Articles archived for April 2010

I absolutely HATE people who explain what a writer’s writing MEANT.
You know the ones I mean. University professors, English majors, the guy next to you when you walk out of the latest blockbuster at the cinema. They have this look. It’s as if all wisdom has been revealed only to them. They’ve “discovered” the true meaning of all things.

What Shakespeare may or may not have been alluding to in his 36th Sonnet he and only he knows. His words are unique to him and the context and meaning behind each carefully crafted phrase connects with memories that are not ours.

When you read, you are not reading the heart and mind of the writer, you’re not reading what he wrote or what he meant to write. Every word on the page is uniquely YOURS. You cannot read Shakespeare’s 36th Sonnet, you gaze at those fourteen lines of iambic pentameter and read YOUR Shakespeare’s 36th.

Every time we write we do so with our own truth and meaning. We allude to our personal experience. We create uniquely for ourselves a story no one else will ever read. Every best-selling book is not a single story, but rather infinite stories bound in a single book. Every reader reads his or her own story.

Do you think you’re reading MY post right now? You’re not. You’re reading your translation, your personal interpretation of my post. Every word is shaded, tilted, shaped, and changed in your reading of it. Your mind weighs and judges. It lifts each word from the page and sorts it, comparing it to your personal and uniquely individual understanding of that word.

Your memories and experience shape everything you read into something other than what the writer wrote. Even now your mind is grabbing at fragments that refute or concur with what I’m telling you. Its remembering situations where this truth was true or not true for you. And every time you read, the memories and experiences you’ve had between each reading creates a whole new story.

Now, can you tell me what any writer truly meant without having asked the writer? Can you truly know that writer’s mind or is a story’s worth and meaning merely a reflection of your personal insight. It’s meaning is yours, Shakespeare’s meaning is his own, and so is mine.

Have you ever discussed a story with others and wondered if they were reading the same book as you? How have readers transformed your writing from your original intent in their personal interpretations and reviews of it?

You know, I’m always wary about writing a blog post for April 1st. The internet is rife with “April Fools” events. I don’t have the wit to write a prank post and I’m always concerned that readers will mistake the day’s post for an April Fool’s joke. This post is NOT one, as I just said, I don’t have the wit for them.

Did you know that April is National Poetry Month. Of course, I’m very displeased about it. So, I’ve decided that I’m going to declare it ‘Inter‘National Poetry Month. Because there are those of us not based in the United States that love poetry too. (We can celebrate again in October when Great Britain has their National Poetry Month.)

This month we’re going to be sharing some poetry related content on Writer’s Round-About. Have you ever considered how your writing is influenced by poetry? There are tools and techniques when writing poetry that are useful additions to any writer’s toolbox.

Writers, as lovers of language, usually develop a passion for poetry if given an opportunity to experience it. Poetry is the most condensed form of language craft and it is in poetry that one can see true mastery of writing craft as an art-form. We can write an exceptionally crafted article, it is art, but it wears a white-collar and looks like an office building. Poetry is splashed in rainbows, it glows with the radiance of creativity and inspires us to beauty and awe.

We’ll learn more about this during the coming weeks. Subscribe today so you don’t miss out.

Speaking of missing out, I got word of a Secret Stationery Sale! If you’re anything like me you LOVE Stationery so I thought I’d whisper this secret to you. For the 24 hours of April 1st you can save 45% across the entire Expressionery site*. Click here and use the promotional code, “FBFOOL” to save. Now, I got wind of this sale before today, so it’s not an April Fools joke either.

Speaking of surprises, I’ve got one that I’m working hard to have ready before the end of April. It’s a lot more work than I’d originally thought it would be but I’m cautiously optimistic that I’ll be able to share it with you some time in the next few weeks.

Don’t forget to grab your 45% savings on address labels, book plates, bookmarks, calendars, cards, invitations, labels, notepads, and more. This could be just the opportunity to create brand-able stationery to promote your fiction or freelance writing business.

*excluding Susan G. Komen Stamp & Gift Pack

Photo Credit: 01-27-09 © Lisa Thornberg