Saturday, February 13, 2010

Claim it: I am a writer.

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        In my world of thinking, I don’t always know the moment or the day that an idea will come full circle and get tied into that satisfactory knot.

        Today was the day for me.

        I am a writer.

        Every inch of my humbly raised, don’t brag about your own truth, or claim your claim to fame feelings said it is OK to say this out loud today.

        I am a writer.

        If not, pray tell, what are these?

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        The journals on the left were filled in the last three years; the journals on the right, covered in cellophane, are waiting to be filled.  I am currently writing in the journal down front. There are many, many more that have been stored or even thrown away- only because I knew more would come. This does not include the  300 plus posts I have written.

        I taught writing everyday of my working life in a classroom with teenagers who all had stories to tell.

        My technique at teaching writing (which is almost like saying I teach SOULS-how ridiculous) changed over the years.

        It is true. You really do get wiser. I first played by the rules. That black and white thinking was a life raft in the maelstrom of teaching at the high school level.

        Jamming your heart and soul thinking into a five paragraph essay is a painful and futile exercise.

        Then something loosened.  Aah…

        I began teaching writing by saying

‘An educated person has the ability to manipulate his/her own language.”

        And then I would say-

Get after it.”

        I am a writer. Not because I have a degree in English and Journalism, not because I am and always will be an English teacher, not because I have a masters degree or because I have taught at both the high school and college level, but simply because,

        I am a writer.

        I have the requisite thanks but no thanks letter from a magazine publisher to whom I sent an essay . The editor’s thank you note was even hand-written. What a contradiction in terms: civil negativity.

        Today I no longer categorize writing as something published by others.  I can’t afford to wait that long. The withering that might cause is a nightmare I can’t stand to think about.

        That to me would be like saying you are not a mother unless you have received an award.

        So this morning I say to all of you, in my own unique attempt at a DIY tutorial for anyone reading:

Claim it. Say it.

        I am a writer.

 

31 comments:

I Do Declare said...

You are indeed a writer - way to own it!!!!

Theresa said...

I love to read what you write! You have a special way of saying everything you say! Happy to know you, "a writer"! Have a blessed day and stay warm!

trash talk said...

Well, it's about time!
Debbie

Blondie's Journal said...

I second Debbie.

xoxo
Jane

brokeintrovert said...

I really liked this post a lot. Wow! on the journals too.

Helen said...

Oh YES ... you are a WRITER ~ we all enjoy reading!

Sandra said...

Now Miss Laura I have commented over and over about your gift. And please know that I taught English for 30+ years as you know, and I taught them how to write, also, but I am not a writer as you are. No, being a writer is a gift. And darlin', you have it. Are you aware of the service that makes your blog into a book? You need to do it!

http://blog2print.sharedbook.com/blogworld/printmyblog/index.html
Have a fab Valentine's Day weekend!! xoxo

Lisa said...

Yes you are!!!

Prior said...

Great post! The only journal I've ever consistently written in was for my daughter. I began it the first day of her senior year and wrote in it, if not ever day, close, then I laid on her bed the last day of school. So, you are definitely a writer in my book! Lezlee

Rebecca Nelson said...

I love the way you write.

Yes.

You are a writer.

May God continue to bless and direct your pen.

Love, Rebecc

Unknown said...

G'day Laura ~ You have a beautiful talent for writing ... I so enjoy you.
Happy Valentine's
Have a loving weekend.
Hugs, Marydon

Debra@CommonGround said...

Bless your heart, dear Laura. I'm so glad something clicked in you and that you are seeing the need to be up and out with this. You, my sweet and wonderful friend, have a talent and gift that is unique and pervasive. BTW I love your journals, mine are just spiral notebooks or loose leaf. I need to do better. You are a true inspiration.
love,
Debra

donna baker said...

Even though I didn't get my novel published, I wrote it. It was the great American novel - some better, some not.

Glenda/MidSouth said...

You are a writer! I enjoy reading your posts. The older I get - the worse I write. My English teachers would cringe if they ever saw my posts. :-D

Scribbler said...

Your posts always resonate with me. I have been trying to get published for quite a while. Recently I resumed blogging, because my reasoning is that I do not have to be paid, although it would be great. I just want to be read. That is why I write. I have something to say, and I hope people will read it.

You are a writer, and I am a writer. I have been saying it for a while now, and I almost believe it.

Scribbler

Deb said...

you are a writer Laura...I love your blog...I love writing....always have...loved writing stories when I was a kid....

Tanna said...

Beautiful post, Laura. I am proud to bear witness to your claiming your gift!!

Cindy said...

You are so neat!

June said...

Oh Laura, you are most definitely a writer. And I am, most definitely, an avid fan of your writing.
hugs

C. Earl Mahan said...

"...and the Word became flesh..."

Patina Soul said...

You go girl! Yes you ARE a fantastic writer!! :)
That post really inspires me to claim it!

Vickie said...

Ok, I'm saying it 'I AM A WRITER'. But I have a long way to go. I do not have the mandatory refusal to print letter because I will never submit anything to publish.

I usually write like I talk, with lots of mistakes in grammar and punctuation. I usually write like I talk, dropping my 'g's and using slang east Texas words and phrases that my daddy and my grandparents would say. You can hear the twang in my writing sometimes. I usually write like I talk, my thoughts come tumbling out in no particular rhyme or reason sometimes. But 'I AM A WRITER'. Otherwise, why would I blog?

You, Laura, on the other hand, can write beautifully and I'm always fascinated at how you can put words together! Good post!

Dayle ~ A Collection of Days said...

Go, girl!!

Tammy@Fear Not said...

Claim it! I would say I'm a doodler of words. When you said: " I am a writer. If not, pray tell, what are these?" and then I saw all the journals, I chuckled. Yep. You. Are. A. Writer. I bet those 'sentences' don't play by the english rules. :) So glad you did "Get after it!"

Melissa, Multi-Tasking Mama said...

I am a writer..I love the sound of that (for you and me both!) thanks for the permission, I needed it

Melissa said...

Ohhh....I want to but I don't dare!
Beautiful! Thanks!

dawn said...

I'm not sure I'm ready to claim it. But I think it might be true...

I posted about journalling today--so enjoyed seeing your journal pic!

Heather Mattern said...

LOVED reading this!! Thank you for the encouragement and please do share where you get your LOVELY journals from?

LPC said...

This is a wild process, isn't it? Thanks for writing, thanks for writing this.

Stacey said...

The stack of journals makes my heart go pitter patter! I love it...'I am a writer'.

I use to teach elementary school K-3 reading and writing. I loved teaching writing. Other teachers ran in horror.

Thanks for stopping by. I have enjoyed my a quick first visit. I'll be back.
~Stacey

Dedra said...

Wonderful post! I enjoy your writing immensely. Way to claim it!

 

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