18 Comments to “Writing, Words, and People We Have Known”

1. April 16th, 2008 at 11:27 am
   --Deb said

   I love this–it’s so true. And it’s one of the reasons that nobody can write like anybody else, because nobody puts words on paper (virtual or otherwise) without bringing every bit of reading and writing they’ve done in their life to the paper with them. Yet, when it comes down to it, all those voices are silenced by your own, writing your own words. Poetic, really!

2. April 16th, 2008 at 1:54 pm
   ME Liz Strauss said

   Hi Deb!
   Thank you for this comment. It’s nice to hear from you that you understand.

3. April 16th, 2008 at 2:14 pm
   --Deb said

   It’s one of the things that makes writing so interesting to me–it’s a synthesis of what makes me who I am, all condensed into the way I form the sentences, the word choices I make. Nobody in the world thinks like I do (I’ve been assured this is true many times!), which makes my writing unique. I know there are better writers (and worse ones) out there, but none exactly like me. How very comforting!

4. April 16th, 2008 at 4:13 pm
   Dianne Murphy-Rodgers said

   Liz, this is beautiful!

   The power of the written word, hey? Always always amazes me!

   :o)

5. April 16th, 2008 at 7:30 pm
   Mary Ann said

   People, places, and things shape who we are. Writing out words that describe our personal perceptions of those items is a whole different matter altogether. One has to tap into human emotions that any and all have had at one time or another albeit mad, sad, glad, or ambiguous. Those items are the very basic human emotions we have.

   *Hugs!*

6. April 16th, 2008 at 8:02 pm
   ME Liz Strauss said

   Hi Deb,
   The unique words you choose, the way you put them together . . . I’ll never in a million years choose the same way. Your music and mine are slightly different, just as butterflies are different colors, or flowers have slightly different scents. We are all originals.

   Beautiful, lonely, and as you say “a comfort.” I understand.

7. April 16th, 2008 at 8:02 pm
   ME Liz Strauss said

   Hi Dianne,
   The power of sharing what we really feel when we only have words to express that. It’s truly amazing.

8. April 16th, 2008 at 9:06 pm
   Rick Cockrum said

   I cannot write today’s thoughts without revealing yesterday’s history.

   We even get to reveal yesterday’s history to ourselves.

9. April 17th, 2008 at 11:11 am
   ME Liz Strauss said

   Yeah, Rick,
   I find out a lot about what I’m thinking when I write. More often than not, I find out that what I thought I was going to say isn’t nearly as important as what my writing leads me to recalling.

10. April 17th, 2008 at 11:45 am
    ME Liz Strauss said

    Hi Mary Ann,
    We can’t separate from our experience. Every teacher has changed how we define the word teacher. Everyone who has touched our lives has moved our path in some way. I agree.

    Makes it hard to communicate in some ways and richer in others.

11. April 17th, 2008 at 11:47 am
    Joanna Young said

    Hi Liz

    How our words weave together. I read this and smiled, but I didn’t dip down to enjoy the wonderful thread of conversation here until Diane pointed it out to me on Twitter…

    It’s odd isn’t how personal and ‘alone’ the act of writing is, yet as you say each word is shaped by experience and interaction with others, and each and every word that’s written creates a further ripple with someone else - even if that’s ‘just’ ourselves…

    Joanna

12. April 17th, 2008 at 11:55 am
    ME Liz Strauss said

    Hi Joanna!
    Writing is both personal and social. We can’t make it one or the other. It’s a conversation with ourselves and with others by nature of how we acquire the language we use.

    Yes, our words weave as our lives do.

13. April 17th, 2008 at 11:57 am
    Dianne Murphy-Rodgers said

    @Joanna “How our words weave together …” Lovely thought, that not only is each thing written a collection of words woven by us as individuals, but that together, these can be shared and woven into beautiful tapestries!

    @Liz “Your music and mine are slightly different, just as butterflies are different colors, or flowers have slightly different scents.” This really is lovely, Liz, I really admire the way you write your music!

    :o)

14. April 17th, 2008 at 12:09 pm
    ME Liz Strauss said

    Hi Diane,
    We all bring our own gifts. Your smile shines through every word you write.

15. April 17th, 2008 at 12:15 pm
    Dianne Murphy-Rodgers said

    Thank you, Liz! *smiling even more now* What a lovely thing to say and another example of the power and beauty of words, that a small comment can have such a lovely positive effect on someone’s day! :o)

16. April 17th, 2008 at 12:26 pm
    ME Liz Strauss said

    Hi Dianne!
    Isn’t that just the wonder . . . ?!!!

    I love that part the best.

17. April 17th, 2008 at 1:56 pm
    --Deb said

    Prior to the internet, I don’t know that I would have said that writing was both personal and SOCIAL. Writing letters might have leaned in that direction, but when it was just writers with their pens (or typewriters, or whatever), I think it was much more introspective. Not quite anti-social, but individual. With the internet, though, not only is there so much more community, but you can write and get immediate feedback. No more lonely months pounding away in the (figurative) dark!

    Man, I really love the internet (grin).

18. April 17th, 2008 at 5:08 pm
    ME Liz Strauss said

    Hi Deb!
    In my mind, writing has always been social. The words we write, even those for ourselves, were formed by the interactions we’ve had with people, from the thoughts and feelings we’ve shared. . . . The words we leave are read by others.