The goal of the writer is to improve people's perception,
by opening them to ideas or acting as a bridge between realities.
One opens others to ideas by conceiving of the idea or perceiving it
from others, then considering the audience and modifying communication
so as to reach between the people you are trying to communicate to, or
for, and the idea.
In the area of fiction one creates alternative realities and by
exposing people to these gives them relief from what they take for
granted, so that they can see it better when they come back to it.
Maybe then they can change it. A truly great writer
can
change a culture and thereby change history.
Humour is a great tool for opening up perception. Even in
politics sometimes the feather of humour beats the sledgehammer,
particularly in the face of oppression.
Having done the above I tend to formulate a simple strategy of
communication. In the case of this short article it came from
the
realisation that the various articles I had had published were not just
selling materialism. Once you have a clear concept things
tend to
flow from there.
In a mechanical sense you need to create interest from the begining, as
an audience is easily lost early in the piece if you do not capture
their attention. Most musical works start off with a loud
first
movement. And then you cannot in most circumstances put your
main
message at the bottoms as in a school essay, but obviously a little
plot twist is a good way to wrap up. Never write more than
you
have to just for the sake of words. The rest of your piece
should
more or less flow from the first statement, you might put a hidden
meaning in it and so in part withhold it.
A famous writer said the way to write is to write, meaning that you
don't tie yourself up with false information from unsuccessful people
(if you can't do it you teach) you just communicate.
Interestingly, I get all my ideas when I communicate with others.