Sometimes, I savor a book slowly.
I pick the book up, read a few pages, then put it down again.
I highlight ideas and sentences that attract my attention.
Later, I treat myself to rereading those highlights.
What makes writing worth savoring like that?
At school, you probably learned that good writing is coherent, focused, and correct.
But isn’t that like suggesting a good bicycle has two wheels, a saddle, and handlebars?
I recently read The Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows by John Koenig. This book contains 272 pages but it took me almost 7 weeks to read. Not because it was difficult or boring. No. Because it was worth reading slowly. I highlighted 82 snippets of text.
So, what did I learn about good writing?
1. It’s carefully written
Koenig makes up phrases for feelings not commonly described. For instance, he describes “fool’s guilt” as follows:
a pulse of shame you feel even though you’ve done nothing wrong—passing a police car while under the speed limit, being carded after legally ordering a drink, or exiting a store without buying anything.
I like how precise that description is. Only 35 words. Yet a lot of detail as we learn:
- What the obscure feeling is: A sense a shame even if you’ve done nothing wrong
- How the feeling manifests itself: A pulse
- 3 clear examples of when the feeling arrives: passing a police car while under the speed limit, being carded after legally ordering a drink, or exiting a store without buying anything
I get a sense that Koenig has carefully sculpted each sentence. Each word matters. It’s a delight to read.
2. Good writing is creative
Creativity comes in many forms. A play with words. A story in miniature. Vivid imagery. A sense of rhythm.
Koenig often uses metaphors to make his descriptions of feelings more meaningful and interesting. He describes “nighthawk” as follows:
a recurring thought that only seems to strike you late at night—an overdue task, a nagging guilt, a looming future—which you sometimes manage to forget for weeks, only to feel it land on your shoulder once again, quietly building a nest.
And “liberosis:”
the desire to care less about things; to figure out a way to relax your grip on your life and hold it loosely and playfully, keeping it in the air like a volleyball, with quick and fleeting interventions, bouncing freely in the hands of trusted friends, always in play.
The pictures that Koenig paints—of playing volleyball and of a nagging thought building a nest on our shoulders—are functional; they help us understand the concepts he’s explaining.
Good writers don’t want to impress readers with their creativity and word wizardry. They aim to engage and communicate clearly.
Creativity serves your reader.
3. A good writer shows up in their writing
When I read something good, I feel a connection with the author. It’s like I get to know them a little.
Koenig’s descriptions give me a sense of what matters to him. For instance, he describes “suerza:”
a feeling of quiet amazement that you exist at all; a sense of gratitude that you were even born in the first place, that you somehow emerged alive and breathing despite all odds, having won an unbroken streak of reproductive lotteries that stretches all the way back to the beginning of life itself.
He even has a word for the sense of connection with authors. He calls it “moledro:”
a feeling of resonant connection with an author or artist you’ll never meet, who may have lived centuries ago and thousands of miles away but can still get inside your head and leave behind morsels of their experience, like the little piles of stones left by hikers that mark a hidden path through unfamiliar territory.
In my 10+ years of writing regularly, I’ve learned that my writing process starts long before I open a new Word doc. It even starts before I get an idea and mull it over during a walk. Writing starts with what I’m paying attention to.
What we give our attention shapes our writing, and that’s how we show up as writers.
So, give yourself permission to write about what matters to you, about what attracts your attention.
The best writing is personal.
On good writing
A good bicycle is one that lasts. The ride is smooth. It makes cycling a joy.
The same is true for good writing.
It’s worth savoring. A joy to read.
A worthwhile conversation between the writer and the reader.
Book mentioned in this post:
- The Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows by John Koenig (highly recommended)
Recommended reading on good writing:
20+ examples that demonstrate good writing
How to avoid wordiness
How to revise one sentence
Moledro, very cool. You taught me a new word regarding good writing. I think you could add authenticity and honesty, both go along way towards creating a resonance between writer and reader. Thanks again for another excellent article
Big YES to authenticity and honesty!
You won’t find moledro in the English dictionary. It’s Portuguese for cairn. Koenig writes about his choice for this word: “According to Portuguese legend, if you take a stone from a cairn and put it under a pillow, in the morning an enchanted soldier will appear for a moment, before transforming back into the stone and returning to the pile.”
I think we should work towards adding it to the English dictionary. Such a great concept.
Hi Henneke, thank you so much for the tips, I am trying my best to be a better writer. I never read much as a kid no did do very well in English. But as I got older I learned about working online and I’ve had to write a lot for blogging, emails and other business type of writing. I have been trying to be more creative to make my readers want to read on and even throw in a joke or two. It’s my first time on your blog, I’m eager to see what other helpful articles you have that can help me improve my writing skills. Have a good one!
English and Dutch (my native language) were my worst subjects at school. I was never good at writing essays, and I didn’t enjoy it either. I had never thought of myself as a writer and I was in my early 40s when I started writing seriously. So, don’t worry about what you did or didn’t do as a kid. Just focus on what you want to do now.
I hope you’ll enjoy my blog, Matthew. Thank you for stopping by.
I compile these nuggets of wisdom in a corner of my mind against the day I launch my grand writing scheme on the world.
Please don’t wait too long with launching your writing project! 🙂
Yes, these are true! Well-written is very pleasant to read, you immediately feel the connection with the author and his soul, which he put into the work)
Yes, I like that idea of putting your soul into your writing. Thank you, Illia.
A good writer turns sentences into a cinematic movie that you don’t want to stop reading. Chinua Achebe is my favorite writer. I read his stories on my phone while working at the shop based in Mombasa, Kenya.
I like your definition of good writing!
Thank you Henneke for this great post. I have realized more at peace and more creative when you write about things that really matter to you.
Yes, that’s so true. Thank you for adding that, Peter. It’s also when writing becomes more nourishing for my soul.
Wow! I listened to the excerpt audio of John Koenig’s book on the Amazon site. What unique writing for us to explore. Thank you for the recommendation and the reminder to read slowly.
It’s amazing, isn’t it? I rarely listen to audiobooks but I think listening slowly could work, too, in the sense of giving it our full attention and pausing and perhaps rewinding now and then.
Thanks for sharing!
I always anticipate your email.
Whenever I want to learn something new I just look for your emails, they’re delightful!
Are you on Facebook, I would love to connect with you.
Thank you for your lovely compliment, Hope.
I don’t have Facebook account but if you’re on Twitter, it’d be lovely to connect with you there.
Yes, these examples were a delight to read. Thanks Henneke for sharing them with me/us.
I’m glad you enjoyed it, too. The whole book is a delight to read.
I always look forward to your emails, your insights and book suggestions. I aspire to write as well as you do one day.
Thank you, Henneke for inspiring me!
I’ve learned so much from reading the writers I admire and figuring out how their writing resonates with me. It feels really special that you’re reading my work and aspire to write like me. Thank you for such a lovely compliment, Jasmine. Keep writing and you’ll keep growing!
“Writing starts with what I’m paying attention to. What we give our attention shapes our writing, and that’s how we show up as writers.”
This just gave me a whole new perspective on writing. I mean, subconsciously, I think I knew, but reading it makes it even clearer. I love the word definitions you shared. I actually wrote them down in longhand. I love personal writing more than anything. It makes me feel connected to the people I’m writing for and reading personal stories make me feel like I know the writer well.
What a lovely exercise to write down these definitions in longhand. Brilliant idea. A great way to give someone else’s writing your full attention, too. Thank you for sharing, Lux.
I’m so happy to learn about this book and to know I’m not the only one who reads languidly. Words can be like a paintbrush, a camera, a hunk of clay. Thank you so much for sharing, Henneke.
I hope you’ll enjoy reading it, too, Candice. Thank you for stopping by!
Darn you, Henneke. Like Daniella, I keep adding your book recommendations to my shelf. This sounds like a must have addition.
At this stage in my life, I don’t want to read a book fast. I know that I’ll never read all of the books I’ve collected. And I’m focused on quality not quantity.
I call the quick read novels “fast food for the brain”.
Actually, I do escape into some quick reads sometimes, too. I don’t always have the energy for reading something more nourishing.
I hope you’ll enjoy Koenig’s dictionary, too. Happy reading!
And just like that, my ever-growing pile of books to read gained another :-). Thank you, Henneke, for the worthwhile recommendations and for writing so beautifully about the books you come across.
Have a wonderful week!
I hope the pile of books doesn’t feel like a burden, Daniela. Happy reading!
I find I read a book like you do–jotting down phrases and words that sound so wonderful when read or said out loud, even going back a chapter or two to reread something that especially appealed to me. I look forward to your newsletters, Henneke, because I always learn something new and/or useful in my article writing.
Thank you, Diane. I’m glad you’re enjoying my blog. Happy writing!
I read this book last year and savored it, too. What a great choice to share!
Such an amazing book. I am glad you enjoyed it, too. Thank you for stopping by Kristina.
I am following you from 1-2 years. Have read many of your blogs as time permits. I also hv both of your ebooks – completed. But writing a comment for first time. You make me fall in love with writing every time i read a blog. I always write something after i go thr’ your blog. It stimulates and creates desire to write in me. So whatever you write about, just keep it going. Keep enchanting!
Thank you so much for your lovely compliment, Neelesh. It means a lot to me. I am glad you took the time to write your first comment! Thank you.
Henneke! It’s always a joy to read you, I get so excited when I receive your emails. They bring such delight to my mornings when I open them. English is my second language and you have helped me brush up my writing skills.
I feel blessed to have found your blog when I did.
With much gratitude and respect,
That’s such lovely feedback. Thank you, Liliana. It’s an honour to write for people like you.
Talk about writing style ‘Oh William’ did it for me
I like Elizabeth Strout’s writing but haven’t read that one yet. Thank you for the nudge!
Good writers write better than me, they make me stand in awe. That’s my definition 😉
Great definition. The question than is: What makes you stand in awe?
They are smarter than me, they have more imagination, their vocabulary is larger and they are better at all the technical tricks of writing. Also: they are able to finish huge projects.
Yes, I like it when writers are smart—when they have thought through things, I haven’t grasped yet. But I’m less sure about a large vocabulary. That can easily be used to impress. I do want to understand what I’m reading without needing to refer to a dictionary every other sentence.
It took John Koenig 12 years to write his Dictionary on Obscure Sorrows.
12 years! That’s reassuring… Thank you Henneke for another great post. I really enjoyed reading it and, of course, now I need to read the book.
I found it reassuring, too. Work that’s this good takes time. I hope you’ll enjoy the book, too.
Thank you, Henneke, for sharing this! A book like that for me was “Real People” a novel by Alison Lurie. I was not interested in it’s subject (something about writers and artists who get away to one particular place in order to create), but read it, because I could not resist the writing style, that pulled me in.
It’s so wonderful when writing pulls us in like that, isn’t it? I’ll check out Alison Lurie’s book. Thank you for mentioning it.
So so beautiful, Henneke! Thanks for sharing!
Thank you so much, Sampada. I highly recommend Koenig’s Dictionary.
Hi Henneke,
It’s been a while. I hope all is well with you and yours.
Thank you for sharing your learnings. I haven’t read a book in the fashion you described in quite some time. I’m enamored with the great masters of science fiction like Heinlein, Clark, Asimov, etc. I never really appreciated their storytelling until just now. It hit me in the face after reading your post.
Cheers,
Bill
I never really got into reading science fiction. Maybe I have to try again?
Science fiction, for the most part (for me anyway!) is an experience of windows (& more) of glimpses of worlds possible, gripping creativity that may be go beyond limits, a sometimse let’s-not-breathe-until-the last-page ride… with minimal room for romanticism (or s-l-o-w reading).
I must confess, it seems less laborious to ‘watch’ sci-fi than ‘read’….
As always, thank you for sharing all your lovely picks (& more). I will attempt to write in a more worthy manner
Some books are great for fast reading and being completely engrossed until we know how a story ends. I like both ways of reading.