Peace In The Margins

Does it HAVE to be a novel? 

I’ve always had a bit of a rebellious streak in me. An argument could actually be made that most writers do (at least the good ones). So, when November rolls around, I’m not quick to jump on the National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) bandwagon. While I have nothing against NaNoWriMo and believe it is a good vehicle if you need that extra push to make things happen, my Muse seems to hibernate in November. 

Yet even when she refuses to assist, writing is centering for me, it gives me focus, clarity, and above all purpose. Maybe it is the reality that words have power and must be treated as grenades with the ability to level worldviews with one single explosion. 

An example would be Margret Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale. There are droves of fans and there are those who refuse to read it, and regardless of to which facet you belong, all readers of The Handmaid’s Tale declare it terrifying. The fictional, dystopian tale she has woven is all too close to the American reality. And if you believe it was by chance – maybe during a NaNoWriMo writing sprint –  she manipulated the English language in such a way that by simply reading words on a page, basal emotions rise like bile from your guts, then you may never have experienced the pressure of the craft. 

And just so Ms. Atwood continues to get her fair shake, I quote:

“A word after a word after a word is power. “

We can all think of a time when words actual caused a chain reaction. Like, “Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!” Or “I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!” Or “I have a dream that my four children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.” Or “This great nation will endure as it has endured, will revive and will prosper. So first of all, let me asset my firm belief that the only thing we have to fear is fear itself -”

And while these are not fictional writings, but riveting speeches, all still demonstrate the profound power words hold. For instance, let’s look at the flip side of the coin:

“Millions of German workmen are laboring in the cities and in the country. An entire people is engaged in the struggle. This united German people was confronted by two extremes in the world outside. In one the capitalist State denies the natural right to their people by lies and treachery and in which they keep solely their own vested interest. On the other side stood the Communist extreme, a state that has brought inconceivable misery to millions and desired to bring the same misery to the entire world. In my opinion this imposes on us only one duty, to strive more than ever after our National Socialist ideals.”

Even in translation, one can see how the power of these words brought about a German nationalism so strong that the people would follow Hitler anywhere – even to death – all for a cause built upon hate.

So, what does all that have to do with NaNoWriMo? You see, I’m the type of writer who dwells on what I write even before I write it. This is why 50,000 words in a month is just not for me. I want to savor the words as they appear on the page. I want to know that if I die before I get a change to edit that my words will still have power. 

I know – I know…we are encouraged to just write – don’t worry about editing now, just get it on paper. I do believe that’s true – to a point. That point being, words matter. Ensuring you’ve met your word count goal for the day is a great accomplishment, but words for the sake of words are useless. And we all know how the misuse of power ends. If not, revisit the Hiter quote above…

Yes, I will be writing during the month of November, but no more so than I do every day already. Hopefully, my Muse will show her face and give me a bit of inspiration, maybe then my bestseller will finally emerge. 

Until Next time,

Alicia