| For some people, the hardest part
of writing vows is getting over a long-standing case of
writing-phobia. Too many people have become convinced that they
can’t write well. Few of us will ever write with the grace of a
Shakespeare, with the passion of a Dickenson, with the power of
a Hemingway, but that doesn’t mean you can’t write your vows.
Here are suggestions to help you pick up the pen with conviction
and let the words flow:
Just Say It.
You might be surprised how effectively you can write. It's the
"getting it down on paper" that jams some people up. So don’t
sit down to write. Instead, get a tape recorder. Find a private
place. Maybe put on some music, but softly, so you don't obscure
your voice on the tape. Then, just speak. Say what you really
want to say. Be honest. Don't worry about the words. Take your
time, talk more than you need to, if that will help. Then replay
the tape. Find the phrases or sentences that really work, that
communicate your true intent. If something on the tape makes you
laugh, cry, smile, it’s a winner. Copy it all down, without
worrying about grammar, completeness, or the order of the ideas.
You might want to write each phrase on a separate index card.
Then begin to determine an order for the cards. You can arrange
and rearrange them until you get it just right. Fill in any gaps
if needed. Then transcribe it all onto complete pages. Guess
what? That’s writing.
Less is More. Be Simple.
Good writing doesn’t require big words or long sentences. It
should aim to successfully communicate particular thoughts,
sentiments or ideas. Pare things down to their basics. Keep it
simple, direct and honest.
Be Specific.
Think about the writing that has affected you. If you are like
most people, it is not generalized treatise on broad themes;
rather, the most compelling writing is usually composed of
small, specific messages or anecdotes that rang true. The great
filmmaker David Lean, whose films include Lawrence of Arabia
and Doctor Zhivago, once said that a great movie was
really just a movie that managed to contain five great scenes.
The five great scenes, if truly great, made the whole movie
good. So it can be with your vows. Every word, every sentence
need not move the earth. But try to come up with five moments
that darn near do. The crowd will be mesmerized.
Stay away from broad generalities ("I will love you forever")
and focus on small specific expressions of love. If you write
about one specific event ("I promise to always dry if you wash,
and wash if you dry") you write, by extension, about all events.
If you try to write about all events, you usually end up not
really writing about anything meaningful or concrete.
Pretentiousness = Bad Writing.
Pretentiousness is the hallmark of bad writing. Good writers
explain and illustrate their ideas and their feelings, and do so
in such a compelling way that you come to understand, perhaps to
even agree with, the writer’s point of view. Bad writers make
gross assumptions and rely on you to share their thoughts,
feelings, experiences and opinions independent of what they
write. Good writing communicates, enlightens and affects the
reader or listener, and takes nothing for granted.
Avoid Cliches.
Cliches are a convenient crutch in writing. "My love for you is
deeper than the ocean" will surely be understood by everyone but
they’ve heard it a million times before. It’s unoriginal,
uninspired. And your vows should reflect the profound
inspiration of your love for one another. If it’s a phrase
you've heard before, if it sounds like a line from a song, get
rid of it. Find a new and original way to illustrate your point.
Have A Thesaurus Handy.
Remember the thesaurus? You leaned how to use it in elementary
school, and perhaps you’ve never used one since. Well, you now
have a very good reason to. The thesaurus, which gives you
synonyms, is a great tool for writing. You don’t want to use the
same couple of words over and over again in your vows. If "love"
is contained in every line, people are going to get bored and
ultimately the power and impact of the word will be diluted. The
thesaurus is a quick and easy way to find alternate words.
Need some great adjectives to describe your betrothed? A
quick glance in your thesaurus provides a slew: lovable,
adorable; lovely, sweet; attractive, seductive, winning;
charming, engaging, interesting, enchanting, captivating,
fascinating, bewitching; amiable, like an angel. Use a thesaurus
to find alternate ways to express key concepts. You might find
it’s a great source of inspiration if you’re stuck and need some
words to break you through.
Find a Friend Who Can Write To Give It A Read.
You may not know any "professional writers" but you probably
know people who write as a part of their work. Not reports or
factual analyses, but "creative" writing. Or you may know people
who do a great deal of reading and thus have a good critical
eye. Consider calling upon a friend (or make a new one!) who is
a teacher, a librarian, who works in a bookstore, or is a member
of the clergy. They may be able to give you some constructive
advice on how to improve your writing.
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