The other day I experienced one of those wonderful moments when something I had been struggling to write suddenly gelled into relative perfection, and the resulting onrush of joy prompted me to exclaim loudly and impulsively, “I LOVE WRITING!” My husband, who had heard me but didn’t say anything much at the time, must have remembered and been thinking about it, as he asked me today, curious, what it was I loved so much about writing. Without a moment of hesitation, I was able to answer.
I love the ability to take a handful of words that might on their own be neutral or meaningless, and craft them together with other seemingly neutral or meaningless words into something beautiful, thought-provoking, meaningful.
I love the satisfaction of creating a sentence or turn of phrase that pleases me, a gem that I can later roll around in my mind and savour the different layers of taste and meaning.
I love the feeling of struggling, being frustrated, persevering, and then surrendering as something bigger than me takes over and puts the words together the way they should be.
I love it when even one other person is moved, amused, blessed, motivated, by something I’ve written.
I love (and fear, if truth be told) the awesome power and responsibility that comes parceled up with the gift of writing.
I love it all. And this is why I write.
Originally posted 01/02/2012
sandra tyler September 30, 2012 at 4:35 pm
I love it all too. Especially when you achieve just the perfect turn of phrase! But hat pic you have here of a real pen does make me miss the days when I actually wrote every first draft long hand . Sometimes I wonder if I wrote better. Or wound up going trough fewer drafts because I was forced to rethink words as hand writing is a slower process.
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Dawn Storey
Twitter: ABCsalad
September 30, 2012 at 7:41 pm
Interesting thoughts – I wonder?!
Dawn Storey recently posted… A reminder to myself: Why I Write
Nancy
Twitter: nerthus
September 30, 2012 at 8:50 pm
Those moments when clarity of purpose and achievement of purpose align are magical. I still write by hand occasionally, but I miss my good fountain pen and the blank page, and even my typewriter on occasion. Writers are weird like that.
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Dawn Storey
Twitter: ABCsalad
October 1, 2012 at 10:51 pm
I guess we all have our own individual ways of doing what we do!
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Kathy September 30, 2012 at 10:01 pm
There is no better feeling than when whatever you are writing flows from your fingertips as if it is meant to be. I find that when writing, music, and graphics all fall into place, there is no better sense of accomplishment in the world. Of course there are plenty of days of frustration, but I love those moments of break through!!
Kathy
http://gigglingtruckerswife.blogspot.com
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Dawn Storey
Twitter: ABCsalad
October 1, 2012 at 10:51 pm
I totally agree, Kathy!
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Winnie September 30, 2012 at 10:21 pm
Very heartfelt post. I feel similarly about why I craft. I have been asked “why” by some, who wonder why I will make a card for someone instead of running to Hallmark or the Dollar Tree. It makes me “me”.
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Dawn Storey
Twitter: ABCsalad
October 1, 2012 at 10:52 pm
I love that, Winnie! I know I’m always delighted to receive a handmade card – the talent and thought that goes into it makes it extra special.
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Amy Morgan September 30, 2012 at 11:04 pm
Beautifully written – thank you for sharing and giving me cause to reflect as well. I too love putting pen to paper and still often start that way. Seems to release a differnt kind of creativity in me.
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Dawn Storey
Twitter: ABCsalad
October 1, 2012 at 10:53 pm
I know what you mean, Amy!
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