June 7, 2000
Groundrules - THE COMMENTARY
By Joseph Planta
VANCOUVER -- One of the interesting things about writing a column like this, is the fact people (other than me) read it. I often get suggestions on what to write about, and although I am flattered, I often reject them, simply because a writer doesn’t do that. It’s a funny thing, but it’s true. A columnist, like Dr. Foth vows that his column is his baby and that it’s his own work, as his name goes on top of that. No one edits my copy, but if someone did, they’d be hard pressed into trying to change even a comma.
I tried that once. Someone, a reader, suggested that I write a column on a particular subject. I did. And it surprises me to this day how dumb it turned out. It was one of the worst columns I’ve ever written, not because of the topic or the suggestor, but the tall order in which I had to fill someone else’s idea. I guess, it turned out bad, because I assumed the responsibility of doing something that didn’t really feel comfortable. What that means is that it was the suggestors column, not mine and that’s hard to pull off.
A groundrule, if you will, for me and The Commentary is that if it doesn’t write itself, it’s not worth sweating on about. There are some columns, that I can’t think of right now, but were just a pain to write. If it comes to that point, where you know you can’t do it, then don’t. Better writing happens when it wants to, not when you want it to.
One of the things I have taped to my computer screen, to the left-hand corner of my screen, is a piece of paper of writing tips put out by The Province. (And no, when I used writing and The Province, I wasn’t trying to be funny.) One of the “tips” they have is the one that says: “Don’t Rant, nothing turns away a reader’s interest than a misguided, misdirected rant. Aim for a persuasive, rational argument supported by facts and figures.”
Well, that’s a load of crap. When you do a column, like I and you see rules like these, it’s very easy to say to hell with them. And that’s true. To hell with rules. Rules are okay when you’re a beater and you have to report on things objectively. But column writing is different. Column writing is your own space and your own opinions, and who cares if they don’t make any sense. The reader has immense power, in that they can simply choose not read you. Ah, the miracles of democracy and free speech.
On a completely different topic, over the course of the almost-year I’ve been doing The Commentary, (June 28, 1999 was when I kicked things off,) I’ve been able to present a number of columns not only by me, but some very interesting folks. I’ve posted columns by Allan Fotheringham and Rafe Mair, as well as pieces by a stable of great writers. (Michael Kwan, May Chan, Jessica Ling, Babak Khorram and Eugene Lee.) There are some terrific folks out there who’d do well in writing a column of their own. Mike Kwan has his on again, off again, Now That’s Entertainment... and that’s about it. I’d like to read other people’s thoughts and observations, so I hope some of you out there in Commentary land may feel inclined to passing along a piece. Who knows? I might post it on The Commentary. Planta could use a day off. Brian Nguyen, my audience would love a witty, sardonic and brash Brian piece.
Another groundrule, the biggest of all, is to like what you’re doing. Need it be column writing, welding or sewing, a hobby or a career, enjoy life. (This is the fortune cookie shot.) You may get more than one life, but this is the one you’ll remember till they stuff you six-feet under, so live it.
Auntie Mame once said: “Life is a banquet, and some poor son’s of bitches are starving.”
No one said it better than that.
Questions and comments may be sent to: editor@thecommentary.ca
An archive of Joseph Planta's previous columns can be found by clicking HERE .