The Writer's Mailbag: Installment 281

I've been AWOL in the Mailbag! Got a new computer and transitioning after several years with the same PC--and to a Mac--has been epic. But, hey, it's only taken about 2 weeks. ;)

Moving on...

Re: The Accidental Language. The way we express ourselves is constantly changing. I'm currently reading a book titled, Because Internet, which details the ways our language is changing due to the internet. Rather than bemoaning the changes, the author sees it as an evolution of how we communicate. Fascinating. I say there is no right or wrong use of language, just right or wrong use for the purpose it's intended to serve.

Re: Writing and Not Publishing. I actually did an HP post on that. It is a thing. I think some people use writing as therapy, not communication.

Well, still catching up. Catch ya later!

Hi Bill, I'm amused at the last part...at the end of the day, a pig is a pig. Good point about your voice base. At least we know it's not fraud. Nice to see your creativity in writing about the ordinary when you started the intro. Looks like I am born before 1970 in my heart since I also write by accident! Haha but I know where you're coming from. Inspiring to see you honestly talking about the past as it shows to anyone they can be healed. Thanks for sharing!

Saw your comment, Linda. I ignore the word "unctuous". However, double negatives or double positives when spoke or written are like fingernails on the chalkboard. EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!

Did you hear that?????

Here's a comment to Shauna (I hope she'll see this). Celebrity chefs toss about the word "unctuous" like it's a good thing. I means that something is fatty and greasy, not luxurious or rich (which is probably their intent).

I didn't reply to that part of your post, Bill. It's "by accident", not "on accident". By accident connotates per chance. "On accident" means something happened as the result of.... At least that's my take from someone who was born in 1957.

Another phrase that irritates the hell out of me is when TV chefs/cooks say "reduce down" when referring to boiling a liquid to half its original volume. Does not reduce mean to lower? WTH? And they're on TV?! Making millions more than I?!

More good questions and answers, Bill. I must be well and truly behind the times because I can not recall ever seeing “on accident.” It will always be “by accident” for me.

"so much smaller than I remembered it. LOL Either the house shrunk or I grew!" I drove a few times in the last month by the public school I attended (just for one year) when I came from Romania. Wow ... it is tiny! Back then though, it felt big! I could literally get lost in it. Time changes everything.

And since "Halloween is in the rearview mirror", I woke-up this morning with white stuff all over the ground outside. I looked away and looked back out the window: I wasn't day-dreaming as I often do. There's snow everywhere.

I never heard "by accident" and I was not born before the 1970s. Sounds odd. I always go by sound. That's how I learned three languages and bits of other 3-4.

"those things I have not gotten to are jotted down on notes to myself so I remember to tackle them the next day" - And this is how my life is actually written down on all sorts of bits of paper, notebooks, sides of pages on books I've read, etc. Haha!!

“Hey I cannot remember you addressing the issue of writing and not publishing." - I'm a bit of a master at this. Been doing it for decades LOL

"We can’t really disguise who we are in our writing, can we?" - I don't even try. I strive for: straight, clear and to the point. (One reason I can't do poetry.)

Alrighty, 'twas fun as always! Be well - cheers!

P.S. It's still snowing right now. Well, it started back up I guess. Merry Christmas!!

Thanks, Bill. I have to admit I'm a little surprised the movie wasn't all that. You would have thought the Underground Railroad would have made for a great script and it's not like Hollywood is short on talented actors for this type of production. I guess I'll save myself some money and watch it on Netflix.

No need for apologies, Bill. I've fallen into the 'old people' habit of repeating stories I've already told because I forgot I already told it. Clearly I either need to find a new audience or get new material. lol

Enjoy your week.

Hi Bill. The only reference is that you mentioned you were going to see a movie entitled 'Harriet' in your post above.

I totally understand about the memory thing. I've taken to making to-do lists every day now I've gotten so absentminded in the last few years. I put down everything, even stuff that I should be part of a person's regular routine. I feel so productive going down the list and ticking off all the stuff I've done.

At any rate, if you do see a good movie, please let us know.

Enjoy your day.

I have visited my childhood home and people were impressed to see me. It was an emotional experience and enjoyed seeing the people I miss so much.Thanks for sharing your side of it.

Hi Bill,

I haven't been back to my childhood home but my sister did. She was so overwhelmed, the woman opened the door to my sobbing sister.

The ladies that live there have connected with her on Facebook and send her photos of changes to the house.

A varied and interesting mailbag this week. Have a wonderful week.

Interesting mailbag this week, Bill, and much to think about. I'm a "by accident" guy myself. That would place before 1970 for sure. Thank you for bringing back the smiling toilet. I thought it was about time to appear again! Seriously, your picture of the autumn leaves is beautiful.

Very nice to hear that you visited your childhood home by walking into it. It's a double pleasure to meet your owner of that period. I feel it ecstatic. Some years back, I visited my childhood place wandering through those streets and refreshing my memories. But, I couldn't step into that house afraid of new people.

Your messages of spreading love and hope are very nice. Let's make the world a better place. That's great.

Hi Bill. What a wonderful experience to be able to enter the home you grew up in. That was very nice of the current owners to invite you in. I love the picture of the street with the changing foliage. If that's near where you live it's a beautiful area. Have a great week.

'Do all things with Love' noted. Nice questions and immaculate answers. What else can I say? Continue, Bro. Peace.

Yes, the busy holiday season has officially begun. Between Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year's and three birthdays thrown into the mix, it is very busy in my household indeed. lol

Thanks for the reply, Bill. I suspected as much.

I've not heard of 'Harriet'. What's is about?

Have a great day, Bill.

A tremendous one this week Bill!

You’re indeed blessed to be a writer, and a good one. Happy November to you and Bev. Time is just rolling on & on, soon would be Christmas. And then another new year 2020. We are just blowing out with this speed of time.

Have a good week and great movie time.

Blessings!

Wow, a lot of great questions this week. I bet your "voice" comes out no matter how you change it for the genre. Just like my "voice" comes out in my artwork even when I change from realism to cartoony for children's books.

Blessings,

Denise

I hope you have a happy November as well, Bill. I would love to visit the home that I lived in as a child. You were lucky that the women who owns your former home invited you indoors. That must have been a strange but very interesting experience.

HI, Bill. Several good topics worth commenting on today. It really is funny how our childhood homes shrink after we grow up.

"On accident" is just one example of the many changes I've noticed in our everyday language. However, English is a very dynamic language. If it were not, we would still be speaking "Auld English".

I think we keep our voices but maybe modify them for the genre. Like women keep their hair, but just change colors to suit the mood. I like your pig in the mud example.

Brrr. it's cold at night here. We had our first freeze one evening last weekend, but the days are still moderate, thank goodness. Have a good rest of the week, my friend.

That’s great that you could revisit your childhood home and go inside. Having moved all over while growing up, I have on rare occasion gone to previous homes and stood outside On the sidewalk, sometimes taking photos but I never knocked and introduced myself.

Regarding Linda’s question i have a pet peeve — the vernacular has seemed to change for saying one is excited about something. People say they are excited FOR it and it drives me nuts. Make them stop, Bill.

I, like you, can't believe how fast time is passing, soon it will be Christmas, then the snows, but we can always look for spring. My favorite time of year. Enjoy the movie. Until next time. Thank you.

This was one of the best mailbags ever. I love the questions and your answers.

Pain, as far as I'm concerned, is a prerequisite for writing. If your life is only zippidy doo da, or your everyday trials are relatively benign, you haven't much to write about. My problem is getting overloaded by emotions once in a while if the piece I am writing is coming from a dark place that the characters or the poem I am writing are experiencing. But that is where my best writing comes from.

I am so envious you got to see your old childhood home. I go through my old neighborhoods in Tacoma and Fircrest once or twice and year and always hope to see someone outside so I can say hey. Not so far.

Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday because it is one celebratory holiday that doesn't rob the wallet and make us selfish. But isn't it interesting that people give thanks to God (at least we should be) on Thanksgiving for their many blessings, and the next day they are slugging it out with other consumers at Walmart over the latest fad item for Christmas.

Blessings to you and Bev. Thank you for all you do for us.

Will definitely heed the call to do all things with love. I can see what you shared happen in my own life. As I changed, my writing also took on more hope.

It is funny how our childhood memories of things like our homes are larger than reality. I had told my husband how we liked to slide down the side of a hill into what we called the pit on flattened boxes and sleds when we were little. That was quite a sizable hill in my memory. When he first saw it, he had the audacity to laugh. That former pit must have filled in through the years. Our family home had also shrunk in size. Ha!

Fortunately I'm not in the southern hemisphere; merely a large time difference. I think you're 7 hours behind us (in time only of course!).

The illusion is certainly that and it's quite nice.

Ann

Thanks for these answers. I nod and think how similar our writing 'process' is ...if that is the word. Most of what I write about is about the dark times that shaped who I am today. Writing here too proves to be cathartic as I try to wade through and make sense of the illness that seemingly stalks my loved ones. Please understand that I am fully aware that STUFF happens in all of our lives and for that reason we (including my loved ones) have that ever present desire to live today fully and not wallow in the fears of 'what may come.' O dear...it appears I have gotten carried away....have a lovely afternoon....Angels are headed your way this afternoon. ps

Thank you, Bill, for the answer. It seems as though we develop as writers not only by honing our writing skills but also by growing emotionally throughout life.

I'm fascinated by that first question. It's funny to me (not haha funny but thought-provoking) that language evolves in written form just as much as it does in spoken form. Everything from slang to local colloquialisms can make a difference in the evolution of language. I thought maybe the difference between "on accident" and "by accident" was perhaps a regional thing until I read your intriguing answer. I have noticed other things like this lately, though. For instance "like I said" versus "as I said."

Not really related, but this question reminded me of it. I once had a friend make fun of me for leaving the verb "to be" out of many of my sentences. We were both from the same state, but I never thought twice about it because it was just the way people around me spoke. No one had ever bothered to correct me until I was 19 and I never noticed I was doing it either. Come to think of it, I don't think it was necessarily incorrect. Either way, he bugged me about it so much that I am aware of when I do it now!

Lot's of good questions this week, Bill! Pretty awesome that you got to see your childhood home, too, and extra special since you got to show it to Bev. Have a good week.

Bill, I think it's awesome you were able to step back inside your childhood home. Several years ago, my (natural) father flew me out to Sacramento, where he lived before he died this past December. He took me to the house we lived in in Atwater (California) when he and my mom were still married. We pulled up in front of the house, but I chickened out. I don't know why, but I did. Perhaps I didn't want to see the changes that occurred over the years; that I wanted to keep my childhood memories alive and untainted.

Excellent mailbag this week. Love the foliage in your closing photo!

Thank you, bill, for the answers to my questions. You have put my mind at rest. I too just write and jot down the bits I don't get round to - precisely because I'm scared I'll forget them and, of course, they're always good enough to note!!

I've always said 'by accident' and 'on purpose'; my daughters got these mixed up when younger and I think that's perhaps why lots of people get it 'wrong' (from my point of view of course!). It doesn't seem so common here but I hear my grandchildren do it occasionally - they've probably got my voice ringing in their ears by now!

Writing is good for the soul. It doesn't matter if we don't publish, unless we need to make a living from it. Practice also improves our writing so it's a win/win situation. I just can't ignore my muse. Publishing is something to 'get round to'!

Always great to read your mailbags.

I need to go and eat now (evening time) so have a munching Monday, bill!

Ann

Bill, thanks for answering my question. At least I know now that I'm not alone; it's a generational thing. I wonder what phrases you and I (our generation) use that drove our grandparents mad decades ago?

I agree that time is going by too swiftly. I think it is so nice that you took Bev to your childhood neighborhood. My husband took me to his childhood neighborhood a few years ago and we really enjoyed it.

You had a very diverse array of questions today that were very interesting. I will continue to say by accident, probably because I am getting old and was definitely born before 1970. I really like the question from Ann. Have a great week Bill!

Sounds like a great weekend... what a treasure to be able to tour your childhood home! I'm guilty of saying "on accident." I didn't realize that was incorrect. Duly noted. :) Have a great week!