No Dumping

Have you ever seen a sign like the one above? They are usually near a playing field, or a disused parking space. It says ‘no Dumping’ that is a pretty good motto for writing in general and certainly this blog.

Even if you do not identify yourself as a writer, you are! You write hundreds of words a week, probably even thousands. Because you lovely readers are contributing members of society or a community. So you will write emails, texts, post online socially, write birthday and anniversary cards.

I am certain that many of you will dump on those writings. Dash off an unthought message, or write a poorly worded email. Even if they are not all poorly worded they will not in all likelihood contain your true voice. The one you were given and only you can share. No, they will be hastily shared words and sentences to complete or contribute to a task.

Given that we have established you are a writer, whether you like it or not you are. Then what was it that Miguels Cervantes said? Ah yes:-

Every man is the son of his own works

Miguel Cervantes wrote in Don Quixote:

We should perhaps give a little more care to the words we share no matter where they are written or how temporary they will be seen. This week, no matter how brief or long the sentence, dont dump in your writing, give it your time and care. Note the difference in the way you think about yourself and the reaction of the recipients. your words matter, you matter and how you are perceived in the world matters.

Your prose should be crafted well not perfectly but it should show care. I have never dumped on this blog and never will but I can show greater care and I will. I already edit these short posts a lot but sometimes I can months later go back and edit them up to 30 times.

How about it, ‘No Dumping’ with your writing and see how it works.

A selection of my fave Quotes on writing words:

• Kind words can be short and easy to speak but their echoes are truly endless – Mother Theresa
• Good words are worth much, and cost little George Herbert
• I kept always two books in my pocket, one to read and one to write in – Robert Louis Stevenson
• Always be a poet, even in prose – anonymous
• I write to discover what I know – anonymous
• Words are a lens to focus ones mind – Ayn Rand