On Writing
“Words are things; and a small drop of ink / Falling like dew upon a thought, produces / That which makes thousands, perhaps millions, think.”
— Lord Byron, poet (1788-1824)
me, this afternoon: “I’m going to write for a while.”
Wacky Girl: “You always write! That’s all you do!”
me: “You should be glad you have a mother who’s an artist. You could have some boring old mother.”
Wacky Girl, leaving the room and calling out over her shoulder: “Writing. Is. Not. ART!”
I’ve started writing up my Grandma’s life story. She’s 87 next month. She’s a pistol. That’s what everyone says when they meet her: “Your Grandma is a pistol!” I’m like, damn straight.
You know her a little from what I’ve written here, here and here. She of the Coconut Cooky fame. She can tell a damn story. I wish I could share it with you, but I can’t. But once we get it published on Cafe Press you can order a copy. Pictures, recipes and all.
So, Internet, is writing art? Or not?
WM
, 
.
I kid you not – my daughter and I had this *very* argument last week.
She says I’m not writing when I sit down at my computer, I’m only ‘typing.’ I’d be writing if I used a pen and wrote in a notebook, you see.
This, from the kid who drags me over to the computer to point out the exact installation page for the typing program they use at school. How did she find it? “I googled it!” This, from the kid is bugging me for a laptop of her very own.
This, from the kid who had to present her story for the writing workshop she attended earlier this year in typewritten form.
But it apparently doesn’t “count” unless you agonize over writing it out in longhand first…
June 21st, 2007 | #
Betsy, you are an artist.
Have a fantabulous weekend.
June 21st, 2007 | #
Oh she sounds like my kids! Grrr. Little brats.
…just kidding…i know…bad me…
June 22nd, 2007 | #
I forgot to say Happy Belated Birthday. We’ll celebrate in August.
June 22nd, 2007 | #
We are all artists.
And Happy Birthday!
June 22nd, 2007 | #
Of course it is an art, some people can do it and others can’t. All arts need one thing, talent.
June 22nd, 2007 | #
i hope so, because it’s the only art i got…
June 22nd, 2007 | #
Stephanie, thank you.
Jen, me too!
June 22nd, 2007 | #
It hurts and it’s hard work–that’s what makes it art. If it didn’t hurt and if we didn’t have to revise and rewrite and revise again, it could be a craft. We could slap a sticker on it and stick it on the fridge. Too bad it’s not that easy.
June 25th, 2007 | #
I just tried to explain to someone how important writing is to me and that it is not a waste of my time. When you write with your heart, in all shapes and sizes, is most certainly an art. P.S. I did not mean for that to rhyme! ;)
Oh, and one more P.S. I just ran across your site and I’m really enjoying it! :)
July 20th, 2007 | #