sharing a special treat with a best friend.

“Every book goes back to story. You can’t write anything without a story,” Grisham said, as if revealing a closely guarded secret.

The other interview was an online piece featuring Steven Moffat, a BBC television writer and producer. Moffat struck me as almost giddy.

“It's everything you ask for,” said Moffat. “They say be careful what you wish for. No. Don't be careful what you wish for. Absolutely wish for stuff.”

As a published author, I understand their excitement. I’ve never forgotten the rush I felt the first time I landed an article in a magazine, or saw my byline on a newspaper story, or beheld my first novel on a bookshelf. Make the mistake of asking me about my latest short story, and you’ll be subjected to a rapid-fire dissertation delivered with a broad grin.

So it’s both amusing and puzzling to me when I hear about (and at times encounter) the deplorable state of writing in business—and, I’m sad to say, in the communications field. Some reports have estimated the cost to business of following up on poor writing by employees as much as $3.1 billion per year.

A portion of the blame lies with our education system. As instructors are pressured to “teach to the test,” good writing doesn’t get the attention it should.

But I think there’s another element at play: the corporate world’s misguided vision of quality prose. In short, never settle for a simple word when a six-syllable one will do.

My corporate career began after a few years as a journalist. Reporters learn how to convey complex ideas in clear, simple language. When I tried to do the same in a company setting, the red ink flowed freely. It took awhile for me to realize that many corporate leaders prefer ambiguity; it gives them room to waffle.

Fortunately, I had colleagues who fought that mindset, and I gladly joined the fight. Sure, sometimes I had to succumb to “corporatespeak” to satisfy a superior. But as I look back, I believe sanity prevailed more often than not.

And best of all, the joy of writing—and writing well—wasn’t beaten out of me.

So if I dare take Steven Moffat at his word, I’ll hazard a wish: that the new generation of professional communicators embrace that joy and be true champions of great writing.



Comments are closed.
    Picture

    Rick Chambers

    Rick is the owner and president of Rick Chambers & Associates, LLC.

    Archives

    March 2024
    April 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    December 2021
    September 2021
    April 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    January 2020
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    April 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    October 2018
    August 2018
    May 2018
    March 2018
    January 2018
    September 2017
    August 2017
    June 2017
    April 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    September 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    June 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012

    Categories

    All
    Accuracy
    Code Of Ethics
    Communication Ammo
    Communications
    Digital News
    Fairness
    Firefly
    Integrity
    Internal Communication
    Lie
    Loyalty
    Matt Friedman
    Media Relations
    Pr
    Print News
    Prsa
    Public Relations
    Radiance
    Recognition
    Sean Williams
    Serenity
    Spin
    Star Trek
    Star Trek Phase Ii
    Tanner Friedman
    Truth

    RSS Feed

About Us

Rick Chambers & Associates, LLC, brings a solid track record of strategic, diverse, objective-based communications and public relations services. RC&A works closely with clients to understand their business, develop stakeholder relationships, build meaningful dialogue and help share their stories effectively.

Picture
Rick Chambers & Associates, LLC
1514 Kingsbury Drive
Portage, MI 49002-1664
USA
269.873.5820
[email protected]