AgentModX Posted January 29, 2021 Share Posted January 29, 2021 by Carrie Jade Williams Daydreaming will one day kill me. Literally. The part of the brain that engages with daydreams will one day be gobbled up by the Neurological disease chomping its way through the grey matter housed in my skull. To me, writing is simply daydreaming on a page- it brings me joy. I know I am not the most talented writer--I will never write a great literary work, but I am disciplined. I write every morning. I hold myself accountable. I love that I have the time to leave behind my thoughts. It’s like being an intentional ghost. I’m planning to haunt those I love with the words I leave behind. I write down (using my Assistive Technology) all the thoughts that will live on when I am no longer here and that ability to still be able to communicate is a blessing. A huge blessing. One I will never take for granted. That’s why I turn up every morning to face the page. That’s why I keep ploughing through a novel that only my family may read. I don’t take my words for granted because I know they will one day simply disappear. I love that I get to be me, present myself on the page because I live in a world that now sees me first and foremost as a disabled person. I love that so many in the writing community have made space for me to share my thoughts. I love that I have found a writing family. Our words have power, if only just for ourselves as the process of getting our thoughts out from us and into the world heals parts of our heats we may not have acknowledged were fractured. There is power in letting these words free. But there is always the potential that our words will have power on those around us, and in this digital age we never know who will stumble across them. For me, I live knowing my time is limited, so my words are like a bay leaf that I hope will leave a taste long after I am removed. Write what you love. Write what makes you smile. Write even when you are told you can’t. Publication is only part of the journey. Every time each of us share our work, be it in a blog post, a writing competition, a lit mag or a podcast episode, we hand parts of our heart for other to share. Writing gave me back my voice--and the chance to haunt those I will leave behind. It could do the same for you. Free your ghosts, let them dance on the page. Don’t lock them away. * * * Carrie Jade Williams is a writer who recently won the Financial Times writing competition. She also runs a quirky blog about being in an inter-abled relationship (https://www.imsohappyyouwontdiesingle.com/blog) She runs regular free online writing meet-ups (11am Writing Power Hour (Drop-in) Tickets, Multiple Dates | Eventbrite) She is also running a series of courses starting On Valentines Day with Marianne Power (tickets available on Eventbrite or on Instagram @carriejadewrites) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Would you like to participate in Friday "Speak Out!"? Email your short posts (under 500 words) about women and writing to: marcia[at]wow-womenonwriting[dot]com for consideration. We look forward to hearing from you! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ [url={url}]View the full article[/url] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.