Friday, February 20, 2015

G is for Gift

Margaret looks at the gifts we receive and give

Is being able to write a successful novel a gift? Or is it luck? Or is it in fact plain and simple hard work? I’m in two minds. The gift of being able to string a few sentences together is within the capabilities of all of us. But to expand those words into a full length novel is far more than a gift. In essence it means taking that gift of being able to write those few words and adding to them until they become a whole book-length story.

If only it were that simple!

Writing is as draining as doing a manual job. Believe me, at the end of a day’s writing I flop down in the nearest armchair thoroughly worn out. The gift! Is it worth it? A gift is also a present, so isn’t that what writers do – give their readers the gift of their imagination? Although it takes many months of hard work it is ultimately our gift to the people who read our books. I read, we all read, and I appreciate all the hard work that has gone into the books I read.

My six year old grandson wrote a story the other day. Only one page but it was a story he had thought up and written down so that we, his family, could read it. He was so proud.

So next time you read a book, think of it as a gift from the author.

7 comments:

  1. Great thought, Margaret. Occasionally, there re those gifts you just wish you could take back and exchange.

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    1. Too true, Anna. Unfortunately it happens sometimes.

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  2. I honestly believe it is a gift that not everyone has (to be able to write and tell stories). But the benefit is that, as you say, the final product can be looked at as a gift to our readers.

    Oh, and six year olds? Their stories are ALWAYS gifts! :-)

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    1. So many people have given readers gifts over the years that it is good to give something back.

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  3. I'd add the gift of imagination to the gift of being able to string words together. And maybe perseverance is another gift as we struggle through our stories - as you say, it can be draining at times, but we still keep going!

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  4. Do writers ever really stop. Paula. If the story's in yur head you have to get it down. Like my little grandson writing his story down. I hope we all carry on for many more years to come.

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  5. I don't think everyone is blessed with the gift of writing.

    But just like other talents and gifts we are blessed with, it's up to us to nurture and use the gift: for ourselves and others as well.

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