What makes us want to write. Is it this deep down burning desire to put words on paper, string words together like an artist making a necklace, weaving words into a beautiful tapestry, a gifting and sharing our thoughts, hopes and dreams? What makes some of us want to write is that we have to…we can’t keep it to ourselves. It is in us. Once we get a taste of how liberating writing can be, whether we write, poetry, fiction or non-fiction, we want to do it again and again. It really isn’t that complicated. We must do it. It becomes more than a want. It becomes a NEED.
COME ON BABY LIGHT MY FIRE
I have a confession to make; I am definitely not your most prolific writer or blogger. In fact I sometime spend more time thinking about writing than actually writing. I get caught up living life. Okay. Okay…another confession. I’m not as disciplined as I would like to be; that is until my back is against the wall and I have to come out swinging, I mean writing. Then I come out like Mike Tyson for a few rounds. Then I go back inside my cavern like those creatures on the bottom of the ocean floor. This may not be the best metaphor but it’s one I find amusing. I applaud all of the literary Mike Tysons out there. Writing day in an day out. Slugging it out. Fighting the good fight and winning…
As long as I am writing; I feel as though I am winning. Or maybe it isn’t about winning or losing. Of course, most writers write because we want to be read. We want to be heard. We want to not only be heard but understood. And perhaps the reader will internalize, question and understand not only what we want to convey but also be allowed the permission and the freedom to further explore his/her self as well. So, in that regard, it is about us and it isn’t about us.
SOCIAL MEDIA can be a good thing. It can connect us with friends and family. It can bond us across many miles, across oceans to other countries. Some have met others through social media outlets and have long lasting relationships as a result. Some have met their wives or husbands through social media and some may still be looking. Others have launched businesses and other positive outlets and platforms too numerous to mention. There is a wealth of positivity out there if that’s what you’re looking for. However, if hatred, darkness and mayhem is what you seek, you can also find it as well.
Long before social media; back in 1985 (yes, I’m a senior citizen), I wrote a column for the BUFFALO CRITERION ( a local weekly African American owned newspaper in Buffalo, New York established in 1925 ). The column was called, ‘Real Life.’ I wrote about everyday experiences. It was written with a humorous slant. Everything from various television shows to shopping in a supermarket. I also covered other current events at that time. It was nice to see my picture and have my own byline as well as hearing the appreciative comments from family and friends. I finally had to come in out of the rain and get steady employment. So I ended up working in New York State law enforcement and focusing on raising my two daughters. Through the years I’ve had some of my poetry and short fiction published in newspapers and journals, yet I haven’t (thus far) published a novel or came out with my own book of poetry. I was too much of a rolling stone in the past. So, all I (we) have is this moment. The past is history. WRITE NOW IS WHAT’S IMPORTANT.
COME ON BABY LIGHT MY FIRE
I guess what I’m saying is that DESIRE is what lights my FIRE. If my desire to write was based entirely on receiving accolades or monetary gain, welI I would have quit a long time ago. Which to me means my heart really wasn’t in it in the first place. Social media/ the internet has become such a huge part of our daily lives. I’m on social media. How can I not be? It has become a gateway for so many talented people and has become a vehicle for a wide diversity of entertainment and information. However, while it is wonderful to get approval and positive feedback; I don’t need ‘likes’ to validate me. But I must admit, ‘likes’ can be encouraging. It has been especially encouraging to some people who have received thousands of views and likes; whose bank accounts have been ( surprisingly) validated exponentially. Thus, the power of SOCIAL MEDIA.
So, you may wonder, wow! ” Doesn’t he care if I read this blog or not.” The fact of the matter is, I do care. It is always nice when other people not only read your work but also appreciate it for what it is. In fact, if you are reading this I encourage you to read some of the other thirty or so blog posts the DPL have published. You may find a few golden nuggets of inspiration. GO AHEAD READ, READ, READ! WRITE! WRITE! WRITE! I’ll be your biggest fan and cheerleader. But whether you do or not…one thing is clear…
I STILL HAVE THE NEED…
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