I remember those afternoon trips to the public library to do "research" for those 10-15 page school papers, with evenings spent fighting whichever sister was hogging our family's only dictionary. My oldest two sisters finally got smaller versions, leaving the big dictionary to the younger kids who had no need to carry words in pockets.
The Internet has made such ease for writing with a quick check of spelling and word alternatives. Need a fact to punch up a story, or need to check facts you'd swear true? No problem, just check online. The Internet boasts millions- billions of every source imaginable.
Yet, the Internet misses the distinct flavor of library research, when students had to actually read an expert to find that one precise quote to round out a thesis statement, support an argument, or tie that final loose end. It's too easy now to find the quotes, which then become too easy to take out of context. Why bother reading the chapter or entire book to see if a writer actually agrees with your point of view?
The Internet can give you those millions of results in 0.45 seconds. But it cannot summarize the intricate labors of thinkers and writers. For that, schools, homes, and the Internet still needs readers, willing to look deeper than the fast find, willing to turn pages, and get lost at least a few times while trying to figure out what a writer is really trying to say.
Monday, April 7, 2008
Writing: Peeling Bark: manipulating words
The beauty of written communication is the numerous ways to say the same thing by manipulating words and phrases. The power of words to create images, evoke feelings, and change thinking is an endless endeavor.
Some persons write only for personal reasons in journaling or poetry. A friend of mine, Becky, devoted several decades of her 60 year to exploring her life and emotions through small composition notebooks. Stacks of these adorn her coffee table like mini-sculptures of her life. Through poetry and daily reflections, Becky weaves words around her marriage, children, grandchildren, home and emotions much like others knit or quilt personal lives into tangible beauty.
Other writers seek to educate, inform, or entertain through essays, articles, and novels. They reflect more on situations within the larger world, or create for readers unexplored fantasy worlds. Many of these writers become artists using syllables and structure, drawing readers to knowledge of relationships, psychology, and life. They hone each word as a carver creating representations of family, home, and personal life. Futuristic and fantasy writers bring us worlds from outer space to underground cities, from religious settings to barbarian societies tapping our own muscular control over others.
Whether for their own pleasure or to share with an audience, writers pick over words as though perusing vegetables in their store's produce aisle. Orange long yams give an earthier appeal to the brown and dull and rounder red-skinned potatoes that . Broccoli's compact cushions give way to the floppy outer layers of lettuce. Bright yellow stark red peppers contrast to their plump green cousins stacked row upon row. Bright orange carrots poke their slender tips against hard red radishes as though attempting to impale, while sleek dull-yellow and unripened bananas curve upward as though unwilling to intrude on their neighbors. Much like picking vegetables and displaying them, writers stack and align word upon word to within a desired space. Long, plump words fall amongst among shorter, flatter ones, giving our eyes a contrasting mix. Pointed words jab at our senses but cause no injury, while other phrases and word groups simply curve and allow room for others around them. Writers dwell on word choices, peruse dictionaries and Thesaurus like a shopper attracted as much to a vegetable's coloring, the person's palate creates desire, or the shopper's knowledge of each one's benefits. While choices of vegetables enhances physical health, a writer's words enriches the mind, spirit, and Soul.
This Blog offers companionship and help for other writers while it presents my personal and professional work of manipulating words and phrases for my goal to create images, evoke feelings, and change thinking.
Some persons write only for personal reasons in journaling or poetry. A friend of mine, Becky, devoted several decades of her 60 year to exploring her life and emotions through small composition notebooks. Stacks of these adorn her coffee table like mini-sculptures of her life. Through poetry and daily reflections, Becky weaves words around her marriage, children, grandchildren, home and emotions much like others knit or quilt personal lives into tangible beauty.
Other writers seek to educate, inform, or entertain through essays, articles, and novels. They reflect more on situations within the larger world, or create for readers unexplored fantasy worlds. Many of these writers become artists using syllables and structure, drawing readers to knowledge of relationships, psychology, and life. They hone each word as a carver creating representations of family, home, and personal life. Futuristic and fantasy writers bring us worlds from outer space to underground cities, from religious settings to barbarian societies tapping our own muscular control over others.
Whether for their own pleasure or to share with an audience, writers pick over words as though perusing vegetables in their store's produce aisle. Orange long yams give an earthier appeal to the brown and dull and rounder red-skinned potatoes that . Broccoli's compact cushions give way to the floppy outer layers of lettuce. Bright yellow stark red peppers contrast to their plump green cousins stacked row upon row. Bright orange carrots poke their slender tips against hard red radishes as though attempting to impale, while sleek dull-yellow and unripened bananas curve upward as though unwilling to intrude on their neighbors. Much like picking vegetables and displaying them, writers stack and align word upon word to within a desired space. Long, plump words fall amongst among shorter, flatter ones, giving our eyes a contrasting mix. Pointed words jab at our senses but cause no injury, while other phrases and word groups simply curve and allow room for others around them. Writers dwell on word choices, peruse dictionaries and Thesaurus like a shopper attracted as much to a vegetable's coloring, the person's palate creates desire, or the shopper's knowledge of each one's benefits. While choices of vegetables enhances physical health, a writer's words enriches the mind, spirit, and Soul.
This Blog offers companionship and help for other writers while it presents my personal and professional work of manipulating words and phrases for my goal to create images, evoke feelings, and change thinking.
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