Writing a lot about writing

Ed Close

I write about writing a lot in this column. Perhaps its because I do a lot of it or simply that I have always found writing to be very rewarding, I’m not really sure. I do have other interests but writing is at the top of any such list in my existence.

I write lists. I write notes. I write some poetry, short stories and I’ve written a great many songs over the years. I’ve been writing since I was able to do so. It seems to be something genetic in my make-up. I can’t say which relatives I inherited this from but I suspect there have been writers, my oldest sister for instance, throughout my family tree. It’s inbred, this love of playing around with words and phrases.

Along the way, I’ve tried to help other writers as I can but sometimes the people who ask for help in this area really aren’t writers, they’re people with story ideas who simply won’t do the work it takes to write that idea into a full blown story. Many that have asked for my help though, have actually started writing more and stuck with it. Some will publish one day, some won’t. I think it all depends on just how important writing is to the person involved. That one story idea may touch a life out there and change it for the better and you might not ever know that happened or meet that person. It doesn’t matter if you do. You’ve touched them in some way or simply entertained them for a short while in a life that is often hectic and demanding.

I believe writing is worth the effort. If I didn’t think and feel that it was, I would have stopped doing it a long, long time ago. I hope this column, coming from small town America, will touch or inspire others who have that internal bent for writing. It might and it might not but, once again, I believe it’s worth the effort.

Perhaps it will make someone think or smile or be inspired to pick up a pen or tap on a keyboard. Perhaps it won’t. If my writing affects you in some way, I feel I’ve done what a writer is supposed to do. If not, well, I can’t really do much about that so I’ll simply carry on with the writing and hope the next person who stumbles upon the words printed in this column is affected in a positive way.

Now, where did I leave that wandering coffee cup?