I’m at the .2 of this month’s writing challenge, as in, I’ve run the Marathon and I have .2 miles to go and I’m not quite sure I’m going to make it. I don’t want to write. I don’t feel inspired. Life has gotten in the way of inspiration…

Which brings me to wonder… How on Earth did Shakespeare write all that he did? I’m not a conspiracy theorist. I actually think that Shakespeare did write all his plays and sonnets. I don’t think he was misattributed. I think in 400 years, should humanity survive, no one will believe that a woman on the edge of homelessness wrote the Harry Potter series (there are already doubters). In fact, since he borrowed heavily from other authors, I think that Will Shakespeare did write all of his “original” pieces. Among my favorites are A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Twelfth Night.

In The Collected Works of William Shakespeare it is easy to get caught in the language. My suggestion? Read aloud. Shakespeare was meant to be performed. It is best heard, not read. And don’t get caught up on individual words. Shakespeare is a poet; most of his work can be absorbed in total. You do not have to understand a specific line to appreciate, “A rose by any other name would smell as sweet.” You understand that those lines (spoken by Juliet) are about love.

William Shakespeare was attempting to entertain the masses. In his efforts, he created half the Oxford English Dictionary (okay, maybe not half, but a lot of the words trace their origins to good old Billy Boy). He also created drama for the ages. If I am read 400 years from now, I’ll be spinning in my grave. Few artists stand the test of time. Shakespeare is among them.