by Bill Nelson

Wouldn't it be a treat to chat with a writing-contest judge to explore his (or her) insights on our favorite pursuit? Normally, we seldom get such a chance. But we do have this opportunity with 50 Plus magazine columnist Jack Pearson, judge of WRWA's 2006 Al P. Nelson Feature Writing Contest. What would he most like to pass along to the 34 participants, and all members of WRWA? The answer, in a nutshell:

Read, read, read. And polish, polish, polish.

And there's much more. Pearson, former editor of the Milwaukee-based Exclusively Yours magazine, prefaces his key comments with this statement:

“In his epic novel, A Tale of Two Cities, Charles Dickens opened with these words, 'It was the best of times, it was the worst of times. …' ”

That's not unlike writing, Pearson goes on. “Writing is quite simple; it's also exceedingly difficult. Quite simple in that virtually anyone can write. An ordinary pencil and sheet of paper will suffice. But exceedingly difficult, too, because only one in, say, 100,000 will ever become truly proficient.

Those are discouragingly long odds. But the truth is that many of us continue to hone our skills and are heartened to see our proficiency climb steadily as we keep our keyboards clacking.

The attrition rate in today's write-to-sell gang is high, he says, because “to be able to write even with modest success-with rare exceptions-takes a good deal of time. It's not accomplished in a month or a year or several years.” It turns out to be a lifetime calling.
How does the process typically begin?

“It starts with reading, reading, and more reading,” he replies. Writers should become familiar with the top writers of today and yesterday. Also, we must work at our special talent. “The more trial and error you're involved in, the better you become. And it never ends.
“I estimate I've published more than 2 million words over the past half-century. … Multiply that figure by four or five for the actual total of words I've written, involving all the revisions and the copy that was never accepted.

Next in our heart-to-heart comes a revelation involving Phase Two of his equation for writing $uccess. Even though he has written millions of words, “I still revise and rewrite everything I do, at least THREE times.

Gulp. Three times? Yes, he says, writers should polish their work until it sparkles. A once-over-quickly is not enough!

Here's his modus operandi on feature articles that often wind up on the cover of 50 Plus. Features such as “Jack Sheehan and pals assist Chinese playground kids,” “Archie Dadian, Wisconsin's golfing legend,” “They don't make 'em like Tony Canadeo (Green Bay's running back of the 1940s). And my favorite, a profile of the war years' one-armed outfielder, Pete Gray of the old St. Louis Browns.

As prolific as his writing might be, the tall, athletic-looking Pearson allows time for his manuscripts to simmer. “I let my articles sit for a few days, then I read them over again and make my initial improvements or changes. Then I let them sit again for a few more days, and repeat the process.

Still the cool-down phase continues. It's a set-aside time when the flush of creativity has passed and the manuscript is seen with a more detached, objective eye.
He suggests “letting a family member or friend read it, not for compliments, but to really critique it, to tell you what they don't like about it and whether they found it of sufficient interest.

“I do this with all my writings, asking my wife to look over everything. She is not a writer, but loves to read. Her comments always help me to improve.

A key element in a writer's Polishing Process is to carefully consider the reader. “What is it that the reader wants most to know?” Have you supplied the answer(s)? Make certain the answer is “yes.

Any other tips for today's enterprising WRWA writer?

“Don't, in an attempt to sound professional, be grandiloquent in your writing,” Pearson advises. “Don't use words that are not in your everyday vocabulary-like I just did with grandiloquent. I can do that-I's de judge. …

“John Grisham is one of the most successful writers around today, yet I doubt if you'll find any flowery copy in his books.

A parting perspective for recreational writers?

One of the prize aspects of writing, he notes, “is that you can keep at it all of your life. I'm 72 and writing as much now-or more-than I ever did.

And, if the Midnight Muser can add, still enjoying the research, the interviewing, the writing and the editing just as he did as the “boy” sports editor—just out of college-at the Freeport (Ill.) Journal Standard.

Footnote: To sum up our 2006 judge's counsel, continue to read voraciously. Polish those early drafts again and again, sawing off rough edges and adding new insights as they emerge. And write naturally, so it sounds conversational. Most important, keep at the keyboard: It may well be that the best is yet to come!