A VISIT WITH A BLOG
Last night I was up until
2:00 AM reading the blog I just discovered by a fellow writer whose discipline
is much better than mine when it comes to writing. I was reading Marion
Aldridge’s blog (http://marionaldridge.wordpress.com), not only because it was engrossing
but it provided an escape from the sadness of seeing the departure of family
members who had come for Christmas.
Marion seems to have been
gifted with what many of us writers work at—a distinct and engaging voice.
After a night of “visiting” with him (and I felt as if we were having a visit),
I’ve decided that a prerequisite to writing with voice is the assurance that
you have something to say that will be of interest to a wider audience than
your circle of friends.
But that’s only part of the
picture. A voice such as Marion has comes from a confidence that he can say or
do just about anything and be accepted if not appreciated by people in general.
Or maybe it’s that he’s not concerned about being rejected. Where does that
confidence come from? I don’t have it. Is that a gift we’re born with? I’ll
have to ask Marion.
There are several obvious
reason why Marion is an engaging journalist. 1) He’s enthusiastic about life in
general; 2) he’s curious about and investigates our world; 3) he has a religious
grounding that is neither judgmental nor overweening and; 4) has a way with
words that is mannerly and thoughtful.
Marion has helped me cope
with the “empty nest” that follows a house full of guests. My sons and their
families are back in their respective homes (Cincinnati; Rome, Georgia; and
London, England). Another Christmas has come and gone. And I’m coping with the gone part.
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