“Increase your word power. Words are the raw material of our craft. The greater your vocabulary, the more
effective your writing. We who write in
English are fortunate to have the richest and most versatile language in the
world. Respect it.” – P.D. James
Phyllis Dorothy James had a long and
illustrious life as a writer, editor, forensic scientist and leading voice of
women’s rights in the mid-20th century. Unofficially known as “The Queen of Crime”
for her writings in that genre, she won dozens of major awards, received 7
honorary doctorate degrees and a dozen leading writing fellowships, led the
Royal Society of Authors, and was knighted by Queen Elizabeth for her
contributions to literature.
Not bad for a high school dropout
(who left school to help earn money for her impoverished parents) and who later
was the sole breadwinner for her own two daughters when her husband was
incapacitated in World War II. It was
after the war that she first got interested in what went into solving crimes –
the focal point of her writing – by working for the police and then writing
about it.
While many writers create a private
library of works that they personally enjoy, James had what I would term a
"unique" addition to hers – the complete bound volume of Notable
British Trials, which she termed “a fascinating read” and went to almost
daily for both relaxation and inspiration.
Her insights from both her work and
her reading led to great creations, which to date have sold more than
15 million copies worldwide. James died
3 years ago this month at the age of 94.
“I don't think writers choose the genre, the genre chooses us,” she said
about the writing that she did. “I wrote out of the wish to create order out
of disorder, the liking of a pattern.”
Share A Writer’s Moment with a friend by clicking the g+1 button below.
No comments:
Post a Comment