Writing is many things to many people. For a considerable portion of the population it is of little day-to-day importance beyond the ability and necessity of ascertaining the meaning of road signs and price tags. However, for many writing is manifest in all its glory and purpose when that magical moment occurs within the pages of a book they are transported to another place.

This does not happen often, or at least not often enough. The sacred refuge of prose that rings true intrinsically with a reader is rare indeed. But when it happens, it can change lives. It can open eyes that were previously closed. It can give life to emotions that one never knew existed. It can create events, if the scribbler is good enough, if she has The Gift, that become memories—memories that are as if they actually happened. This is a magical thing.

This is why some write; to reach that rare moment when the words on the page transcend the work itself and transcend their creator.

Everyone that has written, truly written with passion seeks this fragile thing; it is like a whisper, as if it is spoken out loud it may disappear. There are many who will think this is overly romantic or even trivial. That is okay. Everyone walks a different road during our mortal exile. Nevertheless, it is the same with all those who attempt to create art in any of its wondrous forms. 

For those seekers and dreamers this blog has been created. I will share my humble thoughts on this craft, and welcome the comments of all. For I believe that everyone who writes is special. No one can do what you do. No one can tell your story better than you. Tell that story. All who earnestly put words on a page have something to offer.

As the great teacher of writers’ Brenda Ueland once wrote, “Everybody is original, if he tells the truth, if he speaks from himself. But it must be from his true self and not from the self he thinks he should be.” “So remember these two things: you are talented and you are original. Be sure of that.”

With those words of wisdom I will close this installment. My next post will be a branch of this tree, and in my mind the most important one. In fact, it is the root of the tree. It is to write truly. This is a hard concept for many to grasp.

At university I often had a difficult time explaining it, even to some professors. However, Ernest Hemingway knew it. Emily Bronte was born with it coursing through her veins, as it was with her sisters. Virginia Woolf brought The Truth to us in a way we had never before seen as did Sylvia Plath, and many more.

But alas, that is for next time; until then…write.

Please leave comments, begin a discussion, or release whatever is in your mind.