Writing… Will You Be My Valentine?
By Julia Munroe Martin | February 14, 2015 |
By Flickr’s inesplicabile
For this day of love, I invited other Writer Unboxed contributors to join me in writing words of love about writing: a sentiment that could fit inside a greeting card, on a school valentine, or even on a candy heart.
The instructions were simple:
“Write a love note to writing. It can be sweet, bitter, funny, serious, whatever you like in terms of tone, but it needs to be *to* writing itself.”
Love letters, poetry, and words of love poured in, as varied as a box of mixed-center chocolates. As I received each missive, I put it in a virtual Valentine box, saving them for this day of love.
Now, for your reading pleasure, I’ll open the box…
Words of Love
I once dated a prepositional phrase that had such attractive punctuation that I couldn’t even look her in the i’s. But she left me for some stupid noble clause.
– Tom Bentley
Natural as breathing, close as my heart, you haunt my nights and magic my days. With you I live an adventure like no other, and dare to dream always.
– Sophie Masson
Now that I can finally sit with you and allow my fingertips to caress the keyboard, my body fills with a warm, expansive feeling. This is love, babe, true love. And gratitude for our time together. Either that or tonight’s chili, which was heavy on the beans.
– Jan O’Hara
– Therese Walsh
My oldest friend, most loyal companion, my lover, my guide, my confessor, my heart. Without you, my writing, I would be a shadow of myself, whispering instead of shouting, skulking instead of striding. My heart, my love—be my Valentine, writing my dear.
– Barbara O’Neal
I’m here for the high, Writing. Don’t let anyone tell you I’m not. I love you, I hate you, I want you, I need you. I chase the buzz when I chase the words.
– John Vorhaus
Poetry
Thank you, writing.
For giving voice,
To those unheard.
For giving identity,
To those adrift.
For sparking worlds,
Amidst wasteland.
For providing possibilities,
When all hope seems lost.
– Dan Blank
This lopsided love:
I think of you all the time,
You never write back.
– Therese Walsh
Ten words written for each one I keep,
Murdered darlings and new gray hair;
Writing, the price you demand is steep,
But when we’re good together, nothing can compare.
– Tracy Hahn-Burkett
If love is devotion
If love is hunger
If love is compulsion
If love is wonder
If love is vital
If love is reflection
Then that’s what I feel
Without question
Deep and exquisite and true.
– Kristan Hoffman
Writing is honest love
Which alters when it alteration needs,
And bends with the backspace to delete.
O yes, it is an ever-vexing mark
That looks on critic’s tempest and is shaken;
It is the star to every wand’ring author heart,
Whose worth’s unknown, although her life be taken.
— Sarah’s Sonnets 2:14
– Sarah McCoy
You’re first on my mind—
and last—
A constant in a sea of change.
You consume me; you fill me up.
I lose myself in you, yet I am found.
– Julia Munroe Martin
Love Letters
Dear Writing, I love you because you don’t mind cuddling on the couch, even when the game is on. I love you because you don’t laugh at me when I get lost in your plots and lose my way on the drive home. And I love you, dear writing, even though you sometimes stink because I know you love me, too.
xoxo, Anne
(Anne Greenwood Brown)
Dearest Writing,
I was but a child when we first met, yet you patiently waited while I dated and flirted with other careers. Finally, I was ready to commit to you fully. I am mostly glad I did. Roughly 90% glad.
Yours,
Sarah
(Sarah Callender)
Dear Writing Life:
Thanks for savaging my illusions. For making me tell the unforgiving truth, not settle for convenient lies.
Check’s in the mail, you heartless monster.
Cuddles, David
(David Corbett)
Dear Writing,
First you seem to love me, then you make me feel worthless and weak. Sometimes I regret ever getting serious about you.
love,
Keith
(Keith Cronin)
Dear Writing,
Those moments with you, when I lose myself in the simple joy of story, sustain me through the quiet desperation of modern existence.
With hope,
Jeanne
(Jeanne Kisacky)
Dear Writing,
You challenge me, vex me, grow me, make me despair, and make me rejoice to be alive. I’m not sure we’re a healthy match, but I just can’t quit you.
Love,
Katrina
(Katrina Kittle)
Dearest Words,
Roses are…are…augh. “Red” is too obvious. “Floral” too general. “Precious” too precious. “Symbolic” too brainy. “Beautiful” too direct. Gah, stumped!
Roses are like you, Words, made real. There.
Happy Valentine’s…Occasion?
Love,
Your Humble Scribe
(Donald Maass)
Dear Writing,
I like doing you and having done you. ;) Let’s do it again tomorrow.
XOXO,
Annie
(Annie Neugebauer)
Dear Writing,
You demand so much, but how could I resent you? Your insistence that I dig, your assuredness that I will find more, make me believe in me.
Irrevocably Yours,
Vaughn
(Vaughn Roycroft)
Now it’s your turn. We’d love to read your Valentine to writing…
Julia Munroe Martin (@jmunroemartin) is a writer and blogger who lives in an old house in southern coastal Maine. Julia’s other passion is photography, and if she’s not writing at the dining room table or a local coffeeshop, you’ll likely find her on the beach or dock taking photos. Julia writes The Empty Nest Can Be Murder mystery series as J. M. Maison.
What would love expressed be without words? And the process of linking them together. Happy Valentine’s Day Julia.
That’s so true! Happy Valentine’s Day to you, too, Jamie!
What a glorious gift for this morning! Thank you WU contributors. Here’s mine.
Dear Writing: The more I spend time in our imaginary worlds, the more courageous and real I am out in the real world.
love, Natalie
I love that, Natalie!
So many smiles, laughs, and empathetic nods here. Barbara’s really moved me. But Mama T’s haiku is the one that almost made me snort coffee through my nose. Great idea, Julia! Thanks for including me.
I had a Jazz flashback!
So glad you contributed, Vaughn!
Dear Writing,
I know you know what is in my heart before I’ve said it… Sooo, is it possible – just sometimes – you actually would consider just unspooling my thoughts… automatically, as it were? Without me having to put down all those words, one by hard-fought one?
Love ya!
Sarah
Now that would be a Valentine’s dream come true… automatic writing! Nice!
These were so much fun to read! Makes me realize that all true love demands that you seek your deepest, truest sense of self.
That’s so true, Kathryn. To thine ownself be true!
I love these. Our muses must be dancing to their praises today.
Here’s an oldie I wrote awhile back:
I waited for you
word-lusty by candlelight
you must be a man
Cheers!
Thank you for sharing your Valentine to writing, Tonia!
Delightful post–Happy Valentine’s Day–think of all the words that have won someone’s heart.
I love that… all the words that have won someone’s heart…
A happy St. Valentine’s to all you sweeties.
Here’s my Valentine:
I love you and you love me. I’ll be with you always and you’ll be with me always. Forever. What treasures we’ll discover together.
Thank you so much for sharing your contribution, Vijaya!
Dear Writing,
you know I respect you and enjoy your company, and I appreciate all the worlds, ideas, and characters you’ve helped me explore . . .
. . . but . . .
. . . look, no offense, but you need to start pulling your weight around here. It would be nice, for instance, if once in a while you would bring in a few buck.
And, what’s with consistently being the least-read posts on my blog? Yeah, perhaps my readers are not the reading type, preferring Photography over you, but still, I put a lot more effort into you than Photography.
Lest you think yourself not beautiful, not clever, and not worthy of praise, know that I think the world of you. Of all the writing I come across, I much prefer reading you, oh my writing, over any other.
. . . but . . .
. . . I’m concerned about our relationship; I showcase you, present you to the unwashed masses, give you a pedestal from which to shine, but you just sit there.
If you could only make the effort to grab a few more readers, to ensnare them with the goodness I know is in you, to open reader’s eyes to the depth and breadth of your brilliance . . . but you just don’t seem to care.
Don’t worry; I’m yours forever, and you are mine, but still . . . could you at least try and be my valentine?
Disperser
I love this letter! Thank you so much for sharing it. I can really relate to this line: “Lest you think yourself not beautiful, not clever, and not worthy of praise, know that I think the world of you.” Thank you again!
Great post and so appropriate for this lovely day. I can certainly relate to most if not all of the above. Thank you for sharing.
So glad you enjoyed it, Mitta!
Dear Writing,
Thank you for all the other lives I’ve lived.
I love you,
marcy
That’s such a great love letter to writing! Thank you for sharing (and I couldn’t agree more)
Love this. Sharing.
So glad you love it Lisa (thanks so much for sharing!).
Wow you have really changed my perspective on this subject. I am an illustrator who is writing a picture book and was going to search out a publisher. But maybe I will try this avenue. Thank you, lots to think about here.
Hi Kath, Your comment ended up on my post about Valentines (accidentally, I think… it looks like you meant it for today’s post on children’s books). I know Laura would love to see the comment, but I don’t know how to move it. Best, Julia