Penny Jordan's Weblog

On 'Being a Writer'

Woke up this morning to find a weblog comment from 'Ralph' criticising me for beginning, 'twelve consecutive paragraphs with the word widow'.

Mmmmmm where shall I start? Come on class. Hands up anyone who can explain why I did that?

For the benefit of any other 'Ralphs' out there, my repetitive use of the word 'widow' was a deliberate choice. Using a word repetitively in that way underlines its status (or in my case my status as a widow, because I was posting certain of my thoughts re widowhood.) It is often used to underline a derogatory attitude. Thus

Ralph unfortunately did not get the point.

Ralphs seldom do.

Ralphs could be the tunnel vision of the reading public.- its train spotters, and adenoidal heavy breathers.

etc etc.

However, if we wanted to turn Ralph (or indeed widows) into powerful figures commanding our respect, we could do so thus.

There's something about being a 'Ralph'; something that creates a subtle sense of respect and even awe in other people. I've seen it happen so many times. One day there they, are an ordinary human being just like the rest of us but then when they become 'Ralphed', suddenly everything changes. It starts slowly, almost imperceptibly, they begin receiving invitations from the high end friends of your friends, when you haven't, their lives shift up a gear, friends of yours who haven't so much as invited them to a barbeque before, suddenly starting asking you, both eagerly and anxiously, if you think that Ralph would like to join them at some high profile event.

etc etc.

This is a writing tool anyone can use to good effect - and not just in fiction. It works rather well in letters of complaint.

btw 'Ralph' I don't 'call' myself anything. My name is 'Penny' and I earn my living writing fiction. It is grammatically incorrect to use the phrase 'He is called' - It should be, 'his name is...' . If you were using the phrase 'call yourself a writer' as a form of 'slang', then, strictly speaking, you should have written 'call' yourself a writer?

Must go - my porridge will be getting cold.

Penny