Can I Not Write?
Monday, November 23. 2009
Every once in a great while, something literally takes your breath away—you "forget" to breathe for a moment while your entire brain (presumably, even the bits normally just keeping the beat for you) is occupied in assimilating, understanding, appreciating what you've just witnessed. Breathing, a necessary component of simply living, takes a back seat temporarily to something the brain sees as far more important.
I think writing's like that for me.
It's been said that a "real" writer is incapable of not writing, that she's driven to do it above all else, that it's as essential to her well-being as breathing. That's been a worrisome idea for me, because there are long stretches of time wherein, though I would like to be writing, I just don't. Apparently, I'm not sufficiently driven by the basic need to write—I'm capable of not writing, therefore I must not really be a writer.
I've come to believe that the problem in my life is far too many things that "take my writing away." Putting words to paper is an essential part of my existence; I've proven that fact to my own satisfaction. I take great joy from the formation of eloquent prose, from setting scenes that are compelling, from working events to "aha" conclusions. I love to write. But I've been allowing myself not to do so, to put writing in the back seat for just a moment while something more important is going on.
No more.
I'm using this November's press toward 50 good hours of noveling to jump-start my writing future. Here's to getting priorities right, and spending more and more time on writing going forward.
Every once in a great while, something literally takes your breath away—you "forget" to breathe for a moment while your entire brain (presumably, even the bits normally just keeping the beat for you) is occupied in assimilating, understanding, appreciating what you've just witnessed. Breathing, a necessary component of simply living, takes a back seat temporarily to something the brain sees as far more important.
I think writing's like that for me.
It's been said that a "real" writer is incapable of not writing, that she's driven to do it above all else, that it's as essential to her well-being as breathing. That's been a worrisome idea for me, because there are long stretches of time wherein, though I would like to be writing, I just don't. Apparently, I'm not sufficiently driven by the basic need to write—I'm capable of not writing, therefore I must not really be a writer.
I've come to believe that the problem in my life is far too many things that "take my writing away." Putting words to paper is an essential part of my existence; I've proven that fact to my own satisfaction. I take great joy from the formation of eloquent prose, from setting scenes that are compelling, from working events to "aha" conclusions. I love to write. But I've been allowing myself not to do so, to put writing in the back seat for just a moment while something more important is going on.
No more.
I'm using this November's press toward 50 good hours of noveling to jump-start my writing future. Here's to getting priorities right, and spending more and more time on writing going forward.
I think writing's like that for me.
It's been said that a "real" writer is incapable of not writing, that she's driven to do it above all else, that it's as essential to her well-being as breathing. That's been a worrisome idea for me, because there are long stretches of time wherein, though I would like to be writing, I just don't. Apparently, I'm not sufficiently driven by the basic need to write—I'm capable of not writing, therefore I must not really be a writer.
I've come to believe that the problem in my life is far too many things that "take my writing away." Putting words to paper is an essential part of my existence; I've proven that fact to my own satisfaction. I take great joy from the formation of eloquent prose, from setting scenes that are compelling, from working events to "aha" conclusions. I love to write. But I've been allowing myself not to do so, to put writing in the back seat for just a moment while something more important is going on.
No more.
I'm using this November's press toward 50 good hours of noveling to jump-start my writing future. Here's to getting priorities right, and spending more and more time on writing going forward.
Craig on :
It is a problem I have necessarily overcome for my job. Of course, that's probably more from experience than personal growth. When you do something nearly everyday, it is hard to not be prepared, even if one project is different than the next, all the component tasks are the same or similar.
So, it seems to me that the answer to your dilemma is to practice writing. So, you are on the right track. Now, I need to find the rerailer so I can get myself on track.
Brent on :