Our Work: Writing as a Means of Improvement

OUR WORK,

WRITING AS A MEANS OF IMPROVEMENT.

We have several times urged the young men of our Improvement Associations to take up writing as a means of improvement, and have encouraged the establishment of manuscript papers in the Associations^ and have asked that such papers as may be considered as possessed of merit be forwarded to the Era, promising that when ever we could do so the articles should be published. Recently we saw some remarks on this subject by B. F. Cochran, printed in the March number of Self- Culture, which in part we quote: Writing is thought of chiefly as a means of conveying thought. The important fact that it is one of the greatest means of improvement to the writer himself is not so much realized. We need to understand it better. Of course a writer may be actuated by bad motives, and there- fore not be morally improved by his writing, however much he may in- crease his skill in construction. But what I wish to consider now is the writing from good motives. In many cases persons who are at the present time honored with wide circulation of their writings have won the attention of editors and of the public only through a long course of careful writing, a great part of which was without the reward and satisfaction of editorial recognition. And it is safe to say that every such person knows that his success is attributable largely to the improvement of his own powers by the persistent and courageous efforts expended upon writings which, contrary to his hopes, were destined to be buried almost as soon and as quietly as they were born. As they were in earnest, and had good motives, every production of their pens had in it something that was worthy to live, in some form, and which only waited to have, at a later

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time, a new and presentable embodiment, the first body being forever dissolved. But one's success in writing, so far as self-improvement is concerned, cannot properly be measured by the attention received from editors or from the public. One may get as much benefit from something written for only one person to read, or even without the intention that anyone shall read it, as from work that is widely published. A motive in writ- ing is, admittedly, a proper stimulant. It may be that nothing else is equal to writing as a means of communing with one's self, or as a help in study of some kinds. Perhaps our most useful knowledge is that of our own qualities and powers. What better way is there for one to examine the workings of his own mind than to exercise himself privately in giving visible expres- sion to his thoughts? What purer or more satisfying joys are there than those of feeling and seeing harmonious action of our faculties de- veloping mental impressions, and choosing for them the forms of accur- ate, forceful, and pleasant diction? What nobler work is there than constructing a form of expression that fits, and pictures clearly, a valu- able thought — working in words, and moulding them into forms of use and beauty? One does not know, and cannot conceive, all that may be developed within himself by such exercise of the mind. It is not merely a matter of expressing what already lies clearly de-

Many ideas are developed out of dim consciousness, and fined in the mind. many inventions and discoveries are brought to light after beginning the composition. To choose a subject and set out to write about it, is to enter upon a course of inquiry, or study, of discovery, of development, of invention. At every step something new is presented; and every acquisition affords additional means for further pursuit and investigation. Keeping the subject in view, and holding a steady aim, serves to bring things into line, to cause comparison, classification, combination, of things naturally related to each other, and discernment, division, and separation of incongruous or discordant elements. The analytical and constructive powers of the mind have in such activity their most

strengthening and developing exercise. To understand words and their proper uses is to be acquainted with their sources in human feeling. To use words skilfully and successfully is to bring them into the proper relations to effectuate good impulses by

plain and forcible representation. Such use of language must bring great reward to the writer, in the consciousness of growing power. They who are moved to strong feeling yearn for suitable expression. But they cannot have facility of expression without practice. Conver-

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sation is an important aid toward such facility, but writing is often more so, as in writing one is at more time and effort liberty to expend in choosing suitable words, and in the arrangement of phrases and sentences; while one is free from disturbances that prevent concentra. tion of the mind. Written language is a social invention, and a consequence of that other social invention, spoken language. Both came into existence to meet the demand for communication, a demand which would not have existed if there were no society, even though separate individuals ex- isted. It follows that, so far as mental development is due to language^

it is a result of social relations. How far could mental development proceed without language? How far could it proceed without the art of writing? In writing we make use of one of the greatest helps to mental culture, a means supplied by our relations with society, and by the use of which each one may increase both his own mental property and the common possessions of the community. It is understood that the intellectual advancement of a community is measured by its proficiency in the use of language. Can we not properly apply the same guage to the advancement of each person? Is

not the intellectual development of a person usually in proportion to his power to use language, in his thinking, at least, if not in communicating with others? Epistolary writing, like ordinary conversation, is usually desul- tory, and lacks the rigid discipline of the composition that is steadily directed toward the presentation of one definite subject. Writing of the latter sort is therefore much more beneficial in some respects than letter writing. But one cannot write letters carefully and conscientiously without deriving much benefit therefrom. Such writing probably has some advantages over all other kinds of literary composition. It is to be observed that care is necessary to improvement in writ- ing, as in all other kinds of effort. Those who improve are those who really desire to improve, and are willing to take pains. Very much hasty and careless writing is done. Those who habitually write in this way do not regard writing as a fine art, and have not a proper concep- tion of the dignity of the art, or of its important reflex upon their own characters. Can such persons be expected to improve much by it? Those who reach the highest success in this art, take a profound interest in it, and regard it as not inferior in dignity and usefulness to any other. To such artists we are indebted for the masterpieces of literature, the works into which are wrought the best of human life, and which are cherished as the best of silent companions. In these are stored the lit-

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erary honey that was busily gathered from innumerable blooms in gar- den and field and wilderness, and carefully deposited in the clean cells of delicate composition. But our improvement by writing does not depend upon a prospect or hope of attaining distinction as artists. Immeasurable good is accom- plished by the humble efforts of people who do not think of calling themselves artists. One of the best uses of writing is for private study of important subjects upon which we desire to fix our attention, and to become well informed. The good to be attained in this way is not to be estimated by the fitness of the writing for publication. In studying the various problems of life one must have many thoughts that are not suitable to present to others. It is only after a process of refinement and adaptation that one's thoughts are in suitable form.