~Words Matter~

Isn't it interesting, what people collect? A brief look at "Antiques Roadshow" will make you scratch your head over what others hold dear and have you marveling over what is declared of value and what isn't.

For my part, I collect words. Not just books, although I have quite a few of those. I like to copy down wise sayings, thought provoking reflections and inspirational tidbits. (Yearly daybooks, preferably attractive ones, are a good place to store these.) In my collection are things I've heard, things I've read, things I've come across on the internet.

They're a treasury I can return to for motivation on 'blah' days or when my spirits need lifting. You can't put a price on that.

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We all have our little peculiarities. Writers are no exception. Not many can write in a coffee shop like J. K. Rowling. (Not many have the imagination of J. K. Rowling!) Some need a window to stare out of, while others want a blank wall.  Silence, music, background noise affect us and require choices.

Tools and materials are important, too. Only a few diehards still write from scratch, longhand, with fountain or ball point pen. Whether used for composing or correcting, pens have to be comfortable in our hands. Not for me the fat, stubby ones , no matter how pricey. Give me a slender retractable Pilot, fine point with black ink.

As long as thoughts fly from the fingers, it doesn't matter if they come into the world on an Apple, a notebook or an IPad. What works for you?

W

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It's Carnival season where I live. Barricades line the streets of the parade routes, protecting eager children and tipsy revelers from getting trampled by truck-drawn floats and high stepping bands. Bright colored beads dangle from power lines and tree branches, mis-thrown by masked float riders. 

Soon after tomorrow's festivities the social organizations called Krewes will choose themes for next year's floats and grand formal balls that are the elaborately staged and costumed climax of their year. Themes might come from Broadway hits, cartoons, myths, famous books, movies, Mother Goose, etc. Notice that for all the glamour, all the glitter, all the cries of "Throw me something, Mister", the whole giddy spectacle begins with words.

As I said, words matter. 

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Getting bragging rights at the spelling bee was not because we were smarter than the others, I suspect, but that we writers are READERS. Along with 'show, don't tell', the cliche advice to writing wannabes is 'read, read, read.' Read widely, read outside your own interests. Then when you know what you want to write, read everything you can find in that genre. Not only will it enrich your vocabulary, it will enrich your life.

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Our Library Foundation recently sponsored an adult spelling bee. Funds raised will be used to buy books, e books and equipment. At the urging of a member of our weekly critique group who arranged for a sponsor, four of us, with a lot of humor and some trepidation, agreed to participate. It was great fun.

The competition was preceded by a spread of marvelous food and beverages and a lot of friendly chatter. Finally we faced our audience and four other teams of four each. We sailed through "lagniappe", "coif", "pterodactyl." Word by word, round by round, the joking and the pressure increased as teams began to be eliminated. I think it was on "cirrhosis" that our team triumphed. We came home with first place trophies:  bobble head bumble bees. Mine sits on a bookshelf in my office near the photograph of my son crossing the finish of the New York Marathon. Both remind me to keep on trying.

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