Developing a New Language

Far too many writers are lost for words and I have been among them. I'm ready for that to change.

Abagail Thomas is someone whose writings I subscribe to on Substack. She is honest, raw, hugely artistic and often very funny. I never fail to open a Post when she makes one. I almost always make a comment or at least click the heart to show her I liked it.

Today she wrote about not being able to write. How clever is that? Pretty clever if you ask me. Which I realize no one did, but I’ll share my opinion anyway.

I miss being here. I believe as humans, we need to feel seen and connected and valuable to the health of our communities. Well, at least I need to. Especially in these times. And this is the way I do it. So when I have a ‘dry spell’, when I find myself with no words, no inspiration and nothing to say, it makes my life less than ideal. And trust me when I say there are already enough things happening in our lives that can do that.

Recently, working my way through Richard Osman’s Thursday Murder Club series, (Yes. Anything to lose myself in the land of fiction each night before I attempt sleep) I came across this quote, as the final sentence in one of his books. “I know it sounds silly, but I feel less alone when I write. So, thank you for keeping me company, whoever you might be.”

That really resonated with me. I realized that it’s what I miss about writing. Feeling connected. Feeling less alone. As a writer, it’s what I need to do. And when I am not doing it, I am not feeding nor being fed. It’s almost like I’m not participating in my life. Or in yours.

We live a rather isolated life, Greg and Toby and I. We have neighbors but they are as isolated as we are and most of them live in this sweet little hamlet of No Name because we like our space.

But, it can be lonely and I miss the interaction of posting things on Substack. I miss the community of those who read these posts.

So, in the beautiful words of ‘Joyce’, thank you for keeping me company, whoever you might be. I promise I’m still here and so grateful for each one you.

And just to plug a recent You Tube piece, if you haven’t watched the one we did with Stephanie Ford, please do. Her creative juices are probably more than enough to make up for the current lack of my own!!

Until next time, which hopefully will be very soon, stay well. Stay hopeful. Stay engaged and stay true.

Love Sean