The four tools EVERY writer needs with Alan Moore | Meet your Maestro | BBC Maestro

I think that writing and magic are pretty much synonymous. That most of the effects of one are completely accomplishable by using the other. So from time to time during this course, I may very well use magical terminology to make a point about writing. This doesn't mean that I'm trying to introduce you to some strange cult or that you'll have to sacrifice any goats or worship any ugly-looking idols. No, what I am trying to say is that there are certain things which are given as advice to magicians which I would also think would be useful advice for somebody who is aspiring to be a writer. The first of these concepts is the concept of the four weapons. Now these are four symbolic tools or weapons that any magician is advised to make sure that they possess a full complement of before commencing their magical career. These are the four suits of the tarot deck. Uh which is to say discs or coins or pentacles, swords, cups and wands. Now each of these represents one of the four classical elements and also represents a human quality, a human ability that is necessary if you wish to be a magician or a writer. Starting from the lowest of these four implements, um that would be discs or coins or pentacles. They represent the element of earth, which is to say they represent your ability to deal with the material world, the hard physical world that we all exist in. So for a writer that means yes pay attention to your physical circumstances. You don't want to starve in a garrett. Many writers have done but it doesn't sound like a particularly thrilling experience to me. Try and make sure that your material circumstances are at least bearable. Also try and obtain a knowledge of the physical world. try and find out how situations work, how people work, how all of these things that make up the material world about us, how they all fit together. Find out about history, find out about physical science, find out about all of these things until you understand the physical world. That will save you an awful lot of embarrassment if you're trying to write a medical drama and you have no idea beyond the fact that if you're poorly, you should perhaps have some medicine. No. Try and find out how a hospital works. Try and find out how every facet of the material world works, and you'll be a better writer because of it. Now, the next weapon in ascending order is the sword.