PMA '08: Writing for AC is like Running a Race Every Day

"How To" articles are quite popular on Associated Content. The format makes the writing process simpler, for one thing. You choose your topic, do some research and try to be informative.

My article "Coping With A Cancer Diagnosis: Getting Past the Fear to Live a Purposeful Life" almost wrote itself. There have been quite a few people in my life who have experienced cancer or served as caregivers. So I've seen a few things along the way that I thought would be useful to anyone dealing with the disease. I also wanted to focus on the idea that gaining knowledge about your situation can help you manage the fears associated with a cancer diagnosis. Then you can begin to bring purpose and sanity back into your life.

Even a practical story like this has an underlying emotional component. Many people who are forced to deal with cancer say they are changed by the experience. Some want to become better people, more appreciative of life. Others say that's all bunk. They just want to be done with the treatments and get back to normal existence if they can. Either way, you need to find your own way to cope with your situation. What I tried to do was relate my experiences as a caregiver so that people might know better what to expect when cancer enters their life.

Here's the cool part: there have been people who almost shocked me with their willingness to help out any way they can by giving time and resources without question or judgment. That can be really humbling when you're on the receiving end. It's so easy to think, "We're not worthy" or "Don't go to any bother." I tried to convey in this article that it is more than okay to ask for and receive help. It can in fact be vital.

Not everything I write for AC is so serious or practical. It's fun to joke around and try to be funny now and then. Of course it's hit or miss sometimes. But the act of writing helps me cope with stress in life so I let loose and have at it. I hope if you're an AC writer you'll not be afraid to do the same.

Inevitably I am drawn back to serious subjects such as articles about faith and life. I've written a book titled The Genesis Fix about the adverse effects of biblical literalism on faith, politics, culture and the environment. Last year I produced a beta copy to test out the ideas it contains through a series of seminars. Now I'm editing it based on feedback and adding new material offered to me by a former college professor and Hebrew scholar who wrote a book similar to mine 20+ years ago. The parallels are spooky and fun. Plus it is interesting to have your work affirmed by another writer you respect. I think a degree of that goes on with Associated Content as well. Article links that appear next to your work provide useful perspective on how your thoughts compare with other writers covering the same subject. I'm sure readers from outside the AC community appreciate that too.

My goal in writing for Associated Content is to hone my writing skills so that my future work is clear and sure in tone. That's the best we writers can do. People may not like every idea we propose, but they will more likely respect our ideas if the composition is sound.

Obviously a number of people write for Associated Content because they've got something to say and want to find out what other people think about it.

Others write more for the money and there's certainly nothing wrong with that. My favorite artist Louis Agassiz Fuertes once said, "Hell to be an artist and have work, but heller not to."

I fall somewhere in between, I guess. We all like to get paid for our work, but I always get a jazz out of hearing what people have to say about what I write. Likewise, when I comment on the work of others I try to be more than a cheerleader and show that I genuinely thought about what they wrote. One of my favorite gigs was editorial writer for a large metropolitan newspaper. The letters you'd get in response to your columns sometimes would freak you out! People read into your work whatever they want, but sometimes you wish they'd pay a little more attention. And of course sometimes it's our own fault as writers for not being more clear about the point we're trying to make.

Associated Content is social media. You run into kindred souls, sooner or later. Some you begin to call friends. I thank my AC friends for support and advocacy. Hopefully I've been able to provide some of the same in return. Everyone gains when it works like that.

Friends who do not write for AC but read my work online tease me about producing so many articles. "Man, you're pounding them out," one of my favorite email buddies said, "What's the deal with that?"

"I don't know," I told him. "I'm guess I'm just one of those people that has to write!"

In that respect I do not think I'm not alone in the AC universe.

It feels great to get a little recognition and I hope to do the expectations justice. This is just like when I was a competitive distance runner. You do the training, line up, run your race and sometimes you get lucky and win.

But don't get cocky. There's always another race to run.

So here's to all the writers on AC. May you never run short of topics and always find a crowd to cheer your work. Even the funny stuff.

Christopher Cudworth

January 2009