Remember The Importance Of Keeping High Standards

I publish more interesting stuff about the art of writing in my newsletter every fortnight. Please subscribe to my newsletter if you want to read them (and other goodies): My Newsletter

You can also visit my other interesting projects like 1001 Science Stories Project, 1001 Poems Project, 1001 Atomic Essays Project, 1001 Automations Project and 1001 Startup Theses Project

Writing Tip

High standards make a writer

First mentioned/ideated by: Christoper Alexander

Having high standards is behind every great piece of writing, especially long form writing.

Unfortunately, many of us are guilty of trying to cut corners when it comes to writing. It's usually because we want to get a job done quickly. Or worse, when we don't expect enough from ourselves.

But we won't achieve our goal of being good, even great writers, if we don't aim for the stars.
And setting our standards high enough allows us to have a solid foundation that will keep us on the right path leading to our goal.

The architect Christopher Alexander says it best in the following lines. While the lines are about achieving excellence in the field of architecture, the advice residing in the lines applies to all creative work including writing.

"In my life as an architect, I find that the single thing which inhibits young professionals, new students most severely, is their acceptance of standards that are too low. If I ask a student whether her design is as good as Chartres, she often smiles tolerantly at me as if to say, “Of course not, that isn’t what I am trying to do. ... I could never do that.”

Then, I express my disagreement, and tell her: “That standard must be our standard. If you are going to be a builder, no other standard is worthwhile. That is what I expect of myself in my own buildings, and it is what I expect of my students.”

Gradually, I show the students that they have a right to ask this of themselves, and must ask this of themselves. Once that level of standard is in their minds, they will be able to figure out, for themselves, how to do better, how to make something that is as profound as that.

Two things emanate from this changed standard. First, the work becomes more fun. It is deeper, it never gets tiresome or boring, because one can never really attain this standard. One’s work becomes a lifelong work, and one keeps trying and trying. So it becomes very fulfilling, to live in the light of a goal like this.

But secondly, it does change what people are trying to do. It takes away from them the everyday, lower-level aspiration that is purely technical in nature, (and which we have come to accept) and replaces it with something deep, which will make a real difference to all of us that inhabit the earth."

That's it. So if you are a writer, make sure that standards you set for yourself live next to the moon if not among the stars.

Topics
Business Writing, Content Writing, Copywriting, Persuasive Writing, Creative Writing