[stylist] William the Conqueror; some thoughts to ponder

Tue Nov 13 22:54:07 UTC 2012

Bill, I was thinking of your piece last night and two things kept coming to
mind. First is if you could somewhere in it make a statement of what it is
you wish to conquer rather than civilizations I think it would be very
strong and make a positive connection. Second thing was the image of Heath
Ledger in his final joust in A Knight's Tale where he wore no helmet or
armour and was riding with nothing other than the power of his name as he
yelled "William." That was such a powerful scene in a movie well worth
watching over and over. I do not know if there is anything you could gain
from that image, but it is what came to mind. I think it means that knowing
who you are, in your case William, will enable you to overcome and
conquer all obstacles. Just something I wanted to share as your piece ended
up sharing more with me than you could know. Thanks, Eve

On Tue, Nov 13, 2012 at 8:42 AM, Lynda Lambert <llambert at zoominternet.net>wrote:

> Bill,
> I think you hit on a really good point in you short piece. The "name"
> itself is a power name. You know, there are some names that evoke a feeling
> of power, just to say the word. William is  one of those names.  It is a
> warrior name, a ruler, a prince, a conqueror, and Type A man!
>
> My father's name is William!
>
> Your piece led me to begin to think about the meanings that come to my
> mind when I say that name. I began to think of it yesterday when I was
> sifting through photos of my father because I wanted to post some of him in
> honor of Veteran's Day. He was a veteran of WWII, served with Pattons
> forces in Europe, and was in the third wave at the Battle of the Bulge.
>
> Then, I thought about other William's who immediately came to my mind -
> and all of them were power people, too.
>
> I first thought about etymological elements of the name:
> It is Willahelm - in German:  To break down this name you look at the two
> parts of it.
>
> Will (means to desire)  and Helm (means a Helmet)
>
> Will desires a helmet. Now that is power - you think of why a man would
> desire a helmet. You have the image of a warrior located within that name.
>
>
>
> Very quickly other Williams come to mind:
>
>
>
> William Gellome:  8th Century Norman, cousin of Charlemagne - he became a
> monk. I think of this man because I used to lecture on Charlemagne and the
> rise of monasticism in Europe.  I have traveled to Aachen and stood beside
> Charlemagne's throne, overlooking the floor of his amazing chapel and
> palace. POWER.
>
>
>
>
>
> There are other Williams throughout history and in contemporary literature
> - so many of them. Some of my own favorite poets and philosophers are named
> William.
>
>
>
> William Burroughs;
>
> William Blake;
>
> William Wordsworth
>
> William Shakespeare
>
> William Jennings Bryant
>
> Billy the Kid
>
> William Shatner
>
> Williams Carlos Williams (my MAN!)
>
>
>
> Yes, you can think of yourself surrounded and in the company of strong and
> powerful men, William.
>
> Why not!
>
>
>
> Since I have begun seriously thinking about writing a series of vignettes
> on my memories I am going to tuck away these ideas for use when I begin to
> work on my father's life.
>
>
>
>
> Lynda
>
>
>
>
>
>
> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Bill Outman" <woutman at earthlink.net>
> To: "'Writer's Division Mailing List'" <stylist at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Tuesday, November 13, 2012 9:18 AM
>
> Subject: Re: [stylist] William the Conqueror; some thoughts to ponder
>
>
>  Well, I am not admiring anything about his reign
>> Per cie, merely the abstract symbol of decisiveness.  It was a different
>> time in history which for a wholehost of reasons we would not with to
>> emulate fully.
>>
>> I have observed in my own life at times that I can fall into the trap of
>> tentativeness.
>>
>> You raise a fair point that the full history may require further inquiry
>> on
>> my part.
>>
>> Bill Outman
>>
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: stylist [mailto:stylist-bounces@**nfbnet.org<stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org>]
>> On Behalf Of Eve Sanchez
>> Sent: Monday, November 12, 2012 8:49 PM
>> To: Writer's Division Mailing List
>> Subject: Re: [stylist] William the Conqueror; some thoughts to ponder
>>
>> Bill, I hate to say this as I am not an editor or critic, but William the
>> Conqueror, otherwise known as William the Bastard, was from the early
>> Norman
>> period. The Plantagenets came about 400 years later In the late 14th
>> century
>> with the reign of Henry IV. I do like your use of analogy though I would
>> never want to be associated with such a person, that is neither here nor
>> there. You admire him for his invasions and slaughters of innocent people
>> and that is your right. I would suggest doing a little more reading on the
>> history though to get your timeline correct. Diolch, Cymru Rhydd. Eve
>>
>> On Mon, Nov 12, 2012 at 3:25 PM, Aine Kelly-Costello
>> <ainekc at orcon.net.nz>wrote:
>>
>> I like the thematic matter, good work.  To be an editor, and point out
>>> the things that  jumped out at me:
>>> "odacious" is actually spelled "audacious".
>>> I wouldn't use the "I've" contraction in "I've desired after a
>>> fashion", there is a bit of a jump in formality levels there.  And at
>>> the start of that paragraph where you talk about yourself, maybe
>>> introduce it with some sort of connecting phrase, like "on a personal
>>>
>> level".  I'd change "though"
>>
>>> to "although" there and put a comma after "Bill".  Also, the double
>>> use of "desired" in that paragraph, there and in the following
>>> sentence, doesn't read that well for me, I'd change one to something
>>> else.  I'm not really sure what "desired after a fashion" actually
>>> means to be honest.  Also - at the very top, I have no idea what
>>> Plantaginate means (and I'm guessing I'm not the only one), so perhaps
>>> you could clarify that? Just some thoughts ...  obviously you're the
>>> writer
>>>
>>> Cool though :) our headmistress (who is also a history teacher) at
>>> school is great at doing that, taking a historic example of someone
>>> important and showing us how it can apply to our every-day lives
>>>
>>>
>>> Aine
>>>
>>>
>>> ----- Original Message -----
>>> From: "Bill Outman" <woutman at earthlink.net
>>> To: "'Writer's Division Mailing List'" <stylist at nfbnet.org Date sent:
>>> Mon, 12 Nov 2012 17:33:58 -0500
>>> Subject: [stylist] William the Conqueror; some thoughts to ponder
>>>
>>> Good afternoon, folks.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> This may sound like it runs a bit counter to what we have been
>>> discussing the last couple days concerning gratitude, but it's worth
>>>
>> thinking about.
>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> It came up earlier today when I was discussing division business with
>>> Robert off list.  I had it partially written several months ago, but I
>>> have enough now to present for your consideration.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Here it is below.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> William the Conqueror
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> William I of England, the first of the Plantaginate kings,
>>> accomplished in
>>> 1066 at the Battle of Hastings the rare feat of a successful military
>>> campaign across the English Channel.  He thus acquired the English
>>> throne, having set out from the Normandy region of France.  This
>>> earned him the nickname William the Conqueror.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> The name William originates from the German Wilhelm, meaning resolute
>>> protector.  Resolute in intent he certainly was.  It can rightly be
>>> said that his act of conquest was odacious.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Though I am known by Bill my given name is actually William, and I've
>>> desired after a fashion to be another William the Conqueror.  I have
>>> desired not to be just William the Acceptor.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> If William the Acceptor had existed, he would have been utterly
>>> content to accept his lot in life as pre-ordained and immutable.  He
>>> would have accepted a status quo existence, thus remaining a complete
>>> unknown.  This is why we have never heard of him.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> We may accept our need to cope with lack of vision, but if we do not
>>> have some of the spirit of a conqueror, we will not reach our full
>>> potential and experience the full amount of joy that might be possible.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Bill Outman
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> ______________________________****_________________
>>> Writers Division web site
>>> http://www.writers-division.****net/ <http://www.writers-division.**net/<http://www.writers-division.net/>
>>> >
>>> stylist mailing list
>>> stylist at nfbnet.org
>>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/****listinfo/stylist_nfbnet.org<http://nfbnet.org/mailman/**listinfo/stylist_nfbnet.org>
>>> <ht**tp://nfbnet <http://nfbnet/>.
>>> org/mailman/listinfo/stylist_**nfbnet.org <http://stylist_nfbnet.org/>>
>>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
>>> stylist:
>>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/****options/stylist_nfbnet.org/****
>>> ainekc%40orc<http://nfbnet.org/mailman/**options/stylist_nfbnet.org/**ainekc%40orc>
>>> <
>>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/**options/stylist_nfbnet.org/**ainekc%40orc<http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/stylist_nfbnet.org/ainekc%40orc>
>>> >
>>> on.net.nz
>>>
>>>
>>> ______________________________****_________________
>>> Writers Division web site
>>> http://www.writers-division.****net/ <http://www.writers-division.**net/<http://www.writers-division.net/>
>>> >
>>> stylist mailing list
>>> stylist at nfbnet.org
>>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/****listinfo/stylist_nfbnet.org<http://nfbnet.org/mailman/**listinfo/stylist_nfbnet.org>
>>> <ht**tp://nfbnet <http://nfbnet/>.
>>> org/mailman/listinfo/stylist_**nfbnet.org <http://stylist_nfbnet.org/>>
>>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
>>> stylist:
>>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/****options/stylist_nfbnet.org/**<http://nfbnet.org/mailman/**options/stylist_nfbnet.org/**>
>>> 3rdeyeonly%40gmail.com<http://**nfbnet.org/mailman/options/**
>>> stylist_nfbne <http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/stylist_nfbne>
>>> t.org/3rdeyeonly%40gmail.com>
>>>
>>> ______________________________**_________________
>> Writers Division web site
>> http://www.writers-division.**net/ <http://www.writers-division.net/>
>> stylist mailing list
>> stylist at nfbnet.org
>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/**listinfo/stylist_nfbnet.org<http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/stylist_nfbnet.org>
>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
>> stylist:
>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/**options/stylist_nfbnet.org/**
>> woutman%40earthlink.net<http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/stylist_nfbnet.org/woutman%40earthlink.net>
>>
>>
>> ______________________________**_________________
>> Writers Division web site
>> http://www.writers-division.**net/ <http://www.writers-division.net/>
>> stylist mailing list
>> stylist at nfbnet.org
>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/**listinfo/stylist_nfbnet.org<http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/stylist_nfbnet.org>
>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
>> stylist:
>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/**options/stylist_nfbnet.org/**
>> llambert%40zoominternet.net<http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/stylist_nfbnet.org/llambert%40zoominternet.net>
>>
>>
>
>
> ______________________________**_________________
> Writers Division web site
> http://www.writers-division.**net/ <http://www.writers-division.net/>
> stylist mailing list
> stylist at nfbnet.org
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/**listinfo/stylist_nfbnet.org<http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/stylist_nfbnet.org>
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
> stylist:
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/**options/stylist_nfbnet.org/**
> 3rdeyeonly%40gmail.com<http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/stylist_nfbnet.org/3rdeyeonly%40gmail.com>
>