The Mystery within... |
Our instructor encouraged pencil and paper for recording our
thoughts for our writing assignments. She
said a different thought process is involved between brain, pencil and paper
verses fingers, keyboard and screen. I
knew that from when I recorded events from my days during the years I cared for
my aging parents. For three years
yellow, green and blue spiral notebook entries piled up from which “God Never Hurries”
was drawn. I didn’t own a computer then
and I am glad, for my writing would have been different without the movement of
my hand held pencil across the blue, wide lined white paper. I do need to confess that for our last writing
assignment at Shake Rag I did revert to recording it on my laptop because of
limited time and ease of reading it aloud in class. It was the assignment where all participants provided a written critique. So I got
away with nothing and valued the insights shared.
I learned when I am hesitant to write about a life
experience it most likely is the most important thing I should write
about. I was reminded using everyday
life descriptors keeps my writing real.
Another valuable tip I used to practice, but fell away from, was always
keeping paper and pen handy, especially at my bedside table, to record thoughts
to develop later. Most important thoughts
would come to me upon awakening to inform my first memoire.
Just last night I had a thought, but was too tired to turn on the light
and write it down and now it is gone--hopefully not forever.
I was struck how diverse each of our writings were in this memoire class. I believe
the thing we all have in common is our differences. It is what gives life its color, allows us to
learn from one another, and grow from experiences shared.
Although it is always pleasant to return home, I truly miss
the interaction with other writers in our rustic surroundings, and
mostly absent electronics. I would like
to hang onto the nourishing feeling I had of being more real in a more simple world.
Did I pencil and paper this reflection first? No.
But I am modifying my exposure to some of the of today’s
electronic intrusions and am aware of feeling the better off for it.
What if we more often had the opportunity to realize a more
nourishing real world?
Lovely, Marcia. And it was a delight spending time with you and your writing.
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