Rewrite Your Life

In his book On Writing Well, William Zinsser provocatively states that he does not like writing. He gives the following advice to prospective writers, “Learn to enjoy this tidying process. I don't like to write; I like to have written. But I love to rewrite. I especially like to cut: to press the DELETE key and see an unnecessary word or phrase or sentence vanish into the electricity. I like to replace a humdrum word with one that has more precision or color. I like to strengthen the transition between one sentence and another. I like to rephrase a drab sentence to give it a more pleasing rhythm or a more graceful musical line. With every small refinement I feel that I'm coming nearer to where I would like to arrive, and when I finally get there I know it was the rewriting, not the writing, that won the game.”

Zinsser’s words are wise even when applied to life in general. I find it challenging to live a perfect life. Perhaps you do as well. If you were to ask me to create my ideal life right now, I’d be overwhelmed about how to do it. If instead, however, you asked me what’s one thing that I could delete, replace, strengthen, or make more pleasing, then I can think of lots of next steps. 

Zinsser summarizes, “Rewriting is the essence of writing well: it’s where the game is won or lost." I’d like to propose that rewriting is also the essence of living well. 

This week, I invite you to consider: 

What are the parts of my life that I would like to rewrite? Of these, which part would I like to change first? In this part, what is a small thing that I can delete, replace, strengthen, or make more pleasing? 

God bless,
Dan