http://www.insecurewriterssupportgroup.com
I’m an inadvertent slave of William Shakespeare – with whom I have much in common, some people say. Apparently, he re-invented the English Language, invigorating it with words he invented… And, my favorite editor/shred-it-or describes my style as brisk word blending (I think she made that term up) 😆
It’s no matter, I like the term. I’ve often been told that my writing is spunky – a bit like me in person. My husband describes me as a walking exclamation point. And, he loves me, so how can that be bad? 😎 I bend to the beat like a post I wrote awhile ago – did you read it and re-shape your behavior? https://www.pjcolando.com/allerton-gardens-in-a-heartbeat/
Truths, which I reframe as gifts: my heritage is highly literate parents who cherished reading as much as they did me – and that’s not a bad thing, either. Both nature and nurture.
A positive result: I have an extraordinarily diverse vocabulary. I am also obedient to iambic pentameter, the verse of the Shakespeare that I ignored in high school. Boys were more important than Shakespeare then. They were cute and alive and he was dead!
Yes, I am obedient to iambic pentameter and possess a tendency to complete sentences with a clipped single power word. Not because I am clever or seek to write like a male, but because I am obedient to the beats.
I couldn’t erase those imperious beats if I tried.
The source? My inherent musicality (a gift from my dad) and reader/writer soul (a gift from my mom). It’s genetic and my writerly style is homage to my folks.
I was trained, also, to be Midwest humble.
Truly, lovingly, sincerely, I’ve never had time to feel insecure – muse flowed words to my fingers, whether keyboard or script by ink pen or pencil. I feel comfy in my writerly seat, not insecure.
I have heart, not ego or skin in the game. I loved my parents and wish that they were here.
I must honor my parents’ gifts to me, to keep them alive in my head and my heart.
So, to the theme of The Insecure Writer’s Support Group, the five things I cherish in my writing space: inheritance of wit, wisdom, musicality, and vocabulary from my parents, which all flow through my fingers to the keyboard.
Fascinating, so I’ve been using Shakespearean, even in Mexico where I was nurtured. Goes to show what a brilliant writer can do to the whole world.
Sadly, the world being what it is, children don’t see their parents read much more anymore, except for their cell phones — books, newspapers and such awesome things as family letters are disappearing. I guess we can only hope there will be something equally enlightening to replace them.
we both are, Peggy! thanks for your active follow and comments. Interaction we decidedly-introverted writers need
Boys were alive and Shakespeare was dead – that made me chuckle!
And, now dear Alex, you have insight into a 15 yr-old chicka’s mind –
That made me laugh too!!
Hi, PJ! I enjoyed your post! I love that you write from your heart and honor your parents’ through your writing. I loved my parents, and I wish they were here every day. I enjoyed all the opportunities I had to study Shakespeare, and I was often teased with “Out, damn’d spot! out, I say!” as I was a MacBeath (Macbeth). I was recently in London and had the thrill of seeing “Shakespeare’s First Folio” in the Treasures Room of the British Library. As for writing poetry in iambic pentameter or any other rhyming scheme, I was hopeless. Happy writing in November!
Wow – you are ‘real’ (like the Velveteen Rabbit) about Shakespeare! Glad to meet you and enjoy your blog friendship!
Did I wipe out my comment, or is it awaiting moderation? This is a test! Sorry, PJ?
thank goodness, I’m not the only one who reels with uncomfortability with this bloggy stuff…I’m getting too old for peering into tiny photos to find all of the busses, cars, and bikes! Yikes!
I’m so glad to see another writer invested in iambic pentameter! You couldn’t get me to STOP writing with it in high school. Whenever my English teacher would make edits I’d feel like I was melting.
I think that I think in iambic pentameter, Lacey, yet I honestly do not know the source. It’s been the backbeat of all my writing since I became a hobbyist.
Egads, it may have even appeared in my SLP clinical reports –
Love the attitude! Happy writing!
why thank you, Tonya – and, writing is a ‘happy place’ for me
What about you?
Great things to have in your writing space.
While I can’t imagine never feeling insecurity in this game, it must be incredibly nice to feel so comfortable. Perhaps you can bottle that and sell it to the rest of us? 😉
Oy! A new sales ploy: an empty bottle(preferably a remarkable red downed with last night’s dinner) for $23.99 along with a free hardcover of one’s latest book! No snake oil in sight 😉
Whaddayathink?