PRESS CLUB C Podcast with Ray Keating – Episode #43: Ray Keating’s 12 Rules for Writing Commentary in Toxic Times

Whether writing books, articles, Facebook posts or Tweets, Ray argues that when trying to persuade others to your side, perhaps it’s better to be civil than resorting, for example, to name calling. He offers 12 rules to help himself and hopefully others in rather toxic times. This podcast builds on Ray's Keating Files column on the subject. Tune in here!

Ray Keating’s 12 Rules for Writing Commentary and Analysis – From Books and Articles to Facebook Posts and Tweets

 by Ray Keating

The Keating Files – March 19, 2021

 

Whether one writes books and articles, or simply Facebook posts and Tweets, a simple question must be answered: Why? Or, what’s the point? Why do you do this?

Now, if you’re just looking to vent your spleen and attack others, and that somehow that makes you feel better, then don’t bother with this. Get back to your important angry rants.

 

However, if you’re looking to actually persuade others, to try to help them see the truth, then perhaps consider the following “rules” for doing so. I jotted these down initially to help myself. I’ve been in the commentary/economist/analysis business for more than 31 years now, and things have changed, dramatically. 

 

A big part of that change has been technological. The digital/computer/telecommunications/internet revolution has expanded opportunities, allowing more individuals, for example, to have their voices heard on wide-ranging matters. That’s great. 

 

At the same time, the speed and immediacy of the internet, if you will, has meant that some things can be – and have been – lost, such as time for reflection in order to more deeply explore and more articulately express those ideas, as well as the diminished role, to the detriment of both writers and readers, of editors. Also, too many “experts” now possess ankle-deep, talking-points level of knowledge of issues upon which they spout off. That’s not so good.

 

These developments, along with an assortment of others in our culture, have led to an expansion of the us-vs.-them mentality – a return to tribal thinking. In fact, this has reached the point that large swaths of people simply assume that those they disagree with are unreachable – profoundly stupid and/or evil. That’s an unhealthy development, to say the least.

 

So, given that I write for a living – and I profoundly enjoy it – I have been thinking more and more about how to better engage people on ideas and issues. Over the past three decades, I have written some things that I would express in a different way or tone today, especially given the toxic, other-guy-is-just-evil mentality that has deeply infiltrated both the Left and Right today. 

 

The question I asked myself was: What rules do you need reminding of when sitting down at the keyboard?

 

I came up with the following 12, and thought they might be worthwhile to others who work to engage, teach, criticize, and persuade others – from commentators and authors to pastors and priests to elected officials to those who just enjoy discussing policies and ideas, again, via Facebook or Twitter. These should be straightforward and self-evident, not in need of much expanded explanation.

1) No Name Calling. After all, what’s the point?

 

2) Work to Persuade Using Logic, Reason and Facts. Using logic, facts and reasons is always better than just yelling stuff.

 

3) Always Offer a Solution, Remedy or Worthwhile Lesson. I had a longtime editor who emphasized this, and it could be the most important lesson I learned for writing.

 

4) Assume Your Opponent is Mistaken, Not Evil. Assuming that someone who disagrees with you is evil is rarely productive. While there certainly are evil people in life, assuming that all of your opponents are evil ignores the more likely reality that, for a variety of reasons, they simply are mistaken.

 

5) Firmly Criticize When Warranted, But Respect Others. Yes, you can criticize and disagree with someone, and still treat that person with respect. 

 

6) Do Not Assume All Who Agree With Your Position Understand the Issues.Particularly in recent years, I have had to learn this lesson.

 

7) Do Not Assume All Who Agree with Your Position Act in Good Faith and Warrant Your Allegiance and Defense. Watching allies on issues defend the indefensible because the indefensible has been perpetrated by someone on “our side” has been perplexing and discouraging – and it is an expanding plague in recent years.

 

8) Just Because Your Opponent Misbehaves Doesn’t Give You An Excuse To Do the Same. Hey, it’s simple: Don’t stoop down to the same unsavory level as your opponents.

 

9) In Your Pursuit of Truth, Bring Others Along With You. The ultimate point should be to bring light and truth to others.

 

10) Try to Delve Deeper Than the Talking Points. Perhaps it’s wise to refrain from spouting off confidently on something about which one knows little-to-nothing.

 

11) You Can’t Be An Expert on Everything, So Find Reliable, Well-Reasoned Experts.This is increasingly hard, but more essential, it seems, with each passing day.

 

12) Abide by the Golden Rule. As in Matthew 7:12: “So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them…”

 

I’m hoping that these rules will help me to be a more thoughtful, persuasive and productive writer, and perhaps you as well.

 

_________

 

Ray Keating is a columnist, novelist, economist, podcaster and entrepreneur.  Keating has two new books out. Vatican Shadows: A Pastor Stephen Grant Novel is the 13ththriller/mystery in the Pastor Stephen Grant series. Get the paperback or Kindle edition at Amazon, or signed books at www.raykeatingonline.com. Past Lives: A Pastor Stephen Grant Short Story is the 14th book in the series. Get the paperback or Kindle edition at Amazon, or signed book at www.raykeatingonline.com.

 

The views expressed here are his own – after all, no one else should be held responsible for this stuff, right?

 

You also can order his book Behind Enemy Lines: Conservative Communiques from Left-Wing New York  from Amazon or signed books  at RayKeatingOnline.com. His other recent nonfiction book is Free Trade Rocks! 10 Points on International Trade Everyone Should Know. 

 

One of the best ways to enjoy Ray Keating’s Pastor Stephen Grant thrillers and mysteries is to join the Pastor Stephen Grant Fellowship! For the BEST VALUE, consider the Book of the Month Club.  Check it all out at https://www.patreon.com/pastorstephengrantfellowship

 

Also, tune in to Ray Keating’s podcasts – the PRESS CLUB C Podcast  and the Free Enterprise in Three Minutes Podcast  

 

Check out Ray Keating’s Disney news and entertainment site at www.DisneyBizJournal.com.

 

PRESS CLUB C Podcast with Ray Keating – Episode #20: Summer Writing, Summer Reading

Ray loves summer reading and summer writing. In this episode, he talks about writing his novels, and the three goals or objectives that govern what he tries to accomplish in his thrillers and mysteries. Tune in Now!

PRESS CLUB C Podcast with Ray Keating – Episode #9: Reminders on Socialism, Reagan Conservatism and Bad Column Writing

Ray Keating finds himself having to remind people that socialism doesn’t work; that the lesson for conservatives is not to back away from Reagan; and that just because you agree with some points made in a column doesn’t mean that it necessarily was a well-written column. Tune in!

Order Ray Keating’s new book Behind Enemy Lines: Conservative Communiques from Left-Wing New York  –  signed books  or at  Amazon.

Read Keating’s latest columns on a wide range of issues at www.KeatingFiles.com. 

And one of Keating’s newest books is  Free Trade Rocks! 10 Points on International Trade Everyone Should Know, which is available at  Amazon  in paperback or for the Kindle edition, and signed books at  www.raykeatingonline.com. 

Sign up for Ray Keating’s email list at  www.raykeatingonline.com/contact.

Please take a look at Keating’s Pastor Stephen Grant novels, which are available in paperback and for the Kindle at  Amazon.com, and signed books at  www.raykeatingonline.com. The newest book is  The Traitor.

Check out www.DisneyBizJournal.com.

Throwback Thursday: So, You Want To Write a Book?

by Ray Keating

With the publication of The River: A Pastor Stephen Grant Novel in June 2014, I served up the following column for Long Island Business News on some points to ponder if you want to write and indie publish a book…

Summer on Long Island often includes heading to the beach or the backyard, and opening a good book – preferably a few good books.

But for many of us who write for a living – or write for the simple joy of putting pen to paper, or fingertips to keyboards – summer is not just a time for reading, but a season for creating and, yes, selling our own works.

In my other career as a novelist, for example, I just published my fourth Pastor Stephen Grant novel titled The River, am working on marketing and sales, and have started writing the next thriller.

So, have you ever thought about writing a book?

It’s arguably the most exciting time in history for writing and publishing a book given the dramatic technological changes that have hit the industry in recent years, including print-on-demand publishing, the dawn and rapid spread of ebooks, and the marketing and selling of books online. These changes have created upheaval in the publishing industry, particularly by shifting self-publishing – or indie publishing – into high gear.

Keep in mind that indie publishing is not new. Long Island’s own Walt Whitman could not find a publisher for his 1855 volume of poems titled Leaves of Grass. So, he designed and published the first edition himself.  No one could accuse Whitman of being shy in terms of promotion, including writing reviews of his own book. As noted on the Library of Congress website: “The 1855 publication of Leaves of Grass was heralded by anonymous reviews printed in New York papers, which were clearly written by Whitman himself. They accurately described the break-through nature of his ‘transcendent and new’ work. ‘An American bard at last!’ trumpeted one self-review.” Now that’s self-promotion taken to shameless heights (or depths?).

In recent years, assorted best-selling authors, like the late Vince Flynn, known for his Mitch Rapp thrillers, and E.L. James, with her erotic Fifty Shades Trilogy, originally took the indie publishing route. Of course, the publishing successes of a Flynn and a James are what dreams are made of for many indie authors, and I do mean “many.”

The number of indie titles has jumped markedly in recent years. ProQuest affiliate Bowker reported in October that “the number of self-published titles in 2012 jumped to more than 391,000, up 59 percent over 2011 and 422 percent over 2007.”

Of course, more titles mean more choices for consumers, that is, for readers. But an explosion in titles also means a heck of a lot more competition for authors to grab readers’ eyes. Keep in mind that in 2006 Publisher’s Weekly reported, “The average book in America sells about 500 copies.” That number, no doubt, has since declined.

So, indie publishing creates tremendous opportunities and challenges for authors. The process only starts with writing the book. Indie authors then must make decisions about the business side of selling their books.

Beat Barblan, Bowker’s director of identifier services, observed: “The most successful self-publishers don’t view themselves as writers only, but as business owners. They invest in their businesses, hiring experts to fill skill gaps and that’s building a thriving new service infrastructure in publishing.”

For good measure, successful authors will, or should, enjoy all aspects of the indie process. In a March 17 Huffington Post article, Mark Corker correctly noted: “Indie authors are enjoying total creative control, faster time to market, ownership over their publishing future, and the flexibility to innovate and evolve their immortal ebooks which will never go out of print. Indie authors enjoy the freedom to serve their fans as they want to serve them. Icing on the indie author's cake: Indie ebook authors earn royalty rates four to five times higher than they'd earn from traditional publishers.”

I’m optimistic that indie authors are the future of writing and selling books.

So, you want to write a book?  Then you must be an author and business owner who enthusiastically embraces both the creative and entrepreneurial aspects of book publishing.

______________

Mr. Keating is an economist and novelist who writes on a wide range of topics. His Pastor Stephen Grant novels have received considerable acclaim, including The River: A Pastor Stephen Grant Novel being a finalist for KFUO radio’s Book of the Year 2014, and Murderer’s Row: A Pastor Stephen Grant Novel winning for Book of the Year 2015.

The Pastor Stephen Grant Novels are available at Amazon…

Murderer’s Row: A Pastor Stephen Grant Novel

The River: A Pastor Stephen Grant Novel

An Advent for Religious Liberty: A Pastor Stephen Grant Novel

Root of All Evil? A Pastor Stephen Grant Novel

Warrior Monk: A Pastor Stephen Grant Novel