Thursday snuck up on me. Actually, I knew it was coming but yesterday afternoon, when I normally think about setting up the next day’s blog post, I was elbow deep in a rabbit hole grabbing for the time line. I think I got it untangled but I’ve made a note to myself to double-check that whole continuity thing when I reread the whole thing in preparation for edits and revisions. And during all that, I did manage some new words, which is the topic of today’s nudge from the Universe.

Your word, Silver, is one of the most powerful forces of nature.

Listen to yours to find out what you really think.

And speak them wisely to pave the path before you in gold.

So be it,
  The Universe
©www.tut.com

P.S. Remember, Silver, first there was the word, and ever since then… “just” more words.

The message today has two meanings for me. Growing up, my dad impressed on my brother and me that a person’s word is important. Giving your word–like making a promise–is something that shouldn’t be broken. Dad was old school. He did a lot of business on a handshake and very seldom got burned. In the second sense, as a writer, words are important to me. They tell my story (the what) and describe the who, the when, the where, the why, and the how. When I sit down to write a new book, I’m making a promise to my readers (and myself) to write the best book I’m capable of writing. To do that, I have to choose the right story and the right characters. I have to set those things in the right place at the right time. The things that happen and why they happen are just as important. Picking the right words is me keeping my word to all of you. If none of this makes sense, blame it on the time. It’s dark outside. It’s past my bed time and my brain is still circling that rabbit hole like a beagle on a hot scent. While I may never make a best seller list, I hope my words do pave the way to a good story in something that at least resembles gold. After all, we should occasionally follow the yellow brick road, right? Where’s your road leading you today?