Writing skills, in a sense, are merely reading skills in graphic form. There are no excellent writers who are not also excellent readers!

It all begins with reading; actually, reading and writing should be taught together, as they are forms of each other.

But writing is much more than memorizing rules of grammar and punctuation. Is a carpenter merely someone who knows how to cut wood and pound nails? or is he one who can skillfully build for you that fine home?

Do you see the difference?

Writing is more than the sum of its parts, mere mechanics of language – it includes that, but such view, without more, suggests the work of the technician, the duties of that slave we discussed, a lower-level function of that first column in Adler's learning-teaching chart.

Writing, like building that fine home, is a creative process; even so, it is more than offering something "different," the next new thing. Some people think that good writing is trying to be clever, original. Not necessarily.

For you to become the kind of writer that people will want to read, you will need something to say… something worthwhile to say... something worth reading… something that others will want to know about.

Listen to the great F. Scott Fitzgerald’s advice to writers:

• "To have something to say is a question of sleepless nights and worry and endless ratiocination of subject - of endless trying to dig out the essential truth, the essential justice. As a first premise you have to develop a conscience, and if on top of that you have talent, so much the better. But if you have talent without the conscience, you are just one of many thousands of journalists."

Being clever, possessing “talent,” whatever that is, comes second to having something worthwhile to say; a “conscience,” says Fitzgerald.

Never shy away from a subject because, as you might see it, so many others have already expressed themselves there. Yes, we have heard from these others… but we have not heard from you!

And we want to know the particular insight that only you can bring to us. What is “the essential truth, the essential justice,” as Fitzgerald puts it, that springs from your soul? When you find that message, when you learn to “draw it out,” speak to us about it in clear language.

• Cleverness is fine, if it springs naturally from your deepest self - but do not try to be clever, per se; instead, try to be clear.

Help us to see what you saw in your moment of ecstatic vision, that time of discovery when you caught a glimpse of “the essential truth, the essential justice.” Clearly communicate to us your sense of wonder and excitement regarding your findings.  And if you can do that, we just might honor you, and your writing, forever.

Most writers, offering their wares to the public, even those who turn out pages by the truckload, often have nothing to say, and take a long time saying it… nothing of enduring value to say… nothing of universal and pressing interest to say… they answer none of our questions of high moment… and, like yesterday’s newspaper, their so-called writing will soon adorn the bottom of a birdcage.

This kind of writing will not take you to where you want to go in life.

Writing… effective writing… is a means of artfully presenting information; of packaging your substantial thought, your “essential truth,” for public consumption.

And how shall we bring up from the depths of ourselves Fitzgerald’s “question of sleepless nights,” something worthwhile to say, something that others would be willing to read?

Look again at Adler's chart. Columns two and, especially, three represent the kinds of learning and teaching designed to “draw out” from you, from the depths, that gold which lies hidden below.

It is possible to learn how to write so that others will want to read your words… which, in truth, means… so that others will want you!

The methods of such engagement are very similar to those governing the art of speaking. And we shall continue this discussion on next page.

But before we move to that section, allow me to direct you to examples of my own writing. My Word Gems website, along with famous quotes, features my Personal Statements, essays on a variety of topics. For the moment, I will merely suggest that you glance at the titles of the dozens of articles. The first ones seem harmless enough, innocuous tributes to my parents and favorite uncle. But do not be deceived. As you make your way down the list, more and more, I offer titles that will tear at one’s universal fears, hopes, and longings.

As a writer, it is my purpose to so devise a title as to defy, and dare, any would-be peripatetic eye to ignore the universal questions posed! Each title attempts to proclaim… “read this or die!”

Have a look at my readers’ comments about these articles. You will find praise of the highest form; praise that is more generous than true; indeed, some of the more rabid accolades I have decided not to print.

All of this introduces an extremely important point that I shall further develop with you in private consultation… if you package your information, “the essential truth, the essential justice,” of which Fitzgerald spoke, in terms of Universal Longings, Universal Questions - the Great Ideas, as Dr. Adler would have said. You will help your readers “draw out,” from their own depths, that which has been long buried.

They, in a very real sense, will teach themselves, as your insights will resonate so deeply with Their Own HiddenTruth. 

And, in this process of self-discovery, they will give you the credit… tell you what a genius you are… as you help them verbalize that amorphous discontent brooding in their owns hearts, those same Universal Questions that they, too, have struggled with... but, even though you will be telling them nothing that their own deepest selves do not already know, they will give you the credit...and will call you... a great a writer!