Having no idea that it was the title of what looks to be a cheesey self-help book, my beloved friend Susan, the shepherd, said this to me the other day: Love is a Verb.
“People can say they have a feeling, they can talk about it until they’re blue in the face (I love you. I miss you. I can’t stop thinking about you.), but it’s not real unless they deliver some action with it,” she said.
It’s true, you know. Think about it.
And then, think about this: writing’s the same. Yes, writing is also a verb.
On a fairly regular basis, I get emails, tweets or comments from people asking how I manage to run my business (ie. write and and concept/run social media strategies for a living) and write this blog every day. The real question is: how can I not?
Writing helps me:
- Clear my head
- Analyze past events
- Plan for what’s next
- Emote
- Energize
- Decompress
- Create
- Laugh
- Connect
- Communicate
- Hone my skills
- Cry
- Share
- Build my business
‘Writing is a VERB’ means that you can’t just talk about it. You also have to do it. Otherwise all of that talk means nothing. Or rather it means that you want to be writer or a ______ (fill in the blank), that you think about being a writer or a _______, but you don’t seem to have the balls to jump in. Or you’re too scared or too busy or too something. (and believe me, I have things like this too)
Does that sound harsh? It’s not really meant to – it’s just meant to remind us all that the means to the ends lie in the action.
This verb concept is a powerful reminder. A reminder not to be passive, but to go forth and DO.
What do you need to verbitize today?
Image credit: Arenamontanus
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Also, if you feel like hearing me wax poetic-ish on Blogging for Business and why writing is sooo important (and a bit on the Dragon Tattoo Campaign), the radio interview I did for Bonnie Marcus’ Head Over Heels show last week is live and ready for listening!
Weird. I had drinks last night with Patti Digh, who wrote the book, “Life is a Verb.” She’s amazing. Check out the book:
http://www.amazon.com/Life-Verb-Days-Mindful-Intentionally/dp/1599212951/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1271179341&sr=8-1
.-= Edgy Mama´s last blog ..Another day, another beer festival =-.
verbitize? what’s with this faux-word?
Jed! Were you not aware of the fact that I have mad making-up-word skills? I think I wrote this one before you and I found each other: http://writingroads.wpengine.com/2008/10/its-sarcastication-people/
G’day Julie,
Such heresy! “write” is a verb. “writing” is a present participle.
Sorry: just couldn’t resist that. But you’re absolutely right about “writing.”
The really great thing about writing is , if you really want to be good at it, you have to constantly ask yourself “What will the reader think of this?”
Fodder for the mind, the soul and the pen.
I’ve been writing for over 50 years. One day I’ll get good at it. But I have enormous fun trying.
Regards
Leon
Oh LEON! Thank you for making me laugh out LOUD! And at first I read that last line as “i have enormous fun typing’ – because I DO have enormous fun typing…I’ve always been a button pusher!
This message is so powerful. I realized I was a writer somewhere around age 12, but eventually got to the point I had too many responsibilities, too much stress, and too little free time to spend it writing.
So I stopped. For two years I stopped, and it was the worst two years of my life. I’m not me when I’m not writing, so what’s the point of having a little more free time?
I’m back, now, and busier than ever. I’m also writing more than I ever have, and that makes life good.
.-= Aaron Pogue´s last blog ..What I Learned about Writing this Week…from Heroes =-.
Yours is mine. But mine hit me over the head like a hammer. I always enjoyed writing emails and missives to my family. Played with poetry and came up with ideas for novels. But it wasn’t until I started writing a blog and needing to write every day that I realized how important the act is to me. For all the reasons you so adequately listed above!
.-= Andi´s last blog ..A new dress =-.
…and you’re so good at it. Your post today was just the BOMB.
Agreed. Writing, as with anything in life is nothing without action.
You can’t just ‘think’ something into being.. you actually have to take action to get it out and open it to the world. AKA Freakin’ write already. :)
You freakin’ said it, sister.