WHAT IF… ALL iPhones, iPads, Nooks and Kindle Services Disappeared?

If you grew up in the 1960s—or are a youthful fan of classic TV—you’re probably familiar with THE TWILIGHT ZONE TV series. In stark black and white contrasts those 30 minute “short story dramatizations” offered viewers a wide variety of theories to ponder. My all-time favorite is titled: “Time Enough at Last.” It was adapted from a short story that appeared in a Science Fiction magazine in 1953. This fact alone should encourage all of us as we see what is written and published today can (and does) live into the future.

“Time Enough at Last” gave us the story of one man (Henry Bemis) who LOVED to READ. He carried a book with him wherever he went. However, he is surrounded by people who think he is foolish “reading all the time,” and they do all they can to prevent him having any time to read. Henry worked in a bank, and one day accidentally got locked inside. It was almost like a dream come true, because he had a book with him! Suddenly, there is an explosion! When Henry is able to pop the loosened door open, he finds the world had been decimated. He was all alone. As he stumbles through the rubble, he reaches some steps and sits down to rest. There is a hardbound book on the step below, and he realizes he’s sitting on the steps of the LIBRARY! BOOKS! ALL the books he could read in a lifetime! BOOKS! GLORIOUS BOOKS! And no one to stop him from reading each and every one!

Of course, there are multiple themes within this one short-story-episode—another one being to beware of our reliance on technology. Yet the one that continues to strike me is the possibility of a culture—a society—that no longer encourages reading. If fact, the societal attitudes toward books in this fiction story points a straight finger at those who attempt to keep people from reading as happens today in too many countries. This concept has stayed with me a whole lot of years, and as I look back I am so THANKFUL to that writer whose words watered the seed of writing—and getting my books published—deep within me.

So it is that I close this month of March with several quotes that have inspired and fortified me during times when I slouched at my writing desk.

• First Lady, Jacqueline Kennedy, said: “There are many little ways to enlarge your world. Love of books is the best of all.”
• From Charlie and the Chocolate Factory author, Roald Dahl: “So please, oh PLEASE, we beg, we pray, go throw your TV set away, and in its place you can install, a lovely bookshelf on the wall.”
• Sci-Fi author, Stephen King said: “Books are a uniquely portable magic.”
• Singer-songwriter, Taylor Swift says: “Books train your mind to imagine and think big.”

DO WRITERS face challenges? Of course, as do all people of every career and every generation. However, the blessing we have is the ability to use words that create mind-imaginings and allow Readers the opportunity to think big—and BIGGER. The words we choose to write on the pages of our manuscripts have POWER. We must take care to use them wisely as they will impact our own lives—and the world. ⚓︎

ABOUT ROYALENE DOYLE: Royalene has been writing something since before kindergarten days and continues to love the process. Through her small business—DOYLE WRITING SERVICES—she brings more than 40 years of writing experience to authors who need “just a little assistance” with completing their projects. This is a nice fit as she develops these blogs for Outskirts Press (OP) a leading self-publisher, and occasionally accepts a ghostwriting project from one of their clients. Her recent book release (with OP) titled FIREPROOF PROVERBS, A Writer’s Study of Words, is already receiving excellent reviews including several professional writer’s endorsements given on the book’s back cover.   Royalene’s writing experience grew through a wide variety of positions from Office Manager and Administrative Assistant to Teacher of Literature and Advanced Writing courses and editor/writer for an International Christian ministry. Her willingness to listen to struggling authors, learn their goals and expectations and discern their writing voice has brought many manuscripts into the published books arena.