Practice Caring -- Writer's Post #400

Make me care.

I ran across this three-word piece of advice to writers last night, and I thought, “Of course. What else is there?”

This morning, after having a chance to sleep on those three words (so to speak), I’m reminded that there is plenty of good writing out there, but not everyone cares about it. So, it may be the writer’s job to make readers care, but the writer cannot do it all by himself.

It’s like an English teacher presenting grammar material to his students. He can see it in their eyes. “Make me care.” How? How can he do it? Learning grammar will never be like watching a Die Hard movie. It will never be like playing Halo. And it will never be like making a great dunk or jump shot. 

Perhaps, then, the statement must be spoken by each individual for him- or herself. When we’re not interested in something, don’t think it has any direct meaning or value for us, we need find ourselves a mirror, look ourselves straight in the eye, and tell ourselves straight-up, “Make me care.” We have to find a way, each of us, to connect.

Caring develops. With practice.

What’s the best way to make yourself care about things you’re just not that interested in?

Excellence can be obtained if you:

… care more than others think is wise;

… risk more than others think is safe;

… dream more than others think is practical;

… expect more than others think is possible.

-- Author unknown