  Romance/Love
This week: Edited by: fyn  
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“When a writer talks about his work, he's talking about a love affair.”~~~Alfred Kazin
“A poet never takes notes. You never take notes in a love affair.”~~~Robert Frost
“A love affair with knowledge will never end in heartbreak.”~~~Michael Garrett Marino
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Shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh. . .I've got a secret! Aw heck. I want to blast it to the world. I'm having an affair. A love affair with all 248,676 members of Writing.Com! This week marks my fifth year as a member. Five years of interactions, reviews, groups, contests, friendships, learning, growth and most of all writing.
I've met and made friends from all over the world. I've been fortunate enough to meet some of you real time and I talk to others by phone on a frequent basis. I've garnered mentors, editors, honest and helpful reviewers, and many people as passionate about writing as I.
I've read phenomenal writing that has made me giddy with delight or had me sitting at my desk with tears streaming. I've been memorized, scared silly, awed and enveloped in warm-fuzzys. I've seen writers grow, evolve and hone their skill. I've met those who shoved, kicked, berated and cared enough about my writing to push me into being a better writer. I've pushed, kicked and cared in return. I've interacted with some of the most generous, sweet, loving, kind, honest, forthright, giving, caring folks it has ever been my privilege and honor to know.
Five years ago I was in one of those dark places in life--that void where you have no clue what is ahead and you know you can't go backward. There was no plan except survival. I was in a relatively new area, knew next to no one and was floundering on every level.
Then I found WDC. A place where I could write and have people respond to what I had written. A tiny light burned brightly at the end of a very long tunnel. For a few months it was the key to my sanity. Then it became a place of healing and growth. As my life evolved and sorted itself out, it assumed a natural place in the scheme of things. It no longer was my entire life, just a very important part of it. It still is. I expect it will always be. All due to this community of folks who share common dreams and goals even though we come from all radii of the globe, every economic strata, and all ages from teens to great-grand parents. Together we've celebrated births, mourned those who have passed on to the great library in the sky and shared in the mileposts we each have gained. We are black, yellow, blue, purple and red and we are family.
From the bottom of my heart, I thank you.
We are all writers here and each of us has something to contribute to the whole. My personal mission is share and reiterate what has been, for me, and many writers before me, the one thing that has made me a better writer: Observation and subsequent use of the details that contribute to making the writing feel real and in the moment. Regardless of genre, the details are what pull the reader in, communicate essence and give the visuals to the mind's eye.
I received an email this week past that commented on their enjoyment of a newsletter, but wanted to know why I didn't write useful newsletters. Why didn't I write about stuff that could help writers become better. Ah, but in my own little way, if I can convince folks to be more observant of things going on around them on a daily basis and then use those observations in their writing, then I most certainly do. There are others, more versed than I in writing about agents, the varying publishers, writer's conferences and the like. And they do: Most competently and informatively.
Me. . . *grin* I write what I know. Which is that observations of people: their interactions and reactions, their fortes and foibles, their expressions and movements are all what translates into believable characters. Noticing minute changes in the world surrounding us: the way a leaf flutters in a gentle breeze or skims along a frozen shield of snow, the manner of cardinals at a feeder and how their behavior changes depending upon the weather or noticing that faint green tinge that heralds spring's arrival every bit as much as bright yellow daffodil smiles--these are the details that can catapult a writer's work from mundane to pure art.
It is a learned behavior to be the perennial observer. The other day, clear, impossibly cold, and calm, I noticed the sky was a checkerboard of contrails. Neat, perfect squares criss-crossed the sky overhead. I'd never seen it before and thought it amazing. I asked at least fifteen people if they'd noticed it--not one of them had as they walked beneath it. Too many folks walk through their days in a fog of meeting schedules, kid's activities, personal woes or misplaced keys. Their eyes are focused on an inner world and they miss the real, palpable world around them. (Which is an observation in and of itself!)
Yet writers can't afford to close themselves off. They need to be aware so that they can then file these observations away until it is time to pull them out and make a character have life and breath or a scene be one the reader can feel and smell and, yes, touch. These are the things that help make words jump off a page and into a reader's soul. It is the details that communicate the essence of character, place, theme and story. Observations molded to fit our purposes are how we, as writers, create the place where readers become involved with and react to our characters and the environments we place them in, and ultimately, pull our readers further in so they can share our vision.
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This week, I am choosing (although with some difficulty) to share some of my most treasured pieces of writing I've found here at Writing.com. These are the ones I return to just for the pure pleasure of reading them yet again.
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Have an opinion on what you've read here today? Then send the Editor feedback! Find an item that you think would be perfect for showcasing here? Submit it for consideration in the newsletter!
https://www.Writing.Com/go/nl_form
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I conjured up some memories and appreciation with my last newsletter. It got folks thinking and remembering and wistfully smiling.
Incurable Romantic  wrote:The newsletter piece you wrote about your dad, and his jacket, is wonderful. My dad is still here, at 89, but our chance to build memories is slowly slipping away as Alzheimer's takes its toll. Thankfully, that process is very slow with him so far, and we have a world of memories already. We worked on rebuilding the old (roll-driven) player pianos for almost 20 years as a "large scale hobby". And now, he's working on one again, even in his retirement apartment.
What your tale has done, is remind me of how important all those memories are, even the recent ones, and to hold onto them. I'm going to take a camera with me when I go to visit him soon, and take pictures of his apartment, and the player parts he's working on. To remember these days along with those of years ago. Thank you for giving me that idea. It means I'll have even more memories, as you now do. Enjoy them. They can never be taken away from you.
yes. They most certainly are. And no they can't. Great idea too!
Donna  added: I loved the story in the newsletter about your dad. It is so wonderful you have such great memories of him. I hope you'll share more of them.
Thank you. I expect I shall!
vickierj said:That story is so beautiful. My dad had been visiting just a few moments before I read this story. He hasn't died or anything, but as I read your story, my mind imagined what it will be like when he does pass on and I broke loose crying my heart out as tears poured down my face. Thank God, my mother soon called to ask a question and I had to pull myself together, before my heart broke completely. Thank you for sharing such a touching story.
All too often we don't appreciate and notice what we have, until we no longer have it. That observation thing again . . .
esprit comments: Fyn, this is a beautiful letter--memories are so special. It's written very well and brought on some of my own.
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Morgan Adam Internet Problems! commented as well: Thank you for this. I too lost my father a few years ago, and I appreciated hearing your stories. It made me think fondly of some of my own.
Seems i sent quite a few folks down that road to memories past. It can be a lovely place to visit!
Brooklyn  writes: Thank you Fyn for an absolutely wonderful NL that touched my heart. Your story of finding your father's jacket brought tears to my eyes. ((Hugs)) ~ Brooke
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Shannon  adds: Holy moly, your newsletters always make me cry. Simply beautiful.
Hmmm. Serving newsletters with a side order of a box of tissues. Wistful happy/sad tears can be good. {{HUGS}} back!
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Romance/Love: March 03, 2010 Issue [#3590]
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