The Writers Voice
The World's
Favourite Literary Website
To the Young People of This Website
by
Suzanne Tyson
Since I was a
child, I have been fascinated with the written word
and with words in general. While other
children were interested in sports and other
physical activities, I preferred to quietly curl up
with a good book.
I was the ultimate bookworm.
I must confess I endured a great deal of teasing,
but it was well worth it to me. I would be asked,
very
seriously I might add, how was I able to sit still
for endless hours without moving "just" to read a
book or two
or three or a half a dozen. To me, however, I
wasn’t sitting still at all. I was traveling. First
class. I was moving
through time and space to the past and to the
future. I changed my identity, my nationality, my
personality,
and my life with each new character I took on
through the eyes of my book’s author. I could be
riding in a
covered wagon across America’s frontier in the
morning and by afternoon, I would be in a space
ship traveling
and discovering new planets with strange
atmospheres. What could be more exhilarating! It
was a priceless
experience and my gateway into learning about human
nature, hopes, and dreams based on a simple and, I
might add, free library card.
As I grew older, I read less. Not because I wasn’t
compelled to, but adult responsibilities crept into
my life,
one by one stealing my precious free time to read.
I became a busy wife and mother traveling from
place to
place as a military dependent. Slowly, as a
substitute, I began to pick up a pen and pencil,
writing down my
thoughts and eventually stories, and I made an
amazing discovery. I found writing stories was more
entertaining to me than reading.
At first I was embarrassed over my stories and
poems, and I was honestly terrified to allow
anyone, including
my family, to read my work. I kept a bright red
binder hidden in the closet for my eyes only. The
truth is I was
afraid of criticism. The sad part is I allowed my
fear of criticism, the key to improvement,
stonewall a
wonderful opportunity of sharing the most important
passion of my life.
At present my family and I lead a quiet life in an
extremely small and friendly village. My children
are grown
adults, and I have all the time I desire to write.
Now I travel, not by another writer’s whims, but on
my own. I
choose the time, the place, the ways and the means
and who I would like to be. It brings me great joy, and
when I write, I pray I am able to effectively share
this joy with others. This is, indeed, the most
exciting time
of my life, and I am no longer frightened of
criticism.
Now when someone asks me, Suzanne, what do you do, I
proudly tell them I am a writer. When they go on to
ask me if I have published yet, I tell them no, not
in the sense of receiving a check, but it’s of no
consequence. You see, I have come to believe
‘being’ a writer is not an occupational title, it
is a state of
‘being.’ It begins in the soul and works it’s way
to your fingertips. It’s a natural order of things. There is no
choice, even if you spend years denying it.
To the young people who spend their energy and time
to contribute to this website, I commend you for
your
talents and your efforts to bravely share your
work. You have set an excellent example for me, and
I am
grateful.
May God help you find the words to speak your
heart. I pray each time before I write, and I thank
Him each
time I have finished a piece. Thank you, God.
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