The Writing Workshop: Writers of the World, You Are Appreciated
“The pages are still blank, but there is a miraculous feeling of the words being there, written in invisible ink and clamoring to become visible.” ~Vladimir Nabakov
Isn’t that a marvelous quote? Does it not perfectly capture that which we all attempt to do when writing?
When I was a teacher there would always be an end-of-the-year staff meeting at which time we would discuss the next-year’s budget with the principal and members of the school board. It was a particularly nervous time for those teachers who taught the fringe subjects like Art and Band, because if there was a tight budget, their subjects would inevitably get the axe.
I found that sad then and I still find it sad today. The world needs artists, writers, sculptors and musicians. Not every child is gifted in book learning; some….no, many…need a creative outlet that only the Arts can provide.
In fact, I’ll take it a step further and say that much of the beauty in our lives would be missing if we did not have those who create beauty through their words, drawings and musical compositions. They are the ones who provide a safe haven from the struggles of everyday life. They are the ones who find beauty in insanity and manage to find special meaning in the mundane. They are the ones who….expand our consciousness….and give our souls a vehicle on which to travel the roads of life.
MY JOURNEY
I was a voracious reader as a child. No matter where I went I always had my baseball glove and a book with me. They were my constant companions, my treadmills for the body and mind. I loved the storylines in books, watching as the author developed the story, added and defined characters, and brought to life adventures that fueled my dreams. However, it wasn’t until I read “To Kill A Mockingbird,” that I actually gave thought to possibly being a writer.
In that masterful piece by Harper Lee I saw the power of the written word. I discovered that a writer not only tells a story but also, somehow, reaches into the very heart of the audience and brings emotions to life. The great writers, like Lee, have the ability to describe a scene so perfectly that you can actually feel as if you are standing in that scene. The great writers, like Lee, can use words instead of a camera to capture the intricacies and subtleties of life.
I wanted to be like Harper Lee, to write the next great American masterpiece, and yet I suspected that what Lee had was talent while what I had was desire and nothing more.
Still, I dreamed! Several years passed and then a high school teacher casually remarked that I might have some writing ability but it would take work and willingness on my part if I was to develop that ability into a talent. With that one simple statement my own personal quest began.
So I dabbled in my craft for decades, making progress and then derailing when obstacles presented themselves. Still the thought remained….someday….someday… I would give writing a real chance.
And today I am doing exactly that!
THE OBSTACLES
They are many, are they not? Where to find the time? Where to find the solitude? Where to find the readers? How to market yourself and on and on we go. Still, for me, the biggest obstacle, and my constant companion throughout, is the terrifying possibility that I might not be good enough. When all else fails I can always count on self-doubt to rear its ugly head and send me shrieking for the safety of my own psychological closet, never to come out again.
Am I the only one who feels that way? I doubt it seriously! I think there is, in any writer, painter, sculptor or musician, the insidious cancer of self-doubt with regards to our talent. Our work will never be good enough. Our work will never satisfy that burning desire we have to get it just right, to finally ring all the bells and grab our own personal brass ring.
Perhaps, though, it should be exactly that way! Perhaps art of any form should always be the quest for perfection and yet the inevitable falling short. Still, Harper Lee never wrote another book after “Mockingbird,” stating that her life’s work was rolled up neatly in that tale of injustice, and that she would never again be able to reach that level of near-perfection. Can you imagine? Writing something that so mirrors life that you realize you will never again reach that pinnacle?
There is a hunger in each of us, and the meal we wish to consume will always be slightly under-cooked or slightly over-cooked. Such is the nature of our internal torment.
THE JOYS
Still……like a starving man on a desert island, we rejoice when a minnow swims too close to shore and is snatched by our hands. We feed on it and then, looking around for more, we savor the memory of that minnow for weeks. One word of praise will send our hearts soaring and we hungrily sit down at the computer and begin to write again. We live with the inevitable ebb and flow of praise and acceptance, the dual-headed gourmet meal that sustains us.
On rare occasions, when minnows are nowhere in sight, we find a word choice, a phrase, near-perfectly crafted, and we look in the mirror and nod our heads, briefly satisfied with ourselves.
Yes, there is a hunger in each of us, but we never starve. Our hunger is fueled by our passion for our craft, and a certain satisfaction is gained on the worst of days because the simple act of doing is enough to bring a smile to our faces.
SO APPRECIATION IS IN ORDER
Think about this for a moment: there are 171,476 current words in the English language. There are an additional 47,156 obsolete words at our disposal. They are available to each of us to use. We begin with the same tools as the masters who came before us. The same words used by thousands of writers before us, and yet when they are put on paper (or computer) they become uniquely ours, never written before in such a manner.
Each one of us brings our own emotions, our own experiences, in fact, a large part of who we are, to each and every written piece that we craft. We leave our own legacy for the world to see every single time we figuratively put pen to paper.
We experience the same doubts as Hemingway, Steinbeck and Lee experienced. We find the same satisfaction in writing as Blake, Bronte and Tennyson found. They laid the foundations upon which we build a new generation of written structures, and our work will stand the test of time, just as theirs did.
We write for others and we write for ourselves. We speak out against injustice and we praise the glories that surround us. We inform, cajole, decry and rally!
We are the Elizabethan poets of our time, the 50’s coffee house beatniks and the 21st Century Thoreaus, each of us finding a way to keep the light shining in an ever-darkening world.
We are writers and what we do is important!
So take this moment to pat yourself on the back. Take this moment to look in the mirror and tell yourself that it is all worth it, because it is. While the modern day world continues unabated, rarely slowing down to smell the proverbial rose or reach out a hand in compassion, we will continue to be the voices that represent all that is good about humanity. We will continue to speak for those who have no voice, be the eyes for those who are blind and describe the sensations for those who cannot feel.
This is our calling! This is our quest! This is what fuels our souls and brings joy to our hearts!
So, as one of you, I say thank you! Thank you for bringing beauty into the world one word at a time. Thank you for swimming against the tide of progress and slowing down the hectic pace of life. Thank you for finding the words that bring color to an otherwise black and white world.
I am proud to be a writer. I hope you are as well!
2012 William D. Holland (aka billybuc)
For other articles on writing see the following:
http://billybuc.hubpages.com/hub/Freelance-Writing-It-Really-Is-A-Job
http://billybuc.hubpages.com/hub/Freelance-Writing-The-Pros-and-Cons-of-Choosing-This-Line-of-Work
http://billybuc.hubpages.com/hub/Freelance-Writing-Finding-Your-Voice-In-Writing
To purchase any of my books on Kindle go to:
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If you are a content writer, you can make money online by ghost blogging for Celebrities and Corporate Companies. Many Celebrities hire Ghost Writers to write on their Blog and maintaining social networking profiles to improve their visibility and so
Comments
Words always delighted me from the time I was a very young child. Letters conveyed thoughts from loved ones while picture books told amusing stories. I fell in love with writing my own words when I penned a silly limerick in elementary school that the teacher praised ("There once was a sour pickle. Who loved nothing more than to tickle. He planned a sour joke, to play on his folk, which did nothing but cost him a nickel.") She said I had a natural feel for the rhythm of words and then later I was told I had a natural ear for dialogue. But I left that oh-so-pleasurable world of writing for the sake of writing and, because I felt that writing for pleasure was a waste, I turned to journalism with its hard rules for stating facts and only facts. That training really clipped my natural writing wings.
I so appreciate this hub and reminding me of the power of words in fiction and non-fiction and that there should be pleasure in the writing of both. Your hub helped me to reconnect with the love of writing, and I am so thankful to you.
Wow, Bill, with over 1,000 fans and nearly 20-minutes to scroll down to the end of the page to leave my comment, you've got it, my friend. At the end of the day, you are writing what people want to read in the way it needs to be written.
I, too, love writing, but don't feel I've earned the title "writer". I completely relate to the self-doubt you state in your excellent piece of writing. Sometimes I feel like a freak, as I absolutely cannot compromise on the solitude I need to think and thereby write. I feel like an anomaly, not because I need solitude to write, but because I actually love it. Reclusive is part of the artist inside me, trying to get out.
I love this piece you've written for the value you give to creativity and the arts. You make artistic endeavors real, rather than an occasional hobby or a fluke. I've always felt that art holds its value forever. I've sold paintings, which brought me a few bucks that are quickly spent, only to think that the painting I sold will outlast its dollar value and exist forever. The Arts matter. Thank you, Bill, for so eloquently saying so. As a highly read, successful, wonderful writer, you make it real. Thank you
...well it was so nice Bill and such a pleasant and delightful surprise to see you at my humble hub space this past week. The honor was all mine. Thank you for your support, understanding and open mind as well.
Each writer suffers, I think, from a little quirk, and mine I believe is my anxiety and not giving myself enough credit where credit is due.
But I do know that no one in this world/cyber universe writes quite like the epi-man - lol - and that is what makes each and everyone of us so special and unique - you have a 'voice' that is all of your very own - and so does Amy Becherer - and that's what makes Hubpages such a desired designation for the community of writers in which we all subsribe to on a daily basis here. Reminds me of that great song by Barbara Streisand - People - didn't know what it meant when I first heard it back in the 60's at 10 years old but now at 54 , I do.
sending you warm wishes and good energy at lake erie time 8:44pm ontario canada and the heat just came on - yes it's the fall once again when the nights are a lot cooler .....
"To Kill a Mockingbird" and be a writer...well, i have heard about that oftentimes yet i haven't read that...it must be an interesting because it prodded you to write...i am awed by this gift of sharing of yours Bill an know that i am always your fan...
"To Kill a Mockingbird" and be a writer...well, i have heard about that oftentimes yet i haven't read that...it must be an interesting because it prodded you to write...i am awed by this gift of sharing of yours Bill an know that i am always your fan...
very encouraging :)
When one of my school friends found my Blog through Google search, he was surprised because I used to write in mother tongue (poems and stories) during school days. He thought that I would have become a published author in my mother tongue already. When I told him I put an end to my writing after entering College, he was shocked because I was passionate about my writing and had won many competitions. I started writing again after I quit my job 4 years ago (this time in English) to take out my frustration. Looking back, I see the quality of my writing now has increased manifold compared to my earlier stuff. I have come a long way ahead, but my destination is still far... I have a long way to go. Writing is such a noble cause and I feel proud that I have the power to reach out to many with my writing. Those who said that I made a mistake throwing away my high profile job now think that I made the right choice. Good Hub, voted uP!
You have done it again Bill- making me read your wonderful hub from start to finish and then go over all the great comments here. I think I have spent almost a half hour on this hub and I enjoyed it too. I especially loved the part about the joys and the appreciation-how very true! I am sure to come back again to this hub to gather a lot of courage when I feel low and unable to write. Such a wonderful hub with so much life.
Sharing it as always. Cheers, Rema.
We all have doubts. Right? I mean can anyone go into this thinking that what they've written is the best thing since Poe's pen met paper? I'm constantly doubting myself and I feel that this actually makes me a better writer. Nothing is taken for granted and everything is looked over carefully before publishing.
Standing Ovation for all the writers hard bound, thick pages , thin pages, story books and online! Keep it up. Cheers!
Thanks for your very important words. They are surely needed in our society and will help thousands I know. You are a fine teacher.
Bill,
I, too, am proud to be a writer. I don't where I would be without my writing and my graphic arts work.
Based upon the positive feedback you should never doubt your writing is anything less than awesome! To Kill a Mockingbird was one of my favorite book of all time. Keep writing!
Aahh Bill, this is just what I needed to read today! Thank you for writing this. We really do put doubt on ourselves, and writing is mentally draining! People who don't write, really don't realize how far we push ourselves to get the best article or writing out there. So I salute you and all fellow writers out there - we are AWESOME! Don't stop believing in yourself and your abilities to write. We've got this far, let's just keep going! Loved this hub, voted up!!
I agree with you billybuc, we find strength and beauty in writing, we wouldn't have known what happen many years ago is someone did not put it down into history books, in fact your line says it all [... much of the beauty in our lives would be missing if we did not have those who create beauty through their words]. Voted up and useful.
Backatcha, Bill! I feel the time drawing near!
I am so far behind in reading my hubmail! I think I stumbled upon this at just the right time. I'm grappling with leaving the corporate world and working towards my dream full time. This and several other of your hubs keep this drastic action foremost in my mind. I constantly remind myself of the the hub your wrote about turning in your keys after a teachers meeting and quitting right then and there! I'm trying to muster the strength; trying to come up with ways I can still pay my mortgage, car payment and overhead to do just that. I've lost the desire to go to my job everyday and it's becoming more and more apparent.
More food for thought you've given me. I just need to find the gumption to reach out for that minnow!
Bill, just what I needed to read as I feel like I'm heading into a summer swoon. You continue to inspire me and keep me going here. Your words motivate me to keep plugging away. Thank you.
I am late to the party.. trying to play catch up. WOW! This is one of your best so far. I was a big reader as a child, mostly because there was no cable, internet, cell phones.. etc.. I would give anything to be able to go back into that magical world. Your section on joys and the ancedote about minnows is quite epic. Loved this.
aw. Thanks Bill!
Bill - THANK YOU for writing this. You have such a wonderfully real and honest of sharing your experience as a writer - the good, the bad, and the wonderful. It is you that encourages me when I have those moments of doubt, that makes me feel liek I can actually be that writer that I know I am. Andif I can be half as inspiring (and a fraction as prolofic) as you, or entertaining as some that I have read, than I will feel I have accomplished something.
This hub reminds me of my favorite part of Dead Poet's Society. This is a quote fromt hat scene: "We don't read and write poetry because it's cute. We read and write poetry because we are members of the human race And the human race is filled with passion. And medicine, law, business, engineering, these are noble pursuits and necessary to sustain life. But poetry, beauty, romance, love, these are what we stay alive for. "
Bill - What a wondeful, honest, encouraging hub...so full of the truth that we writers need to occasionally hear. I could not have penned this any better;I wouldn't change a single word. And that is saying a lot! :)
After years of grading college essays, I have developed this habit of editing pretty much everything I read in my head - substituting words, changing phrases. When I don't hear my inner commentary, then I know something is very well written, and this piece certainly is. :) Theresa
Hallelujah! to all the writers.
Uniting under the roof of HP is highly encouraged and contagious. Writing is essential but we all have been vivacious readers trying to support our small community :) cheers!
You are such an inspiration to all of us! I don't consider myself in your league at all, but I love to tag along with the rest of you and just admire your work.
My best to you, friend
I voted this UP, etc. and will certainly share.
Voted up and interesting. As usual your video was intriguing. Very inspirational hub. I was quite a little bookworm and even up into adulthood I practically ate books. Writing is something that I've had an urge to do from around the age of 12. I might not consider myself one of the greatest writers but I'm willing to keep at it as long as people are willing to read. Passing this on.
Thank you billybuc for your kind comment:)
Voted up. Enjoyed reading this.
I can remember my mother getting after me because I was reading something all the time. She still gets mad because my sister never puts a book down she will walk right into a wall reading. I just wish I had your ability to put the words down on paper or computer the way you do.
Wow! This has been a great pleasure to read. Putting it together in such a brilliant way has made me jealous of your ability to write something that is so dear to my heart. Thanks
A very interesting story Billybuc. There will always be some fear in any task that we want to accomplish until we get really good at it. Fear can either empower you or paralyze you. In life, we must take risks. I guess it all boils down to believing in ourselves and our capacity. You state this in your last paragraph. Look at yourself in the mirror and tell yourself that you are worth it. I think I might start doing this little exercise daily just to keep reminding myself. I remember reading the novel, To Kill a Mocking Bird in Highschool. Voted up
It would appear the King of Nerds has taken over the entire kingdom! By the time I got to the end of these comments I was ready for my nap!!!
You always accomplish great things Bill. Every hub you write has value to everyone who reads it. This particular hub is such an encouragement to all of us...then, as I viewed your video I kept thinking of Papa as in "Papa Hemingway"...now we have Papa Bill to guide us and teach us.
Let's not forget the repartee between you and Terry...I just left a comment on one of her hubs saying you two are the New Age Abbott and Costello.
Keep it up Bill...the longer you encourage us the longer we'll all write!
Voted up, useful, awesome, interesting and shared with my followers.
Your uplifting, inspiration words are the same I have inside me and listen to everyday. I think self-doubt is especially pronounced and inherent within the artistic temperment. I look at the artwork created by Monet, daVinci, Van Gogh or catch a glimpse of an unknown artist, and I am entralled by their abilities. I am not in their league, but I am driven to keep trying. There is so much to learn, derive inspiration from and build upon from the same drive that created art regarded as treasures. Had Monet been discouraged, the world would never have known his talent, and more importantly, he would have lived his life without realizing it.
This is a beautiful, meaningful tribute to following the beat of your own drummer. The beauty in following destiny makes our world and everyone's a better place to be.
We inform, cajole, decry and rally!--I like that!
I also love your message about self-love. That's a hard concept to grasp sometimes.
I think the results of your poll so far are interesting; look at all the self-doubt just here in this writing community. Maybe your hub will help some of us be more confident in ourselves, more inspired. I think that continual reminders do help! Thanks for sharing this with all of us, Bill!
At last I found a space way at the end to comment...lol. Voted up and more. Every sentence is so well described, with the adjectives used. I could picture the whole article. This phrase will stay with me: "and give our souls a vehicle on which to travel the roads of life."
This is truly inspirational, Sir Bill. Like you I was and am a voracious reader and I think it is essential qualification to be a writer is to read far and wide. Your call for future writers is a timely one and the world needs such creativity. Well said! voted up!
Great work! When I was still in my early years, I wanted to be a writer too. I tried writing and join some short story writing contest but I did not won. I have a story in mind, but my knowledge isn't enough especially my english (English is not my nattive language). I am always short of words... that hinders me to fully express my ideas. So, I shifted my interest and now just enjoying reading articles and write-ups of my favorite authors.
Lucky you and those who got talent and perseverance in writings. How I wish I am too... Congratulations on your writings, a good encouragement to all of us.
very good article. thank you. before I did poetry, I was a masonic writer. I also helped students with college and scholarship papers.
Awwtzzz. Thank you Billy! You are such an inspiration to us.
I love to write, but when i misspell two words like i did on my last hub, I feel terrible. I always proofread, but it was late and i pushed publish and went to bed. When i went back to the hub and saw it, I was ready to quit. You've inspired me to keep on , just proofread..Cheers
It's really cool that your hubs always inspire such comments! You're awesome!
I admit I never had much encouragement from teachers. I had to work SO HARD in school for my grades. It was a struggle to learn how to write a paper effectively. Even in college, I remember re-writing paper after paper because they thought it wasn't good enough.
Well, I'm a dreamer. I never stopped dreaming of a creative life. I think the internet has blessed us all with a miracle: the ability to write, do art, and make music for all to see. If we are diligent, persistent and have some talent, I think we can all make it work ourselves.
I was that Spanish teacher that anxiously waited to see if I would be "cut" or not. With your encouragement - along with a whole support system of family and friends - I took my fate into my own hands. Thanks for writing this. We right-brainers are needed. :D
I think every hubber can relate to this. Your starting quote brings to mind another famous writing quote, though I'm not sure who originated it. "It's easy being a writer. All you need is a blank piece of paper, and then you open a vein." Voting this Up and Interesting.
Great Hub! Very inspirational to re-establishing motivation to write!
Bill, your video and your hub were so moving and inspirational, I can barely write. Thank you for this. You have touched me deeply with your writing. This came right at the right moment. Blessings, friend.
(Shared and voted up)
Hm, you have a problem, my friend? At the moment, you have 188 hubs published, and I (now I'm blushing) - 63. And (I'm about to cry - just a joke, but...) they all need extreme makeovers! Thank God for mentors like you and it's all for free! Isn't this a wonderful place to live in :)
Voted up! Awesome! ;)
Oh, yes, the inbox with all the newly published hubs is quite a distraction, especially if you are trying to write! But, it's a sweet distraction and a useful one :)
Boy, am I glad that I re-set my email settings as my dear fellow hubber PWalker281 suggested - notifications about new posts by my favorite hubbers flooded the inbox! Therefore, I didn't miss out on another inspiring hub from you :) I haven't read "To Kill a Mockingbird," but since it influenced you so strongly, I'll add it to my reading list. And, yes, Vladimir Nabakov's quote is universal!
And an absolutely amazing writer you are my friend. Also be proud and take responsibility for making so many of our writing hearts soar with pride. You give so much to our hubber community. I can only speak for myself when I say you have constantly encouraged me, given wonderful and helpful critisism and continue to be such a source of inspiration for me. You make me want to do better.
I too loved "To Kill A Mockingbird" as well as "A Wrinkle In Time", "Lord Of The Flies", "A Tale of Two Cities", "House of The Seven Gables"...I could go on. I list these because I had a wonderful teacher who further opened up the world of books to me. My dear parents started the reading love affair. Like you, I craved producing the written word. What my parents and my favorite teacher Mr. Cioffi started, you are continuing to encourage.
More importantly, I cherish the friendship we share and I thank you. You are a wonderful teacher and a great friend to so many.
My finger is tired from the long scroll to the bottom spot - saved just for me :)
I pressed every button except funny and voted up with a share - this hub is marvelous in every way. And as I voted I was relieved to see that I have plenty of company on the "quite often" vote.
Bill, You've done an outstanding job here. I read it twice. You have inspired me so much. Lately I find a certain lack of energy as I try to write and have deleted several hubs. But you have given me just what I need to keep perservering.
Thank you so much my dear friend. You are a light!
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