It takes a special kind of sick to be a writer
As I sit through the 3am toothache with Viszla mutt at my feet, I contemplate a couple of replies I’ve written on other peoples blogs within the past few days. Yes, I’m waiting for the sleep fairy called Ibuprofen to work.
I love writing my way through life. It gave me back my humor, the discovery of thought, feeling, scents and sights I’ll not see again except through the written word. To write is to breathe life into words. To keep the words inside you is as deadly to the soul as constipation is to the body. From my perspective, the dust of life constantly accumulates, which requires constant cleansing of the soul. Maybe I should draw a circle on my computer and write next to it in elegant cursive, “The enema tube goes here?”
In one dismal writing course I endured, the instructor said–with all the enthusiasm of the last person standing outside in a Russian breadline in February, “Writing is hard work.” That was the point I should have walked out the door and asked for my money back. She ended up to be the female version of Ben Stein’s classic role in Ferris Bueller’s day off. Does anyone remember that role? Anyone? Anyone?
As I enjoy the soft fur of my favorite cur, I remember the words of Erma Bombeck when she was asked which of her children was her favorite. Her answer? “The one that’s sick.” You might wonder where that came from. It was a comment to a writer by someone who had just read his work: “You’re one sick mother^%)#&r.”
Look at the realities of the writer’s life:
- If you can’t wallpaper an entire room with your rejection letters, you’re not a serious writer.
- The old cliche, “It’s 95% who you know and 5% what you know” is absolutely true. Get over it or go find a job in food service.
- You can’t not write, even if it’s to say, “I’m so frustrated! I have writer’s block!
As I’ve mentioned (more than once), if you’re over the age of 5 live on Earth and are still alive, you’re insane. But it does take a special kind of insanity to be a writer.
I think that’s why some of my favorite people are writers.
Count me in the ‘insane’ group….
“….the sun goes up, the sun goes down, the sun goes up, the sun goes down…..” said Toronto to the Stoned Ranger.
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Funny! You have to read it with a text reader to get into the swing of it. 🙂
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My sister is a writer. In fact, she writes with moxie, density and intensity like you. She even mentioned about writing being so hard. I’m not a writer, noo- but I’m smart enough to appreciate good writers. 😀
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As I said in “Can Enemies Become Friends,” I look better on paper than in person. I think IQ tests have little to do with life skills. It’s not hard to rattle off numbers backwards. What is hard is to be asked 10 minutes after you’ve been told the numbers. Were that part of the test, it would soon become apparent that I have the memory of a goldfish. -)
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Great post! I particularly liked this line though “As I enjoy the soft fur of my favorite cur.” It made me smile!
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Thanks. I love making people smile. 🙂
I loved her soft, texturous fur. I know, there’s no such word as “texturous,” but in my mind it fully describes the sensation of petting her, and thinking about it makes me smile..
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Sounds like a usable word to me!!!
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Thanks for the reminder of a time when my favorite cur with her strokeable fur was in my life. I’m reblogging it for newer readers. 🙂
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I saw! I’m sure they’ll appreciate that!
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Thanks for being my muse for the day. 🙂
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No worries. It was amusing to be one. 😉 lol
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Reblogged this on Two on a Rant and commented:
This post is about being a writer, but it reminded me of someone I lost 3 years ago, bringing her love alive in my mind again.
Another blogger liked this post today and made a comment. The post was written August 2013, when my Chelsaddog was still a part of my Earthly life. His comment helped me remember her texturous fur, and how happy she made a room feel just by being in it.
Writer’s need love, too. I’m thankful for the reminder and thought new readers might enjoy reading this post. 🙂
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How wonderful! I love your list of realities. So true. Great post to show those of us who weren’t here in 2013! Thanks
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Thanks. 🙂
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No writers block. Procrastination and carpel tunnel.
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My sister has honed procrastination to a science. In return, she has honed my nagging into a science. 🙂
I’ve met 2 people with carpel tunnel and it is my opinion that the terms “procrastination” and “carpel tunnel” can’t be used in the same sentence. Both worked harder and any 4 people I know. 🙂
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