I am a believer in the written word. I believe words can make a difference. I don’t consider words evil in and of themselves, but that any word can be used to be hurtful or helpful. I have been on the end of scathing words that hurt more than a punch to the face and not a curse word was used. (I have also been on the end of hateful rhetoric that did include curse words!)
I tend to write things down. I love to write. If I could spend all day, every day writing I think I would like that.
I took a play writing class in college and although I love theatre and I love to write, I don’t think I was very good at writing plays. I did just recently write some alternate endings to a play for my kids’ workshop that turned out pretty funny, but that was probably a fluke. I also altered a shirt for my son that weekend, and I really can’t sew, so I think I was just having a lucky day!
I carry a little notebook with me where I write down things that I overhear or see. My favorite story in that notebook was something I overheard in class my first year back in college. It was in a non theatre specific class and I think these girls were freshman.
I was waiting for class to begin when two girls came in and sat behind me. They were chatting away and as I am prone to do (I know it is a bad habit- can’t help it!) I was eavesdropping. One of the girls asked the other how to spell “orange.” The second girl replied, “It depends, do you want the fruit or the color?”
Sometimes you just have to write it down.
Writing gives me an opportunity to vent my anger, show my concern, and get through emotions. I like the actual act of handwriting notes, filling out forms or doing calligraphy. The computer has made getting out more words quickly even easier.
I have written one book that will never see the light of day. It was not very good. I just found the manuscript buried in a cabinet the other day and I plan to reread it when I get a chance. I wrote it over 25 years ago. I hope that my writing has gotten better since then!
I am toying with the idea of writing again, but now I know to just write about what I know- my life. And since I had a most unusual life, I am thinking I should write about growing up in the zoo.
Writing about my childhood, even if I try to concentrate on the zoo aspect, could be tough. I think I might finally be ready though.
I might be scarce for awhile, not only in real life, but here as well. But I might have to run back here to share the process of writing a book. Let’s just see how it goes!
