It was mid-afternoon yesterday when I had the overwhelming
desire to invite Virginia Woolf to my home for cookies and a cup or two of tea.
It is too bad she has been dead for so long because I have so many conversations yet to have with her!
I am grateful I am able to use my imagination to forge a new relationship with this author whose words and face both compel me to know more, to read more and to improve my own writing.
I started reading Mrs. Dalloway recently and I have to say her writing style reminds me a lot of me. In reading A Room of Her Own I know she thinks a lot like me.
A-ha, I say as I write. Perhaps she is meant to be one of my literary Grandmother’s.
I have often lamented the lack of Literary Grandmothers for
writers-in-the-making and writers in development. Men who write have a long
list of older writers, Grandfatherly in age that they can look to for
assistance. I was thinking about that today, even with the grammar classics:
Strunk and White were both men, naturally.
One of the best writing technique
books, On Writing Well is by William Zinsser.
I have decided it is time for women to declare their writing family lineage.
Just now, since yesterday, I have claimed Virginia Woolf in mine.
Her age would make her more like my Literary Great Grandmama… she was born, after all, in 1882 which is eighteen years ahead of my Grandma and twenty two years before my Granny.
I am smiling, ear-to-ear, imagining Virginia Woolf as a very young (but not unusually young) Mommy at the turn of the twentieth century.
I like thinking that by the time she got to
me, she would be wise and enjoy my presence.
I imagine us in separate parts of the yard. I would have my little notebook for writing and sketching in the garden. I see her gazing at a bird, loosely. Perhaps she would sketch and write a bit, perhaps not. She would, however, be thrilled to hear of my observations.
She would make me feel proud and grateful for writing.
I am grateful for Virginia Woolf, Writing GrandMama, for inspiring me.
Who or what are you grateful for today?
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© 2012 by Julie Jordan Scott
Julie Jordan Scott has been a Life & Creativity Coach, Writer, Facilitator and Teleclass Leader since 1999. She is also an award winning Actor, Director, Artist and Mother Extraordinaire. She was twice the StoryTelling Slam champion in Bakersfield. She leads Writing Camp with JJS & next year she will be traveling throughout the US to bring this unique, fun filled creative experience to the people wherever she finds the passion & the interest.
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