C. S. Lewis Offers Advice to Writers

Tips from a Master to Improve Your Writing.

C. S. Lewis continues to sell tens of thousands of books each year, even though he died of natural causes in England on the same day that John F. Kennedy was shot in Dallas, November 22, 1963.

Most people know his seven-book children’s series, The Chronicles of Narnia. They made movies of many of those books.

He also wrote a science fiction trilogy and numerous faith-based books. His most popular in the latter genre include Mere Christianity, The Problem of Pain, and Miracles.

He also wrote scholarly books about Medieval and Renaissance Literature.

Why books on literature? Well, for 30 years, he was a professor of literature at Oxford University. He only left there because he was awarded the Medieval and Renaissance Literature Chair at Cambridge University, England’s other premier university.

One of his best friends was J. R. R. Tolkien. They regularly met and talked at an Oxford pub called the Eagle and Child with other members of an informal writing group called the Inklings.

C. S. Lewis Offers Advice to Writers

Lewis was a famous writer, receiving large amounts of mail from his readers. Often, they asked for his writing advice. He had a vast correspondence and was always happy to answer various questions, including those about his views on the writing process.

Here are eight ideas he shared with a young girl, an aspiring writer, who wrote him a letter. I’ve added my own comments to his simple list. Here is Lewis’ writing advice:

Eliminate Distractions

“Turn off the radio,” Lewis said. Of course, he would say turn off the TV, our phones, music, or the internet today. The point is some people think that distractions–even background music — are not bad. Lewis disagreed. He put a premium on unfettered concentration.

It takes genuine effort to avoid distractions that hamper our creativity and productivity. I have offered suggestions to avoid distractions here.

Read Widely

Read good books, Lewis advised. This is a great principle. If you’re interested in writing good books, you need to read good books. Feed your mind with quality material; you’ll be more likely to mimic it in your work.

The problem today, many people do not know good writing from bad writing. They think a bestseller on Amazon means the book has literary merit. That is often untrue. It is best to go back in time―50 years or more―and read books that have passed the test of time.

Write for the Ear

“Write with your ear, not the eye. Make every sentence sound good.” This is Lewis’ most important rule, in my view. Good writing has a cadence, and you must discover it for yourself. He touched on this again when he talked about word rhythm.

Use the best grammar you can, but don’t let slavishness to grammar dictate what you say or how you say it. You want your prose to have a musical quality; your story should flow like a symphony.

Be Curious

Lewis said, “Write only about things that interest you. If you have no interests, you won’t ever be a writer.” There is one thing that is common to all successful writers. They are insatiably curious.

In a different context, Lewis said, “Curiosity is the wick in the candle of learning.”

Clarity is King

Lewis said, “Be clear. Remember that readers can’t know your mind. Don’t forget to tell them exactly what they need to know to understand you. Walter Hooper, Lewis’ assistant, edited some of his unpublished works after his death. One of the Lewis gems Hooper uncovered: “Know exactly what you want to write and write exactly that.”

Remember that it’s hard to be clear in the first draft. That’s why revision is so important before you start editing. That’s where writers get the clarity they seek.

Save Your Creativity

Lewis advised the young aspiring writer to “Save odds and ends of writing attempts because you may be able to use them later.”

Computers make this process easy. I have a folder I call my “frag files.” They contain fragments on a variety of topics. Some are ideas, but most are paragraphs I have cut from my writing before I published them. Sometimes, our best writing comes when we subtract content, not add it. Yet, the things we cut can be recycled.

I was so glad when I discovered Lewis was an advocate of this. Good writers are always recycling their work. I have always done that.

Seek Word Rhythm

Lewis said, “You need a well-trained sense of word rhythm, and the noise of a typewriter will interfere.” Few people use a typewriter anymore, but the principle applies to computer keyboards.

Lewis wrote with pen and paper. This whole idea of word rhythm is why I think voice writing is so important. Try dictating your book. Windows and Apple now have superior dictation software built into their operating system, so anyone can dictate their writing. There is a learning curve to do it effectively, but you’ll get a new appreciation of the rhythm of words.

Build Your Vocabulary

“Know the meaning of every word you use,” he said. I say, make it a hobby to learn new words and use them in your writing.

Don’t overpower your readers with fancy words, but have word knowledge so you can use the best word to increase clarity.

The Takeaway

C. S. Lewis was a university professor. Yet, he could reach all kinds of minds with different types of books, including the ability to fascinate children with his stories. The lesson is that anyone can reach any group when they hone their writing skills.

That is the simple advice C. S. Lewis offered to one young girl. All writers can benefit from it.