Writers and Words….

Everyone has a story to tell….Believe me I know this truth….
Below is a small children’s story by Jenny Lee, which I have condensed in order to say to you……Y O U, too, should write YOUR VERY OWN STORY OF LIFE…It will help define you to YOU……It is called……

Benjamin’s Book……
Once upon a time there was a bookworm. His name was Benjamin, but everyone just called him Benny for short. He lived in a large public library, where he traveled from one book to another. He liked to read all day long.

One day after Benny had just finished reading a book, he said to himself, “That was a silly story. I could write a better one myself.”
And he decided to do just that.
Benny crawled down off the bookshelf and over to the desk.
When he got to the top of the desk, he sat down on the typewriter to write a great book. “Now, let me see,” said Benny.
“Lots of stories start out with…Once Upon A Time.”
So Benny started with that, but he couldn’t think of anything else to write.

Benny crawled across the desk and back again, trying to think of something else to write. He thought and thought, but he couldn’t think of what to write next. “Writing a story is harder than I thought,” he said, “but I know what’s the matter. I NEED TO GO OUT INTO THE BIG, WIDE WORLD AND GET SOME IDEAS.”

So Benny crawled out of the library and down the street until he came to a forest. He sat down under a tree and waited for something to happen.
And something did happen.
After a while a tiger came by and sat down to talk with Benny.
After talking about Benny’s problem the tiger said, “You need to write about someone interesting. You should write about me. It’s always interesting to read about a tiger.”
Benny said good-by to the tiger and then he thought and thought, but nothing came to him….he couldn’t think of anything to write about the tiger….
Soon a lion came by…..declaring to Benny that a lion was more interesting to write about than a tiger….But poor Benny couldn’t think of anything to write about a lion.
While he was trying to think of something, a rabbit came by…
After hearing of Benny’s dilemma, the rabbit declares….”A lion!” said the rabbit. “No wonder you can’t think of anything to put in your story. A lion doesn’t do anything but roar. You should write about me. I’m sweet and gentle.” “Maybe you’re right, “ said Benny. So he wrote down….
Once upon a time there was a rabbit.
But poor Benny couldn’t think of anything to write about a rabbit. He thought and he thought until his head hurt. He thought until it grew dark.

When it was dark, an owl came out of a hole in the tree that Benny was sitting under. “What’s wrong with you?” asked the owl. “You look sick.”
“I’m tired of thinking,” said Benny. “I’m trying to write a story. All I can think of is…Once upon a time there was a rabbit.”
“Once upon a time there was a rabbit!” said the owl.
“I know, I know,” said Benny quite crossly. “You think I should write…
Once upon a time there was an owl”….
“No, no,” said the wise owl…”That’s not what I was going to say at all. I was going to say that you should write about something YOU KNOW.
Is there anything that you know more about than ANYONE ELSE?
If there is, write about that.”
“I never thought of that,” said Benny. “That’s a good idea.”
Then he said thank you to the owl and crawled back home as fast as he could.
As soon as Benny got back home to the library, he sat down on the typewriter and began to write. ….Once upon a time there was a bookworm. His name was Benjamin, but everyone just called him Benny for short. He lived in a large public library, where he traveled from one book to another……
After Benny had finished writing the story, he read it over and said, “Boy, that’s a great story!” Then feeling very tired, he crawled into a book and went to sleep.

As the old saying goes….the moral of this story is…..Write in your own words….about things you see, about people you know, and about how you feel about life. Write about something that is important to you. Remember that one of the best ways to be a writer is to begin by writing about something that you know….
As I have said time and time again….(Matt are you listening?)
Others may be more skilled in writing techniques and correctness….but no one can tell my personal story or thoughts of life…..better than I can.
This is true for you as well…..You do have a story to tell.
I dare you to start recording your own story/journal of life.
What interesting reading it would be…..Our Matthew, Mattie C. who is 22.…is a perfect example. I have been on to him since he started college…..to write. He has a perspective of life that is very interesting….he is a deep thinker….he is a reader….he is full of adventure of the soul…..he is very creative….and he grew up in our family…..expressing himself in many creative ways….
Yet, he can not seem to get started for some reason or another….
He can take some lessons from Benny…..
In fact, last night we met with Matt and his fiancée, Ashley, and Britt and Joshua at La Teresita to celebrate his birthday. The rest of the family had a party on Saturday at Chad’s but we were in Okeechobee…
One of the gifts that I gave Matthew was a blank journal bound in Tuscany leather in order to start recording some of his ‘profound thoughts’.
Making the decision to start is the first hurdle….
Once upon a time there was a young man named Matthew……

Yes, Dockie you finally wrote your book, didn’t you?
I wonder why it is so filled with Florida water adventures…..Could it be that you the author, experienced everything that you wrote about?
Now that makes for good reading…..

Now my challenge goes to…..Blake!
With his Makinson historical family background …..he certainly has a story to tell….after all his Dad did start the first Kissimmee Boat-A-Cade among many other firsts….Come on Blake, step out of ‘retirement’ and get to work on your computer….should be easy for you….Your Mother was a wonderful writer and recorder of family events. She is the one who first challenged me to write my family stories and vignettes…
Let’s hear about…..your families…..Good Life….you should know you are living it daily…..and…..MORE….To….Come!

P.S. Betty how about you, dear one? Where are you in your writing now?