I’m an editor, and I know how to fix what other people say so it says what they mean to say, and how to tell an obstreperous author to go sit on a tack, nicely. I know how to handset type, and I’ve memorized all the boxes in the California job case, and all the fonts, and I know why serif type is more readable than sans serif. I’ve been scurrying around words all my life.
My own words were muffled in the din, backed up for years behind the dam of other people’s. Now and then a poem trickled out and, one leaky year, half a novel.
I’m retired now, finished for the most part with the dusting off of words. Mine are bubbling up. The dam has huge bulges, and it roars at night.
Photograph of composing sticks by Luna at Iota Press, Sebastopol, California
Glad to see you back from your blog sabbatical, G! And it has been great to hear about and see the bursting of the dam 'o' words. Keep 'em flowin'! Hugs from Here. N2
ReplyDeleteWell said in your own words--not anybody else's.
ReplyDeleteI suspect most who asked you to edit for them never knew you knew what you say here you know. And I bet you never told them until now.
Ladies, start your engines!
ReplyDeleteHuge smile to all! Words still backing up. Expecting flood at any moment.
ReplyDeleteI love how you put words together to make a thought beautiful. Looking forward to reading more..
ReplyDeleteGail, I am thrilled to hear of the poet emerging, covered in her own style and color of words, putting them into her own dance and stillness!
ReplyDeleteAnne
Feeling a bit nostalgic when reading ". . . go sit on a tack, nicely." That great mentor of ours sure had a way with words, didn't he? Another variant: "If you are going to tell an author to go sit on a tack, take at least two pages saying it."
ReplyDelete