Faceting and Book Writing
Writing always has been a peculiar craft. Throughout the ages, it has captivated ideas, spread them, and allowed civilization to grow and flourish. Even after writing a full-length novel (and nearly completing two more) I still feel like I’ve barely scratched the surface. That’s a rough reality to deal with, but it is one every writer must face.
A few months ago, I started facing a strikingly similar challenge. Have you ever heard of faceting? It’s ok if you haven’t I only learned about it a few years ago. I’m certain you’ve come across it either way. Simply put, faceting is what happens when you take a stone, often a precious one, and you carve and polish it. (Think diamonds, rubies, sapphires, etc.)
Like many people, the trade caught my eye. Fortunately, I live in a city with a wonderful lapidary club that teaches the craft while providing the tools. Just a couple of weeks ago, I signed up for the beginner class, and I’ve been diligently grinding away at stones ever since. Here’s a picture of the first piece I started working on:
This is a piece of a man-made element called Nd-YAG, or “neodymium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet” used in creating solid state lasers. (It also makes great jewelry)
When I say, “working on” I mean, I spent nearly 16 hours over 2 days grinding away material, and polishing until it shined. It’s tedious work, yet relaxing and oddly satisfying. Piece by piece, angle by angle, you get to see something beautiful born. With the right mix of science and artistry, you end up with something like this:
Obviously, this image doesn’t do it justice, but you get the idea, right?
Pretty stone, but what does it have to do with writing? Don’t worry, I’m getting there now. Writing and faceting actually have a lot in common. Both of them test the tenacity and creativity of artists. They force people to sit down, stare the problem in the face, and grind away.
I’ve had a lot of time to think as I’ve shaped my stones. (Yes, I often think about how much writing I could get done, but I have to remind myself that I too must be multi-faceted.) Repeatedly, I’ve found pieces that connect the two arts. In fact, these pieces might even connect across most, if not all, art disciplines.
See, writing isn’t about achieving mastery of one enormous work. It’s about countless hours of creative production. You cut and you grind until you have a solid shape, then you polish that shape out and hold it up to the light to see its beauty. Sometimes, you miss a few scratches, and you have to go back. Other times, you’re not totally satisfied with the end product, but you take what you learned and you move forward.
A simple lesson, sure, but perhaps it’s one I need to better internalize.
What about you, though? Maybe you’re a writer with other artistic hobbies. Perhaps you don’t write at all, yet this post rings true to you. I’d love to know what you think in the comments. Till then, here are some pictures of the next stone I’m working on. (This one is Quartz)
If you’d like to learn more about faceting, consider checking for a local rock club, or check out this article to learn more—Lapidary Fundamentals: Gemstone Faceting
