More than Writers

A poem is a precision instrument, Each word’s worth weighed And held to account. Like neurosurgeon’s knife Accuracy is everything. I wrote this a few years ago. Joining ACW and developing my writing, I’ve learned that the principle holds true for all writing, whether you’re a poet, a preacher, a tweeter, or a novelist. I’ve learned it especially by writing for this blog with the discipline of holding to a word count. Thinking about how the media is dealing with the coronavirus at the moment, it strikes me too how essential accuracy and careful word selection is in conveying written factual information. How easily the wrong words can scaremonger and turn people to panic rather than action – I’ve seen the effect on a fellow health professional because she gets all her information only from one particular newspaper. How leaving out detail can significantly change tone or meaning – think of the quoting of Boris Johnson’s comment about ‘taking it on the...

Unlike many, I don't mind going to the dentist, despite enduring, over the past few years, several unwelcome interventions, including the pulling of three teeth (happily not all at once.) The loss of teeth not only makes chewing less efficient but also serves as yet another reminder of advancing age. That I don't regard a trip to the chair with dread may be due to my faith in my dentist professionally (practically painless and ultra-swift extractions) but also because he is a very likeable man. In fact dental appointments are often the occasion for humorous banter. Some years ago - I don't remember what let up to this - I rather tactlessly exclaimed, 'I don't know how you can look in people's mouths all day long!' to which he replied, with a hurt expression, 'I see dentistry as a vocation.' No doubt he was serious, despite the frivolous tenor of our conversation, and I guess the same idealistic line may be taken by others in medical professions: ev...