Something that will always be synonymous with being an indie
bookseller is a fascination with anything dealing with the written word. Whether
it be writing our own breakout novel, letters (because yes, those still are a
thing), or journals that get a little prosaic at times. If any of you walked
into a REAL bookstore, which does not include big chains of bookstores as I’m
still in doubt as to if any of them actually read -_-, then nine times out of
ten you are going to find most of the employees consider themselves, not only
avid readers, but avid writers.
I’m no exception. The ability to craft words into real
meaning, real emotion, is a gift in and of itself. But the pleasure that goes
with it. The reading a sentence that you just scrawled down and feeling it ring
in your ears because life could never be truer than that sentence right there…
addicting. Being able to say things better when writing them than speaking
them, however, is a huge downfall for me. I get in an argument: “Wait, and let
me grab a piece of paper!” A friend needs advice or needs to be cheered up: “Hold
on, I’ll I.M. you in a second with an answer.” I need to explain something in a
presentation: “Let me write this down first to organize my thoughts.” Writing is
easier. You can always backspace and erase, and delete that sentence that you
REALLY want to send to someone… but know it really is a bad idea.
I appreciate that not everyone is going to feel the same.
Writing is also very intricate and time consuming. People generally don’t have
time to think out and type the sentence “I would, of course, accept the
invitation to your blue-hippopotamus bonanza.” To make sure it sounds OK. It’s
much simpler to just let it fly out your mouth and hope for the best. And frankly,
why wouldn't you want to say that out loud a few times a day, anyways?
But my point being, writing is by far a way of life. More
specifically it is my way of life. I will always find it more comfortable to
write to someone what I’m thinking in a letter then attempting to do it face to
face. (This is not to say that I am uncomfortable with talking face to face
with someone. It just takes me a much longer time to organize my thoughts if it’s
without a keyboard or a fountain pen.)
That was the point, all thought it wasn't a very good one.
Recap: Booksellers are in general also writing enthusiasts (I have no met all
of them so I have yet to verify). I am one of those writing obsessed ones. I
think much better when I am typing than when I am speaking. We all need to have
blue-hippopotamus bonanzas. That is all.
