Wordplay!

This morning Amy from an email list shared a website featuring a Visual Thesaurus. I pulled out my little word box and watched as each word expanded and morphed into other words and other meanings. It is a fascinating site. I love words and their possibilities.

Next, I started thinking about writing. All my life I've written in one form or another. As a high school English teacher, I taught creative writing, composition and grammar. Later I wrote for personal enjoyment and to capture moments and stories for my children and our extended family. I've never considered myself a creative writer, though I've made a few attempts at poetry. Mostly I am a chronicler of thoughts and events.

During my eighteen Real Estate years I wrote little except purchase and sale contracts--trying to capture with precision what a buyer or seller wanted so an ambiguity couldn't nullify an agreement or invite legal problems. The latter was the most challenging, and least satisfying, writing I have done. (Before any attorneys out there get excited, I should point out that Colorado allows Real Estate Brokers to practice limited law only to the extent of filling in legally-approved Real Estate Contract Forms. We were NOT allowed to give any legal advice.)

These days I mostly write in my journal--and on this blog--trying to pull memories out of my head and into a collection of moments, people and events that have intersected my life. I play with words from my word box and use prompts or quotations from magazines, books or movies--anything to snare an elusive thought. There are long periods when I write little--usually when I am concentrating on reading or art of some kind--but when I am confronted with a problem, I almost always turn to writing as a path to the solution.

Comments

[Connie]

One who writes is a writer. Therefore, you are a writer! And I might add, a writer I like to read.

[Fran]

I could have written this entry, Deb. I haven't checked out the Visual Thesaurus, but I will.