Author’s Note: I enjoy writing in all styles (I hate being pigeonholed) so have started to post on Medium. This is my first post which I have copied to here. I intend to do a lot more. In truth, I wasn’t even going to mention it, but please feel free to go on there and seek me out if you wish to read more.
This is me: Richard on Medium
As always,
Thank you for reading
Richard

Say it loud! Say it proud! Don’t hold back! Sell yourself!
This is how it starts. I raise my head from the sand and think I can do this but I can’t.
You can! shout the others. They scream it at me with the reassurance of having read millions of the individual words that form my written work. We love them they say. We look forward to reading them they cajole. I want to believe them, but it’s in my nature to not. Is it so wrong to be read in quiet with gentle nods of approval and a bookmarked mind willing to find a way back?
I am an introvert, and there’s nothing wrong with that. For many years, I thought there was that I had some incurable disease where my voice couldn’t match the decibels of others, and my opinion, through not being forceful, was disregarded in favour of those who were. I know I am not alone in this, and to those of you who understand, I’m sorry.
Perhaps this was why I turned to writing speculative fiction. Being able to create, be it by words or phrases, stories or poetry, is a way out, a release. You can say what you want how you want. You can fly over rainbows, wrestle dinosaurs, kill and no one can say you’re wrong. Even if they do, you can’t hear them, or rather, you couldn’t.
The little monochrome me that hid in the corner of computer screens and book flaps went unnoticed. A fly on a barely perceived wall, I looked on in silence. Social media has stolen that silence and asked for my opinion on why I was like it. I can’t answer, of course. I’m not sure I’d want to, but I’m assured I should. Hm.
Extroverts have it easy. I see them shouting from the rooftops about this that or the other, unbothered. Most of what they say, sell and preach is rubbish, not all, but most, yet I’m expected to buy or believe it. Why can’t the quiet ones just say no?
Yet, here I am. I write. I love to write. I see others requiring prompts, incentives, moaning about writer’s block and any number of other reasons for not doing what they wish, that I don’t. There will never be enough days, minutes or seconds left in my life to write all the words I would wish. Sentences flow from my fingers with all the speed limited typing skills can muster; they aren’t fast enough. And so it goes on.
I made the monumental decision to write here on Medium today as it seems a relaxing place to post a view. My compromise, a manipulated and rather loud photo to emphasise a point. Perhaps, just perhaps, the quiet little monochrome one is better.
Richard
Richard M. Ankers
Author of The Eternals Series
Never good to be pigeonholed Richard!
Too true
I’m liking this style Richard. Always fun to experiment with new things.
Thanks, V. I can be serious now and again.
With my blogging, I constantly switch things up.
You do right.
Be free-wheeling with your content in whatever form you want to express it, Rich. After all, of forms of writing let fools contend; what is best is what is well written, to slightly alter the observation of Alexander Pope. Prose at its best is poetic and poetry at its worst is prosaic and pedestrian. Cheers…
Good advice, Raj, as always. 🙂
I like this. I’m an introvert too. I find that this platform lets me be who I’d be if I were really comfortable. Like as if you’ve all been converted to my new best friends. 😄 I’ve never heard of the other site. Thanks for the heads up!
I like it quiet, very, very quiet.
And you’re welcome. 🙂
I need a quiet portion of time everyday to stay sane. It’s why I stay up so late. It’s really quiet at midnight. 😊
Stay sane, you say 😉
Richard!! 😄
I don’t know why I winked? Must be nerves 😜
Lol. Surely I don’t make you nervous. 😎
Everyone makes me nervous even me. 🤔
Ha. Same. 😊
😄
Nice. I like the person behind all your beautiful words, Richard. I have no problem being an introvert, though it was torture as a young person. Now, as a writer, I’m never alone in my head 🙂
I’m just the same. The only quote I ever remember comes from my favourite writer and applies to me exactly “I enjoy the company of others but prefer my own.”
Yup. Crowds in very small doses. 🙂
Minuscule
Bah for monochrome🤣
LOL
I think we’re multifaceted. I’m an extrovert with strangers, but for some reason in intimate gatherings I get super shy and uncomfortable. I often feel socially awkward and get social anxiety. Not sure why. But, I can often be both extrovert and introvert at times.
I think the ‘how comfortable’ you are has a lot to do with it. Thanks for your words, Sonyo. 🙂
I am an introvert even though when I was working, I was required to do a lot of people contact, public speaking, I prefer working in my office. I also think and prepare what I want to say and don’t like to be a clown. I feel comfortable in blogging and writing.
I’m the same. I hate being made a fool.
I remember as teens, when I prayed out loud, I recited the whole prayer silently before I open my mouth. Didn’t want to get stuck.
I know what you mean.
🙂 🙂
I don’t criticize people who are outgoing, out spoken. When I say “clown” – I meant I don’t like to be embarrassed.
Don’t worry, I knew just what you meant. 🙂
🙂 🙂
Richard! This expression is fantastic! I feel as though we all go through this more times than we willingly admit to. I envy your ability to write fiction. Your point of view is greatly appreciated by me. I’m a bit monochrome myself and I work daily to be more colorful. This is a great introduction to you for me. Thank you 😊
Thanks for the kind words, I’m very grateful for them. 🙂
Fantastically Inspiring Post Richard 🙂 Love it!
But what, may I ask, is Medium?
Medium.com is a blogging site but more focused on the post itself. It’s a nice one to write on so I thought I’d give it a go and you do get proper feedback stats. The easiest thing is to pop and have a look. There’s less interaction, so it’s a bit quieter.
I’ll have to have a gander..
what are you trying to say, exactly? Are you implying that there is a lot of superfluous verbosity here about? That there’s a bit too much chitter-chatter? Im shocked, really, appalled, in fact…I mean…. 😛
I like to hear the wind blowing across the meadow and the moles digging beneath my feet. I do you know.
I have been known to stand out in the yard at night in the summer and listen to the subtle sound of the earthworms moving beneath the leaves 😮
I’m impressed. I like to hear the flowers blooming.
Am I glad, you also posted it here. Just the other day I deleted my account by Medium, since “There will never be enough days, minutes or seconds left in my life to write all the words I would wish.”
However, you are a fantastic writer…so good luck, you really deserve more acknowledgement.
Thanks, Patty, very kind.
Write on my brother – I share every heartfelt word!
Thanks, TJ. 🙂