Must Write!

Must Write! Part One of: Must Write! Must Edit! Must Publish! Must Promote!

The following was inspired by the Twilight Zone episode "The Obsolete Man" from 1961 in which Burgess Meredith played a librarian who was condemned to die because he and his books were considered obsolete.

Must Write! A Haiku

I must write, for words

Must not die, nor books become

Obsolete to life.

I feel a writer has an obligation to write – to put words to paper that may inspire, educate or simply entertain the reader – perhaps even inspire more people to read.

A well-read populace is important to the enlightenment of mankind. Thinking back to the time owning books was the sole prerogative of the clergy and the rich. Even learning to read was frowned upon, discouraged and often against the law. It was an insidious way of controlling the population who were told only what the clergy and the men in power wanted them to hear.

We seem to be coming full-circle to a time when learning is not encouraged or supported and science is being ridiculed and denied as heresy that goes against the "truths" of religion as interpreted by ultra-conservatives.

Are we, as a people, allowing ourselves to be led by rhetoric that hearkens back to the not so distant past when Adolph Hitler espoused supremacy and promulgated hatred?

I am so grateful that I can still write and share ideas and stories with like-minded people who may enjoy and appreciate my words.

I would not have us live in an atmosphere of censorship, which includes an absurd level of political correctness and instant condemnation for anyone whose words, perhaps misinterpreted, offend an often too thin-skinned society that in return uses bullying tactics to sway words and ideas to their rigid line of thought.

I would have my words engender a new-found spirit of tolerance and acceptance of people and thoughts and words different from what "Big Brother" terms acceptable.

While I'm at it, I would not be dictated to in regards to my beliefs or my choices and I would allow others their right to their own choices.

Though it seems I digress, I contend that the freedom to write and express oneself is paramount to an ever-evolving and advancing society. Moreover, as long as I can write and have the talent to write, I must write!

My next offering will not be so esoteric. It will be entitled "Must Edit!" the next in the series of: Must Write! Must Edit! Must Publish! Must Promote! – the things all writers must do to survive and I intend to concentrate on in 2017.

For this year will be a fast-paced literary journey for this old lady who needs to clear her backlog of works-in-progress and writing projects before she joins the parade of "In Memoriams" seemingly accelerated by the year just past.

If 2017 is to be my swan song, I would have it be sweet and clear. If it is not, then I would have time for new projects with the advent of 2018.

By the way, one of my New Year's Resolutions is to, at the very least, post a blog on the first of each month for a long as I am able. So, here's to a prolific new year.