Where We Are So Far

Molière

"Writing is like prostitution. First you do it for love, and then for a few close friends, and then for money.”

I had planned to do a little on editing, but I reckoned it can wait. Instead, on the chance I have a few new readers, I thought I'd give a little recap about this blog, and how I came to get my passion for writing.

Now if you are someone who finds writing to be a chore, has no urge to put your thoughts down on metaphorical paper, and have no need to see your name in print; I might suggest you go to a blog on cooking, pets, hockey, Tibetan Throat SInging or whatever lights your torch; immediately. But if you are someone who has always wanted to share your ideas and stories with others, then please continue. Also, if you recognized that previous, horrible run on sentence, then you might want to stick around.

Now the first part of this is all about me, so if that doesn't interest you either, then you are excused.

I really didn't think about writing until I was past my school years. The first clue that I had a knack for the written word came in Uni when I managed to take the three facts I could remember, turn them into a four page essay on my History or Poli Sci exam, and manage to pull off an A. It sure wasn't my knowledge of the subject, but my ability to spin it out into something that sounded like I knew what I was talking about.

Later, working in Talk Radio, I wrote intros and scripts for interviews and on air features. At this point I realized I totally enjoyed the time I spent writing. 

I began jotting down notes about events of the day, opinions, dreams, whatever came into my mind.

We all have stories going through our head, so it seemed natural to write them down. Once that started to happen, I was hooked. I couldn't just leave what I thought was a good I idea without following it through. Sometimes it went nowhere, but there were the wonderful times when the gates opened wide and a flood of ideas emerged on my screen, often not even consciously.   

So much about me. Now how does this relate to you?

If you have that same bug, writing just becomes part of your life. Whenever you have the time, you take ideas and play around with them until you have something passable, and then you revise, edit, renovate until you feel confident to share it with friends, fellow writers, or maybe the world. It's really pretty awesome. And yes that's an overworked word, but it's honestly how it feels.

Now you are a writer and there's no looking back. 

And if that's the case, I ask you to kindly go back and read the rest of this blog. I give my own take on the craft, taken from years of experience. It may not work for everyone, but it does work for me. And after all this has mostly been all about me.

I've Got Nothing. Yet.

 

Okay, well I've talked about so called writer's block, and I hope I convince you that is mostly a myth concocted to scare you back to the laptop, or whatever your preferred device is, and forcing you to write any drivel that comes into your noggin, just so you can fool yourself into believing you have something to offer at this moment. Like this run on sentence for instance.

Now that might work for some. Sometimes it's just like unclogging a drain. Once you get rid of that knotted up congealed mess of hair and cooking oil, the floodgates open and you can't keep up with all the creativity spewing from your previously numb frontal lobe.

But usually the only thing you are missing is a story line. That doesn't mean you are unable to write. It just means you haven't found something that tickles your mind enough to make you want to pursue it.

Here's the truth. The ideas are out there. Everywhere. They are regurgitation themselves from your past, the events of the day, the banter at the coffee machine, the news of the day, even the meaningless pablum you watched on the telly last night. I'll repeat it.

They Are There! Everywhere!!

So why aren't they pouring out onto the screen?

There are dozens of reasons. Maybe you are too occupied with other concerns. Perhaps you are dismissing potential plots without even giving them a second glance. What if you are just tired?

So what to do. First just open yourself to ideas. Look around, pay attention, it's all there, but you're missing it.

Maybe even a little affirmation can help.

When you get a nibble, just jot it down and move on.

Later on one of the nibbles may result in you landing the big one.

Also write something else. Go back and edit some old stories that you may have abandoned. Put down your frustration on paper. 

Do a blog. Even if it's just for yourself.

But just write something, anything that will stop your mind from telling you, you don't have it anymore.

Barring an accidental lobotomy, you writing gift will not disappear. It's right there just waiting for you to give it the go ahead. 

There are times we are going to find that the well has run a bit dry. But that doesn't mean it won't rain tomorrow. 

You are a writer, and that doesn't change because you haven't come up with the perfect tale this week.