The Lure of Writing
This morning, I woke up thinking about why I love to write. I will take a topic that I know something about, and by the time I’ve done more research, I know a whole lot more. New details pop up, at every turn, and I go running to books in my library or elsewhere to find answers to obscure questions that might be of no interest to others but please my inquiring mind.
Recently, I announced that I am “into” minutia. That is, I want to know all those itsy bitsy points of knowledge, even if they never show up in any of my writings. Writing is a good mental exercise and is probably helps “brain plasticity,” a topic that has been discussed on a recent PBS show. To explain the concept briefly, as aging occurs, brains that are not regularly exercised will begin to atrophy. Writing is one way to stimulate and challenge the brain. Crossword puzzles serve the same purpose and are recommended.
I have come to the conclusion that one cannot be an excellent writer while still very young. Poets and writers who have had more life experiences generally do better at expressing their thoughts in an insightful way. They have had more time to not only learn about their subject area, but they have also passed through the fires and trials of life itself.
When I was a small child, family members wrote letters. Today, we usually just e-mail. That is a faster way to communicate, but those e-letters are deleted at the push of a button and disappear forever. I am happy to still be able to read letters that my mother’s grandfather wrote to her, and so many other old letters that have left a footprint in time. To see the handwriting of my forebears has been a happy experience.
Yes, writing is a wonderful venue, and research is fun, especially if you love finding new twists and turns around every bend. What better way to collect information and then share it in a potentially lasting way? In writing about a topic such as quilting, why, who could ask for more? The lure of writing is compelling!
Have a great day!
Patricia Cummings
