penandpatience

News: “Greenest Grass,” fiction short story is scheduled for publication in the January/February 2013 issue of Long Story short; “Side By Side,” pending publication in Page & Spine Magazine-2013; “Love Apples” – one of twenty five winners in the Women’s Memoir and Recipe Contest-an E-book of the collection is pending.

JUST A FEW WORDS – December 2012 Monthly Musing

Words are a writer nemesis but words can also be a staircase to writing glory. It’s difficult to find a specific word when others will also work in a writing project. But the right word can transcend a mediocre sentence into a great one. No matter the resources, many times the right word just won’t come to mind. While struggling to identify that “special” word, my tired eyes glazed over while staring at a fickle computer screen that just wouldn’t give it up. Unfortunately, when a word stalemate occurs, it leaves a writer vulnerable to distraction or susceptible to intrusion. Which is it, I wondered? While my tormented mind refused to cooperate with a required word, I thumbed through Webster online and looked up these two words.

Here’s what Webster had to say:

Distraction: 1) the art of distracting or the state of being distracted—mental confusion < driven to distraction. 2) Something that distracts-amusement, harmless distraction.

Intrusion: 1) the art of intruding or the state of being intruded: the act of wrongfully entering upon, seizing or taking the property of another. 2) the forcible entry of molted rock or magma into or between other rock formations.

Webster was interesting but not really helpful. If I was struggling with a non-working word, my Avon lady ringing the doorbell might be a welcome distraction. Word resolved and I was chugging merrily along on the next paragraph pleased with my progress, that ringing bell might become an unwelcome intrusion. I could say, according to definition, the blasted doorbell was just an unexpected, unwelcome distraction. Not me. An unexpected visitor jarring my brain with a ringing bell is an intrusion especially when I’m writing and that blanket-blank word eludes me.

The decision to allow an intrusive distraction that “interrupts” my concentration is a difficult one. I could ignore the ringing doorbell and plod on, or welcome the “interruption” and just answer the door. Now there’s another word for Webster—interruption. I know just what Webster would say: “the state of interrupting; to stop or hinder by breaking in…….”

For me, the exploration of words is never wasted. Despite intrusions, distractions, and interruptions, I will find, when I least expect it, that much needed word. However, right now I need to interrupt this musing for an important message hopeful that it won’t be an unwelcome intrusion in your busy day. Perhaps it me might be a welcome distraction:

Best wishes for a safe, healthy, and happy holiday season.