“The essayist is a self-liberated man, sustained by the childish belief that everything he thinks about, everything that happens to him, is of general interest,” wrote E. B. White, adding, “I have always been aware that I am by nature self-absorbed and egoistical, to write of myself to the extent I have done indicated a too great attention to my own life, not enough to the lives of others.”

White further noted, “There are as many kinds of essay as there are human attitudes or poses…The essayist arises in the morning and, if he has work to do, selects his garb from an unusually extensive wardrobe: he can pull on any sort of shirt, be any sort of person, according to his mood or his subject matter—philosopher, scold, jester, raconteur, confidant, pundit, devil’s advocate, enthusiast.”

If we substitute ‘newspaper columnist’ for essayist, we have much the same situation. True, a goodly number of my fellow scribes are journalists who dig up a few facts on a topic, take the trouble to get differing quotes from experts in the field, perhaps offer a bit of analysis, and render an informed opinion or interpretation. They are to be commended. And are worthy of any Pulitzers or other honors they garner.

A number of columnists use their space primarily to interview neighbors or other folks, describing their interesting or unusual stories. These are also worthy endeavors, but are more in the nature of a profile.

Many others who practice the craft (those garden variety types of which I include myself) are more into the ‘personal essay’ style of column writing. They catch scent of an interesting piece of information or point-of-view, start following the trail (a seemingly aimless meander to the casual observer) and may or may not catch sight or even flush their quarry after a few hundred words are expended in the effort.

Of course, some use all three types, mixing and matching from day to day or week to week.

I ought to do more of the hard news kind of column writing, but I confess that my preference leans towards the random wandering. It is the difference between a bloodhound, trained to pursue a single scent through thick and thin and a friendly beagle out on a lark… as apt to chase a ground mole as a rabbit, easily distracted and off in a new direction at the least provocation.

More often than not, the personal “I” is a key subject matter in these columns rather than the so-called more objective and remote third-person voice.

Readers have their preferences with many forming an allegiance to a practitioner of the personal style. I, too, have my favorites. It’s easy enough to substitute the columnist’s adventures and mishaps and wry observations with one’s own. And usually there’s a variety of topics and styles that are employed from column to column (as E.B. White suggested) which lend a freshness to each endeavor.

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If a columnist is to be both informative and entertaining (the dual purposes of any article) and illuminating (the Holy Grail of purpose), he ought to make it a point to live a varied and stimulating life. The exception here would be those who make a career reviewing TV shows and movies, their focus being by necessity more narrow in scope.

They say an expert is someone who “knows a lot about a little”. The personal essayist, on the other hand, while not to be discouraged from possessing a degree of expertise in some matter or other, might better “know a little about a lot’. Then if he or she employs a little elbow grease, utilizes their reporter skills, they can take their smattering of knowledge, enhance it with research and interview and even imagination , and give the reader his or her money’s worth.

“Variety is the spice of life” and I think that’s true of a decent columnist. Few like to read over and over again the same observations or rants, spruced up to appear different but mainly the same old stuff. Besides, talk radio is much better and more effective at re-hashing certain subjects and chewing to death the same old bone.

No, the practitioner of the printed word, I believe, has an obligation to himself and his audience to get out and live a little, then come back with periodical reports.

On my own account, while hardly cosmopolitan, I try to make the best of what’s available. Circumstances and a lean wallet have kept me from being a globetrotter, but when able I’ve reported on trips to Traverse City, the Straits of Mackinac, and Frankenmuth—three of my favorite destinations.

An afternoon of fishing is more likely than not to spawn a commentary. The same holds true for a hike in the woods. After all, many of us have a little Thoreau in our blood.

My return (albeit part-time) to the rigors and woes of farming have produced a bounty of writing ideas… not to mention metaphors. Noble horses, flighty cows, our comical goats, and the sweat and toil of baling hay have all found themselves addressed on the newspaper pages.

Weather-- at least to start off a piece-- is an old standard bearer of mine. Likewise, a report on surrounding scenery or the impressions of geography you get when driving down the road. Current events are easily worked into the overall subject matter.

Family (although there is a need for caution here) is a tried and true topic. All of we “fathers or mothers” have bored our readers with details of the cute sayings and antics of our young sons and daughters. And many of us have paid homage to our parents or grandparents (those deserving of such homage, that is).

Happenstance, the moment-at-hand, and the unexpected event in our daily routines, more often than not, are the real grist of the columnist’s millworks. How we react, what we think, our impressions, humorous asides, concerns, fears, and hopes are what draw the reader to our columns, if we do a decent job of crafting them.

And it’s still a craft. One, perhaps, born of inherent talent, but of little good unless honed by practice, repeated attempts, and a willingness to experiment.

“Self-absorbed” and “egotistical” may at first glance seem a derogatory or self-effacing description. Still, if we do not allow our experiences to soak in the sudsy water and splash around a bit, there’d be nothing for the reader to wring out and utilize. The reader, after all, is a tad self-absorbed, too. And he or she also likes to wake up in the morning, look in the closet, and try on whatever outfit catches their fancy. It’s the columnist’s job to hopefully offer them some insight, a laugh or tear, a good story that enhances their own wardrobe.