Write Just to Write

The Author's Blog - Pen to Paper

3. Write Just to Write

If you read my first writing tip, you might have noticed the phrase, ‘it just takes practice, practice, practice’ stated multiple times. Well, before I wrote my first book, I spend months typing away at a keyboard. Eight to twelve hours a day, six days a week.

Several months later, I picked up my head and took a deep breath. I just happened to look down at the bottom left hand corner of my computer screen. Surprisingly, I noticed it read ‘words’ in a small partition followed by a colon then a number. I starred at that number for at least five seconds. Then it donned on me, I was looking at the number of words I had written.

Wow. I managed to type 243,886 words in just over five months. So the question is, "what did I write about?" Honestly, anything that came to mind. I had played poker with some friends several months before so I penned forty pages on that activity. Of course, I couldn’t remember the hands played nor the conversations that took place. However, since I had been to his house numerous times, I described the venue in considerable detail. The players were easy to remember but I could only recall generalities about their moods and what they wore.

I was also able to evoke memories on events that took place outside the game. For example, my friend had introduced a new puppy into his family and it was still acclimating to its new environment. Unfortunately, it wasn’t being very successful. The puppy repeatedly urinated in the house during my four hour visit. And one instance was close enough to allow me the honor of taking his scent home with me on my shoe.

During another outing, I went shopping for a specialty cat food. I was surprised on the volume of words necessary to describe a thirty second conversation with a sales representative. However, at first, even though the person was helpful, I thought it was a mistake to ask an eighteen-year-old employee for assistance. I scoped around for another worker other than the cashiers. Surprisingly enough, it appeared this young lady was the only person working that day.

So, during my event recording, I asked and answered some simple questions. For example, what store did I go to? What time of day was it and why was the store so crowded? Who were the customers inside? Were they first time shoppers like me or long time patrons like Mrs. O’Neal who seemed to know everyone? By the way, who takes their cat, a ferret or a rabbit shopping with them? Well, apparently the customers who shop at this store. There was even a patron with a bird on his shoulder. A bird; who does that? Anyway, if that wasn’t unique enough, the bird talked. This African Grey apparently self-conscious or vain asked everyone that walked by if it was pretty.

Ha. Now, as far as I know, an African Grey is a mimic. It’s not capable of having a conversation with you. Nevertheless, it didn’t deter anyone there, including myself from trying to do just that. When I approached the bird it engaged me. “Am I pretty?” the bird asked me.

I looked around and instinctively responded back to this bird without realizing it. "Pardon, are you talking to me?" The owner, seemingly so accustomed to the bird’s actions he never looked up at me or anyone else.

"Am I pretty?" The bird repeated.

Finally, I say to this bird, "Yes, yes you are. You're a pretty bird."

"Am I pretty?" The bird asked again.

"Yes," I replied.

"Am I pretty?"

"Geez, I said yes. I said you were pretty. You're a very pretty bird."

After all that, to my surprise this African Grey told me, "Well, you’re funny looking," before it flew off.

"Wait, wait what?" Was my come back. Then I thought to myself, this bird is hilarious. This could have easily been a Saturday Night Live skit. I actually looked around to see if I was getting punked. I actually considered chasing after the bird. But only for a moment, because it occurred to me, it’s a bird. Who thanks to its owner was loose flying round a store entertaining customers and not in a cage. Good for you little buddy. Enjoy the freedom.

Well, it took me over twenty pages to describe my ten minute visit to this store and my thirty second interaction with this eighteen-year-old sales rep. Who by the way, was very helpful, intelligent and personable. After I re-read my work, I realized I had failed to record the one thing I remembered most about the experience. And it wasn’t the bird, it was the young girl.

I didn’t write one word about this young lady who helped me, other then what I perceived to be her age. I remembered so clearly what she looked like. What she was wearing. The sound of her voice and the idioms she used. She seemed so bubbly and happy to be there earning what I’m sure was minimum wage. The whole time, she never lost her smile. I was thinking to myself, I hope this young woman is appreciated. But the poor girl’s name was Norma. Who names their kid Norma these days? That is so 1910.

Anyway, she wore two bracelets, one on each wrist. She had on Ralph Lauren leather sandals in early spring when it was still cold out. She had a large stainless steel ring on her right thumb and multiple rings on her toes. However, what I remember most is a simple chain with a crucifix hanging around her neck. She kept fidgeting with it and touching all the customers as she walked by them. Well, let me stop there.

So what is the moral of this story, if you just sit and write you would be surprised at how many words could be recorded and still avoid writing the obvious. So, practice, practice, practice and let everyone see the world through your eyes. I guarantee, you have beauty to share.

Good luck and keep pen to paper.