career path, I’ve been “taught” by
every writer whose work I’ve come
across, from novels to advertising
copy. If I read a piece of work that’s
poorly written, it reinforces my
knowledge of correct word usage
and literary structure. If I encounter
a novel with rich, fully developed
characters, I’m learning how to
construct a story that emotionally
engages the reader.
Of course, we have a word for
this type of thing. We call it an
“influence.” Musicians talk about
their influences all the time. We’ve
all come across people who have
influenced our work, without truly
realizing that this is just another
form of education.
Indeed, in the days when
craftsmanship was more than just
a word dragged out to impress
people in marketing copy (another
tale for another time dear reader)
this was the primary method for
teaching skills and passing on
knowledge. A craftsman would
take on an apprentice, teaching
him or her every detail of that
particular profession. Theory was
present, but it was found within the
context of the work itself. I would
argue that writing works very
much on this principle, albeit by
proxy. (I doubt I’ll be sitting down
with Ernest Hemingway or Doris
Lessing over drinks to discuss their
passions or writing techniques -
more’s the pity.)
which are not, no one is truly
self-taught. We simply pursued
our education along a different
path, perhaps even a better one,
depending on the person. Perhaps
it’s time we acknowledged these
pathfinders, teachers, influencers.
Let us all be apprentices to those
who came before, and thereby
approach whatever we do - writing,
engineering, flower arranging,
sales - as a craft. In the words of
Sir Isaac Newton:
“If I have seen further it is by
standing on the shoulders of
giants.”
The point of all this? With the
exception of someone living alone
in the wilderness, trying to discover
which things are safe to eat and
Mackenzie
Clench
So who (or what) is „Mackenzie Clench?“ Let’s see… aside from being the CEO, Scribbler and Chief Fuss Maker
of Mackenzie Clench Creative, I’m also an author, empath and ten-cent philosopher with an obsession for books
and words that borders on the pathological. As a child I was bitten by a radioactive thesaurus and granted special
powers – powers which I have sworn to only use for good. Well... most of the time. I’m a foodie, a passionately
amateur cook and a sandwich connoisseur who’s capable of spending far more time in a Bed, Bath and Beyond
than is entirely healthy for a human of my age and fighting weight. My other passions include classic black and
white films, music, ballet and opera (yes really!) and all things steampunk. Want more? I would direct you my
website where my essays and other literary detritus may be found. Like any good writer (and even a few lousy
ones), I can always be found among the words. Expect me when you read me...
mackenzieclench.com
44 • BADASSERY MAGAZINE