Painting the Picture

Yesterday evening as I sat in my basement writing, I received a text from my Mama. "The book is in the mailbox."  I yelled upstairs at my daughter Kym to bring me the book, and I'd planned on reading it while watching the Cubs on an unexpected night off of work.

     Instead of opening the book, I watched the Cubbies win, then I enjoyed conversing and making plans with my wife for the upcoming month. We started watching the documentary on the Wu-tang Clan, and before I knew it, it was one A.M. and the book I'd vowed to start sat next to me, untouched and pristine. 

    Whats-her-name went to bed, but as a night owl, I was restless. I checked social media for a while, then finally, at 2 A.M., I opened up the book and I started reading 'Where the Crawdads Sing' by Delia Owens.

    When I finished the book at 4 A.M., I was deeply moved and fulfilled, not just by the story of Kya the Marsh Girl, but by the writing of the author. She painted a picture so vivid and breathtaking it felt as if I were there. Great job and thank you.

    I sighed, pulled up my current project 'Over the Horizon' and my first line was about the relieving coolness of the mud between my main character's toes as he fed the pigs who now know him on sight and by his voice as he murmurs to them...

    Did you feel that coolness? Good, then I'm doing my job as the guide and storyteller. Readers exclaim to me about my stories; "I felt as if I were right there in Lucky's, I could even smell the whiskey!" They have no idea of the compliment they've given to me, a pat on the back to assure me I've done my job.

    Paint the picture for the readers, add splashes of color, humor, and human emotion, and let them immerse themselves in the story, letting them escape from their everyday realities for awhile. Afterwards, when they've finished and exhaled, maybe their world will be just a bit brighter because of the tale a writer has created. The book 'Where the Crawdads Sing' was that type of experience. 

     I am grateful to Him for this gift I have of creating something out of nothing, a beautiful picture for others to enjoy. I've said it before and I'll say it again. The writer's life is truly for me...