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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Comments
It is always great to hear your voice...very claming.
It is worth it for us to write. It is pretty vool for us to be compared to Hemmingway, etc. Solatude...yes it is there!
This is pretty amazing...thank you!
Excellent message and so very timely, Professor Holland. :) I enjoyed the lesson, as well as the pep talk. :) VUMS and a *hubhug* :)
Thanks, billybuc. Reminds me of a quote from Aldous Huxley. I am currently reading THE DOORS OF PERCEPTION, his account of taking mescalin in an experiment; he says: "What the rest of us see only under the influence of mescalin, the artist is congenitally equippped to see all the time." So -- maybe our efforts help give people their "highs" without the drugs.
most successful people have the greatest obstacle..they just dont give up. Writers, hubbers, poets, let us all unite with sir bill's words:
I am proud to be a writer.
billybuc: Terrific hub! Voted up, useful and interesting! Love the minnow story.
I agree with everything you shared. I know real well that writing passion. I think mine started at age 11 when my grandfather gave me a diary. I still keep diaries to this day.
You are a person of great accomplishment. It is incredible the number of hubs you have published, not to mention books, and your videos that accompany some of your hubs.
Your hubs motivate, inspire, encourage and make numerous hubbers smile.
You are taking a God-given talent and using it. He creates all of us for a purpose, and congratulations to you for polishing your creativity and using it.
God bless you real good! Sparklea :)
KUDOS from this hubber!
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Audra, you are pretty amazing! We all have struggles; you've been saddled with more than your share....and still you write...and bring beauty into the world....keep being you and thank you!
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TT, it's time to work on that book, don't you think? Thanks Sis! I do enjoy the hell out of you.
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Sandra, I love that comparison! I think I'll set about getting some people high today. :) Thank you my friend!
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Spy, you should be, and you are an excellent writer. Now, go create some beauty!
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Lea, what would I do without your unwavering support? Thank you dear lady; if there is a nicer hubber around than you I don't know who that would be. Blessings and peace to you always.
bill
The best thing I can say to you for writing this hub.....thanks for writing it and I needed to read it today! And give yourself a pat on the back too. Great hub, voted up!
Bill: Are you going to hound me daily until there is a hard copy sitting in your hands? :)
Self doubt is easily one of my biggest issues. It rears its ugly head every time I get a paper back from a professor. I think that is one of the reasons I like hub pages so much. So much more encouragement versus criticism!
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TT, that was the plan! LOL
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Brenda, I think most of us suffer from it.....just realize that everything you write is unique and seen by the world for the first time...that makes your work priceless.
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Midget, thank you my friend! Now get out there and write!
Hm. Part of me wants to dig my heels in and be difficult (the redheaded, Irish, Aries) and the other half wants to rise to the challenge (the military raised, Catholic). Oh, the internal struggle....in the end...who shall win? :) 'The white wolf or the black wolf?' :)
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TT, whichever wolf you want to win...that's the one who will. Have a great day Sis! Bev has issued me a writing challenge...I have customers who are impatient....and a new novel I need to pay attention to.
Good for Bev! :) Have a great day and I'll catch ya later.
Bill this is just what I needed to read today. My oldest boy has a book in hand from dusk till dawn and at times I wonder if it's a tool he uses to escape. Why? Probably because I use the same tool to escape from time to time. Like you I understand the power of addiction and wonder if those of us who have an innate drive to write are almost addictive to this need to create, share, discover? Sorry for side tracking from this fantastic hub it just brought so many things to my mind I had to share some of these thoughts with you. Waiting to hear your thoughts on the subject. Take care, Kelley
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Okie Dokie Sis!
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Kelley, great insight. I know for a fact I read to escape; always have and it was a conscious decision at an early age. I am compulsive by nature and I need to channel that compulsion into a positive outlet...thus, writing. Your description of writing as addictive is right on I believe...at least for me.
Great comment my friend! Thank you!
I am getting addicted to your writing and the message I learn from each hub of yours!Happy to follow you
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Pooja, I am happy having you follow me. Thank you my friend!
Powerful piece billybuck, I have to agree with Dr Pooja. Inspiring and beautifully written!
Beautiful way of expressing the importance of writers in today's world!
I am bookmarking this hub for future read..
Voted Up! Cheers!
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Thank you Pete! I appreciate your words greatly!
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Cloudy, welcome to my site and thank you so much!
Bill, as a fellow write I totally agree about having self-doubt about my abilities all the time. I remember always loving to write, but in high school I had a teacher who criticized my writing all the time and at one point I thought i must be an awful writer. Well, at the end of the semester, I received one of the nicest compliments from this same teacher. She told me not only was a wonderful writer, but she was so critical to push me to achieve greater and what she knew me to be capable of as a writer in her class and in the future. I still have doubts, but at least when I do have these doubts now, I realize that is because I strive for perfection and do ever want to give up or into being anything but. I hope that makes sense. Voted up and shared as always.
You had me captured like a hawk watching his prey when I read this hub. It was very captivating. I know you don't write poetry, but those last words sounded like poetry to me:
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
Bill, this is beautiful ...
I feel great and am patting myself on my back. Three cheers to you and all us writers. Let us all celebrate!! Voted up, awesome hub.
Bill,
My first hubs were a disaster, but as I kept having faith me me, I began to come up with better ideas and stories. You need to learn to Love Yourself and be able to deal with a real world out there. Perseverance and much study pays off. We are gald to have you among us and rest assure that new generations will be talking about Bill like we talked about O' Henry or Orson Wells. Keep that head up and....catch this baseball being thrown from NJ. Ops! I heard a glass breaking into pieces...!
LORD
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Janine, it makes perfect sense. I'm glad that teacher didn't break you and in fact served as inspiration when it was all said and done. You are a very good writer who is only going to get better, and I'm lucky enough to be along for the ride with you. Thank you!
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Awww, Made, thank you so much! I spent the whole weekend working on that one, and to hear you praise means a great deal to me. You have made me quite happy today young lady.
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Good for you Vellur! You deserve to feel good about yourself. I appreciate you greatly and look forward to many more excellent hubs from you.
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Darn it, Lord, you broke the front window! Now dad's going to be so mad! LOL Thank you my NJ friend! It's a struggle at times...and then there are those fleeting moments when it all comes together and makes sense. :) Such is life as a writer, eh?
You are right that we write for others and for ourselves. I also give a 'shout out' to Harper Lee'! Keep on writing and smiling Bill!
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My day is now complete! Christy has visited like clockwork! What an incredibly loyal follower you are. Thank you my dear! Have a PIPO day!
Hello Bill, a wonderful writing and a cool video. Love your accent! Although am no longer registered on HP, I will be glad to follow your writing journey. Take care and best wishes. :-)
How long it's been since I had read something like this? Don't remember. Yes, I do...the last time I had read one of your hubs only!
'Up' and lot...Shared right away!
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Katrine, I will be honored to have you follow me. I hope you pass along your blog address so I can follow you as well. Thank you my dear and you are missed.
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Ashish, thank you my friend! Your praise of me is greatly appreciated.
Billybuc...you never disappoint. You somehow manage to find just the right words to send encouragement to everyone you touch. By the way...I read "To Kill a Mockingbird" when I was in the fourth grade...the first time. Once of my all time favorites. Thanks for always sharing.
Oh, billy, what a great article and you have put into words what we all feel. I, too, am a voracious reader since I have been a child and writing, I guess, just naturally came. I, too, had teachers that saw my writing ability and encouraged me to develop it. I did in college and probably should have stuck with it instead of going into teaching. I wrote some fine short stories in college, but when I was married, my jealous husband burned all my short stories. Naturally that was grounds for divorce. I don't dwell on that horrible, painful day, but it nonetheless was momentus in my life.
You have written such an encouraging and uplifting piece and I hope everyone on HP and then some read this. Thank you so much and you truly are a talented and great writer!
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Travel, you are a woman of great taste. :) Any friend of Harper Lee's is a friend of mine. Thank you for your kind words and bless you for being a writer.
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Suzette, that would have been a terribly traumatic moment. I'm so glad you are rid of that man. Now we can travel our common road to happiness as writers. Blessings to you and have a wonderful day!
This is wonderfully stated Bill. We all have struggles and doubts at times, My struggle is that I am living day to day with no income and debts from the medical issues. I love writing but am making no money from it. I had hoped to hold out long enough to see that happen, but the powers that be will not allow that. Thank you for this truly inspired article!
Thanks Bill, for expressing the thoughts that many of us writers have. I never knew that Harper Lee stopped writing after Mockingbird. Bad Choice. Excellent Hub, up and useful.
Bill, I'm glad to hear that. To be able to make people happy makes me happy.
It is so true...sometimes that blank page comes together as if the writing were already embedded there in invisible ink and I am the one exposing it. Those are the times when you feel your sense of creativity and imagination...especially when the readers respond favorably as well. I was a casual reader as a child but in my teens a close friend of mine showed me the power of reading and I have never stopped. After my formal education, reading became my on-going tutor and it remains as such. I fear that many of the younger generations will never make that connection...reading is truly power in the making. I also credit reading for my ability to write, to shape thoughts and emotions for I have experienced those same feelings through my own reading and know the range and intensity that it brings. When someone relates to me that something that I have written made them cry or laugh out loud, I feel a special pleasure knowing that I help them find those emotions and I feel a bit sorry that I made them cry, but sometimes crying is a good thing. Your advice is well-stated, Bill, and I am sure that it will bring encouragement to many who encounter doubts with their writing. I do not think any of us should ever reach a point where doubt is not lingering about...it helps to keep that quality awareness there. Thanks much for a good article with some sage advice. WB
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Thanks Mark! I'm sorry things are still rough on your end. Hang in there buddy; good things have to happen eventually.
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rfmoran, thank you Sir! I think it's remarkable that Lee never wrote again. I can't imagine that much talent remaining silent for decades.
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Made, always you bring happiness to those who know you.
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Wayne, you echo my own thoughts about reading and writing. The comments I have received about some of my more personal writings have been remarkable and only add fuel to the fire that burns inside of me. We are part of a great thing my friend, and I for one am grateful that I have encountered so many kindred spirits on HubPages. Thank you sir!
What a wonderful piece, as usual, Billy! Enjoyed reading the whole thing!! Don't we all go through this self doubting period? I am still in there getting lost, lol! But I am learning from all of you :)
Thanks, sharing and voting up!
Billy I love being a writer but for the life of me I don't understand why anyone would want to read my writing.. Lol.. but I thank everyone that does read it and seem to like it. it is amazing.. blessing to you a great writer.. I hope you had a great day yesterday and a picnic I think you said you wanted? hopefully!! Blessings
Debbie
Bill,
WOW! You are a wise man! This is such an inspirational message, one that I definitely needed to read today! Thanks so much friend for the insight and encouragement!
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LaThing, yes, I do believe we all go through the self-doubt! Maybe that's what fuels us? I'm glad you are out there!
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Debbie...LOL...I understand completely. I did have a nice day, thanks, and I hope you had a wonderful birthday.
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Josh, it's my pleasure. I write for myself and I write for those who follow me, and your comment helps me greatly. Thank you nephew! Now I want to see a hub from you about what it's like to be a twin.
Bill,
I will write it at some point! Don't you worry! It is on the back burner, but the stove top is a little cluttered right now! :)
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Okay Josh!
Do be able to write something that others like to read is really wonderful but the self-doubt is so very strong some days:) Thank you for this inspiration and for describing the beauty of writing so excellent! This hub is an encouragement to every writer!
Tina
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Tina, I hope it is! We all need encouragement from time to time. Thank you my friend!
Wow thanks for this inspirational hub. It can be quite a struggle being a writer, but I wouldn't change it for anything.
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mejohnson, it is my pleasure. I appreciate you and all writers.
Love this! I am an avid reader, and, To Kill a Mockingbird is one of my favorites. To me the arts are like food. Food is not a luxury; it's necessary to nourish the body and keep us alive. Books allow us to learn from the experiences of others, whether from real characters or fictional characters. Novels offer us insight into our history - Harper Lee recreated a time and a place in American history.
bill....you know, I'm hosting a very large double birthday party this Saturday. I'm from the old school.....I don't invite by phone or email. I send hand-written invitations.
When it comes to "guests," I jot down the list fairly quickly.....friends and family....the odd ball here or there.....just the people we like, we love and we want, to be here.
Then as I proceed to address them.....Something strange occurs. I think to myself...."Maybe I shouldn't invite her....she lives so far away......oh dear, I'll bet they'll be on vacation........I wonder if he will come to such a big gathering?"...and it goes on and on and on, until I may have shaved my list in half......??? WHY??
Here's the deal....As the hostess, I'm throwing the party, choosing the people I want to attend and letting them know the details so they MAY come if they want or are able. Period. That's MY part
Once they receive the invitation......it is THEIR part....their choice....to decide whether they will/can attend.
My guessing game and doubts and himming and hawing is plain old silly...not to mention a HUGE self-inflicted OBSTACLE to the very essence of having a party.
Well, bill......that's how I feel bout my writing. It's my part....my job...my pleasure to write what I feel...I choose.....I desire.........If I worry about WHO will read it or who will like it or even undertand it......I will either NOT write at all, which for me would be a disaster......or, I would not write from the depths of my soul...(is there another way to write?)
Thats the READER's part............and that's all there is to it.
Long answer.......I tend to do that. Even though I do this.....it's your choice to read it or not. Get my crazy thinking? This is why it is said that crazy people are pretty happy people.
I could ask you if I make sense.....but why would I? I make perfect sense to ME!!.....
If you THINK you're good enough...you're good enough. There will be PLENTY of readers who think so too......Those who don't, simply have a different opinion. They read other authors. Other authors that maybe you and I don't "think" are good enough......need I go on?
.........Good hub, buddy!
Billy, A very rousing motivational call, writers of the world unite, you do it so well and for me very timely.
To kill a mocking bird is also one of my all time favorite read, however, I didn't realized she only wrote the one book, part of me thinks such a waste of a great talent, but I do get it, sometime you just cannot improve on perfection and there is no point in trying.
Many thanks for the encouragement.
Best wishes to you
Jo
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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Kartika, beautifully said my friend! I love your comment. Thank you!
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Paula, Paula, Paula...what would I do without you? Oh, probably quite a bit, but I doubt it would be any more enjoyable than reading your comments.
Yes my friend, I got the point, and I thank you for it! I have been driven for decades, the need to.....do what? I don't know....driven without a compass or a game plan?? That's a frightening thought. LOL
Thank you! Message received and digested!
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tobusiness, best wishes to you as well. Believe in what you do because you do it well. I appreciate you!
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Audrey, what kind words coming from someone I admire. Thank you. I think the old adage that misery loves company applies here...we may not be miserable but we are forever restless and doubting when it comes to our writing.
Thank you for being who you are; I have admired you for months now.
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.
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!
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Beckie, see, it is connections like the one you and I share, that keep me afloat when I'm feeling like a voice in the wilderness. We give to each other; you teach me every bit as much as I teach you. You are a kind, gentle, loving soul and it is my pleasure to travel along this path with you.
I love your comments and I always look forward to them and to your hubs. You are a joy!
bill
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Vox, welcome again! I have those times when I think I'm going to change my notification status, as the influx of emails is overwhelming. But then I think of my favorite Hubbers and I don't want to risk missing anything by them.
Thank you so much; your words warm my heart this Monday afternoon.
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 :)
Voted up! Awesome! ;)
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Thank you Leigh; I appreciate you dropping by once again.
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Yes, Vox, that seems to be my biggest problem...I want to spend all day reading comments and hubs rather than write...LOL...a little escapism!
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 :)
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Vox, I might be a bit of an over-achiever. LOL This is, indeed, a great place to live in.
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I think I just commented on this...what the heck happened? Oh well, yes, this is a great place to live and I just might have a bit of a problem. LOL
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)
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Sharilee, that's why we write, isn't it? To make that connection with our readers? Thank you so much for your beautiful comment; your comment came at just the right time as well.
Great Hub! Very inspirational to re-establishing motivation to write!
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Kbdare, so glad to hear that; it was intended to do exactly that!
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.
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Aurelio, that's a great quote! Love it! Thank you for the visit and the great comment.
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
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Hey Cyndi, it is cool indeed! I am blessed by some great followers and honestly, at times all the nice things the say embarrasses me. :)
I honestly don't know if I'm a right-brainer or not. I have no artistic ability at all; I can play the piano if that counts. Thanks to some great teachers I learned the proper way to form thoughts into the written word, and somehow, some way, my writing voice developed. I think, though, that most importantly, I speak honestly about who I am and how I feel. People respond to that on a personal level; they feel like they know me as more than just an internet writer. That is so darn cool!
Thanks Sis! I appreciate you more than words can say.
bill
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
Awwtzzz. Thank you Billy! You are such an inspiration to us.
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Snowdrops, that makes me happy! Thank you!
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Ruby, I for one, am very happy you didn't quit. Keep bringing us beauty with your written word and we'll ignore the occasional spelling error. :)
very good article. thank you. before I did poetry, I was a masonic writer. I also helped students with college and scholarship papers.
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.
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!
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."
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!
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Mhatter, thank you! I always appreciate you stopping by.
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Esther, thank you so much for those nice words. I can't imagine how difficult it would be if English were not my native language.
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Doc, thank you Sir! The world does need us and the millions like us.
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Lastheart, thank you! This hub meant a great deal to me and I am so happy it resonated with others as well.
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Vicki, it is my pleasure! I would be much more shocked if a writer told me they had no self-doubt.
The joy of HubPages is that we can receive positive feedback to keep us going.
Thank you my friend!
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.
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Amy, I believe strongly in what you have written. If in some way my words help someone else, or bring a smile to their face, then I have accomplished great things....and the same goes for you and every other artist/writer out there.
Thank you my friend; I hope you are well and happiness is following you daily.
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.
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Mary, as always....you are terrific! We all need encouragement; writing for the constant review of our peers and the public is not an easy thing to do.
Papa Bill? LOL...thank you, I think! Yes, thank you...I loved Hemingway! Now there was a human being, with all the warts that go along with being a human....I can happily accept that comparison for I do have my warts.
Thank you so much!
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
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Marlene, your profile picture changes so often and I love this one. You are a beautiful woman with a beautiful outlook on life. I agree completely about fear; once we have gotten past fear our lives open up before us with unlimited possibilities. Thank you for the visit and the great comment.
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
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Marwan, whatever abilities I might have, they are a gift I gladly accept. Thank you for your kind words; they mean a great deal to me.
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.
Thank you billybuc for your kind comment:)
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Moonlake, thank you so much! I don't know where it comes from; it wasn't always this way. I seem to have found my voice over the last five years or so. I was looking at some stuff I wrote about ten years ago and it was horrible.
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You are very welcome Marlene!
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.
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Well, Gypsy, I'll keep reading you so I guess you'll have to keep writing. :) Thanks my friend; I hope this finds you happy in Latvia!
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.
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Thank you Mary! We are, each one of us, in our own league. I really believe that; my writing resonates with some people; yours with others. That's the beauty of writing, that connection we form with others.
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!
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Ruchira, you speak the truth; it is an amazing community! Thank you for your wonderful contributions!
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
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Theresa, that is a very high compliment and I appreciate it greatly. I wanted this one to be special, and your words bring a glow to my writer's heart. Thank you my friend!
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. "
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Dana, I have given you support because I believe in you, and everyone needs some extra support at times to get over the self-doubts....you have talent and you are going to get better. It is a joy to watch as you do so.
Thank you my dear; great quote from the movie.
aw. Thanks Bill!
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Anytime Dana!
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.
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.
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Thank you Tammy! On the ones I spend extra time on, trying to get the words just right, it's nice to have someone notice the extra time that was taken.
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bdegiulio, it is my pleasure. I keep going because of Hubber encouragement; I'm just passing it on in any way that I can.
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!
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Sha, it will happen when it's meant to happen. It did not happen for me overnight. Looking back I can see that I was heading in the direction a good two years before I actually quit....when the time is right you will know it. Hey, at least you have a dream; there are a whole lot of people who have forgotten how to dream.
love you my friend.
Backatcha, Bill! I feel the time drawing near!
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I'm with you lady!
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.
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Thank you dwachira! I love my life as a writer and I want other writers to feel that love as they write.
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!!
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MelChi, we really are awesome. :) Thank you my dear! I believe in you....and you believe in you....so we have a strong core group of two to begin this day with.
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!
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Healthy, I will give it my best shot. Thank you again!
Bill,
I, too, am proud to be a writer. I don't where I would be without my writing and my graphic arts work.
Thanks for your very important words. They are surely needed in our society and will help thousands I know. You are a fine teacher.
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Daisy, writing feeds my soul, as I am sure it does yours. Thank you for being the writer that you are.
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Starstream, thank you for those kind words. The world needs the beauty that we bring to it through our words. Thank you for the writing that you do.
Standing Ovation for all the writers hard bound, thick pages , thin pages, story books and online! Keep it up. Cheers!
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ignugent, exactly....standing ovation! What would I ever do if I didn't have books to read? Thank you my friend.
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.
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Jagerfoods, we definitely all have doubts. I think that gives us the edge we need to become better.l
Thank you for the visit and the honesty!
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.
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Rema, you are so kind! Thank you! If my words help you then I am grateful and satisfied. Have a wonderful weekend my friend.
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!
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Anamika, you are oh so right....we reach hundreds if not thousands...how many people can say that? I love writing; can't imagine not writing. Thank you!
very encouraging :)
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Thank you Super Lux!
"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...
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Thank you Raci; if you get a chance, by all means, read that book. It is one of the greatest ever.
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And I will always be grateful that you are a fan, Raci.
...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 .....
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Colin, thank you Sir! I have found myself with too many followers (is that possible?) and not enough time to properly follow. Even though I may not comment often, I do visit your site more than you know. Thank you for your kind words and reflections, and they are right on! I love HP; I love the unique qualities of each writer, and the unique voices that I see daily. It is a fabulous site and one I plan on remaining at for quite some time.
Fall has arrived here with a vengeance after 80 straight days of sunshine. I fear the rains will not leave now for six months. :)
Peace be with you today and always,
bill
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
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Well, Amy, you aren't alone with that solitude thing. I do my writing in a shed in the backyard, completely separate from the house. I can't write a word when there is background noise of any kind. Recluse? It's possible....I once would have described myself as one. Now I think it has more to do with a diminished ability to concentrate when there is background noise.
I am a loner by nature, but I have forced myself to become part of a family. It was needed in order for me to realize my true meaning, if that makes any sense. :)
Thank you my dear! The Arts will always hold a special place in my heart. Too often I have sat through school board meetings and when budget cuts were announced it was always the Arts that were the first to go....and with them the hopes of a handful of students who had no other outlet for their creativity.
Amy, you are a treasure, and I appreciate you greatly.
hugs,
bill
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.
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Lori, you are doing wonders for my self-esteem this morning. Thank you for sharing that story of your past. I hope you always find joy in the written word. There is a need for good writers in this world....and you can fill that need.
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