As I begin this article, I don't really know what it will be about. I have lots of stuff I've written, but the rules for this site specifically say they only want stuff that I haven't written earlier for other ezines or other publications. Often I'll begin writing before I have a subject or agenda in mind, and the act of writing sort of guides me to my points. In other words, I use writing as a tool to focus my thoughts and feelings on a variety of issues.

Now that I'm a couple of paragraphs in, I can see that I'm heading towards an article about writing; specifically how and why I do it.

Another rule of this site says: No Profanity. Well, that's kind of limiting, as there's nothing like a well chosen bit of profanity to emphasize a point -- at least in my experience. Maybe this points up a basic flaw in my vocabulary or abilities as a writer. Or maybe a curse word here or there is just extremely satisfying on a gut level.

For example, tonight is the first meeting between the Yankees and the Red Sox this season. And speaking as a Red Sox fan who watched the horrific end to last season at the hands of the evil empire, I can tell you that if you watched the end of that game and didn't curse like a drunken sailor, then you are definitely not a true Red Sox fan.

And if I asked you the question, "So, Grady Little; any thoughts?" And you responded with anything other than a torrent of blaspheming, raunchy, unprintable sentences, then I'd know you are not a true Red Sox fan.

Okay, so now I've wandered over from a nice article on writing into a baseball/sports related article; but not really. That was just an aside to illuminate the usefulness of profanity on the odd occasion.

Okay... back to the topic at hand, which is...

...

... oh, that's right; I remember now: it's writing. (Don't worry: I understand if you too forgot what we were talking about.

I am an observer by nature, and usually like to sit on the sidelines in social gatherings and listen in on as many conversations as possible. Rather than take an active participation role. This makes me ideally suited to be a writer. Also, I am normally unable to think quickly on my feet to come up with a witty remark or retort; but give me a couple of hours, and often I can come up with the perfect phrase for the situation. Unfortunately, by this time, everyone has gone home and is in bed, and all the food and wine is finished.

Now that I'm nearing the end of this article, I look back and am wondering whether there is anything worthwhile in it. I don't know. And if I don't know, you ask, why would you ever want to read it? Again, I don't know. Probably no reason. But then, I'm not often a good judge of my own work; I need to put it out there and let people read it and see how they react before I can get a feel for how good it is.

But I really don't enjoy negative criticism; not many writers do. So this way, I can put this article out on the useless-knowledge website, and you can read it or not as you see fit, and I don't ever have to know if any of you didn't like it.

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About the author: I have a website: www.geocites.com/scooter262. I have written an irreverent guide book titled, "What Sucks About South Florida," published by a small publishing house. It is currently out of print, but I have copies available, and you can view info about the book either at my website or at Amazon.com.



Email Scott Marcus: scooter262@yahoo.com

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