In On the Cult of Craftism I trace the elevation of the craft of writing as an independent aesthetic, and show how the emphasis and elevation of craft has had a way of delimiting or narrowing, rather than expanding, the writerly imagination. And how, ultimately, craftism has become a hack that shortchanges both writers and readers.
Once again, GD, I fully agree with you--while seemingly and paradoxically I have Substack that has a section entitled Write it! How to get started. My focus is the separation of craft from invention. The new writer, who reads the volumes of craft books, ultimately begins to think we writers have a toolbox. When in fact the primary rule is "Learn the rules to break them"--as all writers who achieve the level of art know. ~Mary
Once again, GD, I fully agree with you--while seemingly and paradoxically I have Substack that has a section entitled Write it! How to get started. My focus is the separation of craft from invention. The new writer, who reads the volumes of craft books, ultimately begins to think we writers have a toolbox. When in fact the primary rule is "Learn the rules to break them"--as all writers who achieve the level of art know. ~Mary