So I'm writing again, but it feels sort of like having my teeth pulled. Two days, five hundred words, and every paragraph pulled out of me with the resistance of a deeply rooted molar. ... Someone said not too long ago, in a comment on a blog post of mine, and I haven't taken the time to look back and find out who it was, but they gave me the advice to keep writing while the flow was hot, (paraphrased of course) and their words couldn't be more true.
Christmas happened, life's drama intervened, and before I knew it I had lost that edge. Now when I look at that list of story ideas that had me so excited before Christmas, I don't remember what it was that made me feel the way I did. I wrote two or three lined descriptions of what those stories would be about. I didn't have to write more because I had the rest in my head, it was all just bouncing around in there taking shape, growing in detail, just waiting for me to write it down so it could take on a life of it's own.
It's only been a month, but now those little details have fluttered away. Somehow I don't think that my having written a better description of what those stories would be about would have helped. What is missing now isn't a story line, or even the premise for the story. I'm not sure if I can explain it well enough, but it's the creative pull that I think every writer feels when they have a story in their head. You're in the middle of cooking a meal or maybe listening to someone tell you how their day's been, but you suddenly drift off into the world you are creating. It's as if the story refuses to stop being written, despite the inconvenience it causes you when you burn your pork chops or cause your partner to give you that look that says, you haven't been listening to me, have you.
It's not that I want to burn my dinner, or that I ever want to see that look on my partners face again, but I want that edge back.
So I'm going though the motions. I'm writing a story, probably the worse story I'll every write, but I know something from it will light that fuse again, and I'll be back in the flow soon enough. ... hopefully.
You will find it again and I think it's only be writing that it will happen. Doesn't matter if it's the worst story you've ever written. By the time you've finished, it may be the best or have elements that you can take onto something else.
ReplyDeleteI don't think we can be fired up with inspiration all the time. Sometimes it's just workaday slog.
Now don't burn those chops:-)
Thanks Lane. :) ... I'm not very good at disciplining myself. But I gotta, I'm the one taking myself seriously as a writer, so I have to give myself that at least. Okay. Off to pull some more teeth.
ReplyDeleteI've experienced both. Stories flying from my fingers, and stories that have been like pulling teeth. Sometimes the pulling teeth ones turn out well, but even if they don't, you're still writing which is the main thing.
ReplyDeleteHey Dar. I've given you an award on my blog. Other than telling you like this or in IM's I'm not sure how to give it to you. So go check it out, please.
ReplyDeleteThanks Helen; I'm working at it. :)
ReplyDeleteHey Jude; Thank you! :) I'll check it out.
You just have to turn on the tap m'dear. It may only start with a gentle trickle of a few drops of water, but before you know it the water will be flowing like a waterfall. (TF! What? stop talking CRAP!) TFx
ReplyDeleteHey TF, give yourself credit woman, not only is what you,re saying true, you said it with the use of complete and lovely metaphor.:) Turning on the tap seems to be working. Flowing much better today. Thank you. :)
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