In So Many Words

Having attended a number of writer symposiums and conferences I picked up some sagely advice concerning the craft.  One was, to cultivate a communication with other writers for those times you need encouragement or inspiration.  In other words we need to feel others understand our plight.

  I stopped going to conferences because they struck me as serial complaints and fears over being rejected or published; but that’s another exploration.  The suggestion about a friend rang true.  I have a writer friend who conveyed to me that they just couldn’t get the fire back, they considered all the contributing reasons, and many were in fact valid.  School, family, job, they all take time; and writing takes focus that is difficult to obtain when you’re distracted by other pressing demands.

   I believe the case could be said people in general are in that boat.  We all feel the need for someone who knows us knows our aspirations, and whom we feel accepts us warts and all.

  In framing these comments I’ve come to recognize something as well and just as valuable; use words sparingly.  For a wordsmith that may sound a bit contradictory, seeing how creative writing is all about discretions.  Yet I’ve gone back over a number of essays I’ve written in the past, and even if I created them, I still feel burdened to read through the morass.  So the idea to share today is two-fold.  Cherish your friends…and tell them of your love, in simple terms

             Everything else Is just embellishment