As Unique As a Fingerprint

David J Stitt

In my last blog I wrote about the number of rewrites it takes for me to produce text that is clear and accurate. Not wanting to leave you with the impression that writing makes me sad, even though I would like to be able to write faster, with fewer iterations, I really do love the process of developing each passage. I have found that there are two critical ingredients to this evolution. The first is the process of clearly developing the idea, and the second is that difficult-to-define element that draws the reader into the text. For me the goal is to produce wording that will completely hold the readers attention, such that they will even forget that they are reading – as if the concept is directly supplied to the mind. Let me explain; there are rare times when I have been so caught up in a scene from a movie that I realize later, because it seemed so real, that I forgot I was watching a movie. This is a lofty and difficult writing goal – one that I don’t know if I have ever reached. However, when it is achieved it has more power to change lives. I believe that writing style is as unique as a fingerprint, so when this level of writing is reached, the new textual creation is something that is rare, lasting, and one of a kind.

One of the nicest writing compliments I have received was by a friend who told me that he can hear my voice as he reads what I have written. I find it fascinating that personality is so distinctly revealed in writing.

Personality is a complex thing and writing is only one small part of it. However, I think in a small but important way we come to know each other just a little because we read each others words.