Discourse on Family Writing

As a writer, there is alot that I hear about Family writing, particularly the HL's and the underground. I've heard alot of opinions, and talked with many people on the subject--both authors themselves, and readers alike. I've had many discussions on the subject of why the view of family reading material is really lacking in most aspects and, though the opinions are varied, alot of it can be boiled down to a few basic things.

(Note: To avoid confusion, when I say "Family reading material" or, "Family writing" I am speaking about books authored by persons within the Family itself, WS approved or otherwise. I am not speaking about Xn's, Gn's, Reflections, or the anecdotes submitted in the Activated Magazines.)

Primarily, what I have noticed that hold back Family writing is a bad outlook of what a writer really is, which stems from a sense of irresponsibility towards the craft, ignorance of the vocation of being a writer and lack of professionalism.
One of the myths about writing is that you must travel to the places your writing about in order to write about them. In truth though, you don't have to go to the place that you want to set your stories in order to write them. I'll step out on a limb and say that half of the world authors (both past and contemporary) have never actually been to those particular places before. They just study up on it first, do their research, and make sure they know what their talking about before they say it. Sad to say, most Family writers though do not do that though... I myself have been guilty upon occasion of it and honestly, I think its mainly because of preconceived ideas about the craft and just pure laziness.

Also, another reason why so very few Family writers take the time to research is because their just eager to sit down and start writing. Some might do a little research beforehand but, really, its not enough. Authors spend months--sometimes even years--researching on everything that they'll need for their story from arts and crafts, to political science, to religion, to numerology, to types of ingredients in household paint. Let's face it, we in the Family are missionaries and, because our time is therefore limited, most writers in the Family would rather sit down and write the piece to send it off to heavens library, rather then taking the research time required for a serious piece of literature. Its a very, very bad perspective of things.
Honestly, I feel that most people in the Family today think that there is little actual skill used in order to produce a piece of writing. They think that anyone can write because, after all, all your doing is slapping words down on paper. They've learned how to do that since the first grade and so they do just that; they sit down and just, "let the spirit flow" screwing all the rules, device, and anything that is needed in order to make a good piece. Its like taking a guitar and, knowing nothing about it, strumming away and thinking that it'll come to you in time.

Another myth I've commonly heard is that it takes money to learn how to write, just like it takes money to properly produce a song. Therefore, the argument is that, since family musicians can come up with decent sounding songs on shoe-string budget, Family writers can do the same because there is cash involved.
First off, let me set the record straight by telling all of you that have this notion that learning how to write is not about money. Its about time and being willing to sit down and apply yourself to your work. Its about long hours of laborious study, try-and-fail tactics, and learning what works for you and what doesn't. Some classic authors had to experiment for years before they could find their voice--something that, sadly, most family writers are not willing to commit to. There are so few that would do that, so very, very few.
Family musicians spend hours each day practicing their instruments. So should Family writers. No one in the Family music world ever got anywhere by pretending to be a musician; they applied themselves to their art and learned the ins and outs of it. They knew what they had to do in order to become good at their craft, the same should be applied to Family writing if it is ever to get anywhere.

Cersorship must be done away with, audiences and budding authors alike must shake off their fear of the unknown, the experimental, and the bizarre. People who want to take up the craft must realize that if they want to truly be writers--not scribblers--they must apply themselves, take time to study, and not believe that they can haphazardly throw down a few crummy, slushy sentences and that it'll pass as literrature. They must be willing to invest time in their work and do it with method if they truly wish to hone their skill. Once, a book took 15 years to complete; the result was Les Miserables, one of the most famous books in the history of mankind. It takes time and patience to write, something that people need to understand if they are to be serious about making anything of value at all.

Can a Family person ever hope to become good at writing? Chances are, they probably could--if they were to be honest with themselves and take the craft seriously. As of now though I only know a handful that really would do such a thing, so very sad to say.
Family writers need to study about their work and not just expect to get it all through their channel and that it'll turn out alright. As of yet, I have not read a single spirit story that was technically up to par when the author wrote it with that sort of mentality. They must stop writing things just because they think it is, "A cool idea" or that "It'll interest people" and be willing to alter--or even scrap--their ideas if that's what it takes.
Writers, look for the help of actual critics--not fawning lapdogs--to tell you what they think about your piece. People that will be honest and butcher your work to shreds, if that's what it'll take to make it good: those are the sorts of people you should show your work to before you even attempt to put it out for the public to read.

Sorry, yes, I know that this is a bit long. I could go on and on about the subject of writing because it is life to me. I'm not trying to say that I don't think it can't be done though, don't get me wrong, but I'm saying that, on the subject of Family writing, alot of things need to be changed...

"To produce a mighty work, one must choose a mighty theme. No great and enduring volume was ever written on the flea, though many there be that have tried it."--Herman Melville