Words in question

Words in question

   I am often asked, “Where do the words come from”?  It’s a good question, one that I believe I can answer. We all have hundreds of thoughts we keep neatly stored in our selves, surfacing when we call upon them, and other times all on their own. They are a part of who we are and the sum of our lives. All minds are a collection of words. Many are used while others lay hidden in the dark.

   As a writer, I have to un-lock vast amounts of memory to retrieve and construct from. Memories become stories and books and another form of words that I extracted from my mind and then using creativity, put them all together with hopefully good results. It becomes a game of word tug of war separating fact from fiction and making it all come together with a winning outcome.

   I believe all writers have a love affair with words. We are continually trying to match up one with another pairing words with other words using that creativity as if it were some magic potion. We spend countless hours digging and searching for words that can complement one another and leave lasting impressions on our readers. Words don’t come from just one place. They sometimes spill onto paper while other times they play hide and seek taunting us to find them.

   Some writers have extensive vocabularies taught to them at the highest levels of education, as well as some who have the gift. Some writers struggle with no mercy grabbing for the right words and phrases in the hope of creating a worthy piece to share with readers. Others like myself rely on being able to construct words we know and concepts we will learn from. For me, it's my memories. Over the decades, I have knocked on memories door so many times I wonder if I truly see those memories, or have I invented some of them? Probably so. I believe that’s why I describe my form of writing “Fiction with a dash of fact.”

   Wherever it is words come from, I'm glad I get to play in their fun-house.

   Mike

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