Somebody needs me

The ideas I give them

hope, comfort, courage

—Christy Hoff, ArtRoot Writer-in-Residence

My favorite saying is that normal is a setting on your dryer. We apply normal to many situations. By now it is somewhat vague and watered down. Normal results, normal children, normal dogs, normal lives…

I’m not going off into the world of what is normal for writers. Writers cannot be put in a box. Let’s face it, writers are individuals who feel compelled to put words on a page. That is where the similarity ends.

What kind of words? What is the medium? Do they work together or does each word stand alone? Are they sounds that rely on auditory experience and visual cues or strictly written for reading? Then there is the meanings of words, placement on the page, the moment in time, the distribution vehicle to readers/listeners/subscribers/the world.

As a writer, I’ve often been disillusioned when entering any establishment containing books, especially bookstores. Is there anything left to write about? Why would anyone care what I have to say? Just who IS my audience and where do they live? Seems like a lot of question marks.

I gather weekly (somewhat) with other creative people. Artists, musicians, even gardeners and cooks can be part of such a gathering. We all face those driftless places where we question whether we are doing the world any good.

I sincerely hope your goal is not moving the world. But the person in front of you or the one who sees, hears, reads, tastes your work is important. That person wasn’t with me in the bookstore.

I’m going to steal here. But this is some of the best advice I’ve seen in a long time. Published by Authors Publish and written by Sabyasachi Roy, “Yes, everything has already been said. But not by you. Not in your voice, with your timing, your stubborn metaphors, your strange little way of seeing hands peel fruit. It’s never the idea — It’s the angle, the rhythm, the fingerprints on the words.”

This hits the heart of my reluctance. It removes one more obstacle, one more excuse. Most of all these words carry reassurance that someone out there needs to hear what I have to say.

It is even conceivable that someone needs my words or your creation. Whatever it is, keep moving it forward and get it out into the world.

Speaking of moving forward, I will be at Trek Bicycle Store Racine on October 28 from 12:30 to 2:30. Let’s chat about what you can bring to the world. I’ve got an idea for a special writing you can do and pass along to someone.