On Being a Writer

I was listening to NPR the other day. A professor of literature was commenting on the works of some Palestinian poet. Somewhere in the discussion, this professor commented that what a writer does is never heroic, even if the story he tells is heroic. I thought about that comment. It has the ring of truth.

A writer observes the world. A writer tries to get a sense of what he is seeing... tries to understand what is going on all around... maybe sees some symbolism in the story that is unfolding before his very eyes. Then something very mysterious happens. Out of nowhere, words start spilling out of his head onto the paper and he tries to record these words before he loses them. He does not know where the words and the thoughts and the insights come from. They just come in a rush of inspiration. As a writer, I never know where a story I am writing will take me. I just follow the trail of words to see where they go.

I did not choose to be a writer. Writing sort of chose me. That just sort of happened after I realized that one of the things that I do best is put words and phrases together and paint images with words... or explore an idea to discover what it really means. Writing is just something I can do easily and well. Writing is something I have to do, every day of my life. It is just something I am driven by some inner urging to do. There is certainly nothing that is heroic about that.

But heroic or not, when I write, to me that is an important aspect of my life. I am also driven to try to make some small difference in this very troubled world. One of the few ways that I know how to do this is to spin a story that might entertain you or to get up on my soapbox and speak my mind. Or maybe to write a piece that can serve as a beacon in the night for you , when you may have taken a wrong turn in your life. Or simply to provide literary comfort food for thought when you are just a bit down.

When I am not trying to make a living or spending time with my friends and family, you will find me thinking about something to write. You will find me at the computer posting another piece to my blog or putting out the newsletter for an organization to which I belong. Like I said, writing is just something I have very little choice in doing. Hopefully, my modest literary pieces will help you to work through a tough moment or maybe just cause you to smile at what I have written.

Here is the thing I want the most. I want my words to be out there in the world for everyone to read. It is perfectly fine if what I write is maybe not to your taste. But for some of you, my writing will make a difference in how you see the world or will touch your soul. I am doing one of the few things I know how to do well to stir things up and to make things better in my world. So if you like some of my pieces, you can leave a comment... or not. Just know that you will be welcome in my world any time you want to stop by. You can rest assured that after I finish this posting to my blog, another will follow and then yet another. I will be here, just doing what I do the best... chilling out and keeping my eyes peeled for something new to write about.