C. S. Lewis’ Advice to Young Writers #4

In 1959, at the suggestion of her teacher, an American schoolgirl wrote C. S. Lewis a letter requesting advice on writing. Lewis replied, “It is very hard to give any general advice about  writing. Here’s my attempt.”

In a series of eight blogposts we’re covering each of the points Lewis offered. They are just as pertinent today as they were 66 years ago.

Write about what really interests you, whether it is real things or imaginary things, and nothing else. (Notice this means that if you are interested only in writing you will never be a writer, because you will have nothing to write about…)

– C. S. Lewis, letter of writing advice to an American schoolgirl, 14 December 1959

What to write about? This is one of the questions often asked by new writers and one Lewis anticipates. Writing is hard work, far too hard to be exerted on a subject that doesn’t hold your interest.

I have found as soon as my interest in a project or piece wanes, it’s over. I can’t keep going. The prose turns lifeless, and my ability to create a reader experience is sunk.

It is imperative then the writer has interests in and about which to write. It should be noted that this doesn’t mean the writer is an expert. Writers often embark on a project of interest and in the process become knowledgeable. This is just as true in fiction as it is in nonfiction. A great deal of learning and understanding comes of writing a novel—knowledge about human capabilities, relationships, a time or a place. The once unknown is codified in fiction.

And what enables all this is the writer’s exploration of that which she finds to be interesting.