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Rather than write this month’s column about "how to
write this scene this way," or "what to write for this buyer, this way,"
I’m simply going to share with you where I am now. Stuck. Ever been
there? Stuck is right between, "Ooh, that’s a great idea," and "What was
I thinking?" Writers visit this place occasionally, but would never go
there by choice.
Maybe my reason for being stuck is because I moved,
and now the pencils aren’t aligned in the right order. Too many boxes
remain unpacked, and far too many mini-distractions cloud my
concentration. I still can’t find my favorite envelopes, and the dog is
still barking; better make another pot of coffee. I don’t need an
important reason to stop writing. I’ll jump at any excuse to walk away
from the computer when I’m stuck.
Being stuck happens to all writers. We want to write
reams of deep, cool-sounding stuff. We want to dream up powerful ideas,
create captivating characters, even whole scenes that we hope will
appear out of thin air. But then, with fingers poised over the keyboard
- nothing happens.
I have come to respect being stuck. I don’t like it,
but I know this frustrating experience is part of the whole process of
finding that idea buried in my subconscious. I believe language is a
privilege. There are writing skills I’m learning about every day and
still don’t understand. So, when inspiration gets caught somewhere
between my brain and my fingers, I have to sit down and understand why
the writing has stopped. I usually emerge from this creative limbo
feeling liberated, and find myself able to articulate better, clearer and more concisely.
Some days, my lack of inspiration manifests in my
staring out the window for hours, or rearranging my files or just
singing along with a favorite record. Some days, I just dance. But, over
the years, I’ve learned one thing: to love the spaces between the lines,
the silences just before I go to sleep.
These beautiful silences when I am waiting for words
are what, ultimately, motivate me to write and to rewrite, rewrite and
rewrite again. I respect the process. So when I do get stuck, and the
words are elusive, I am practicing the art of sitting still until they
come. And, believe me, the waiting takes practice.
Oh, I know I should be writing and I should have
written more. I expect that constant commitment to writing from others
and from myself, but it’s a silly expectation. Creativity comes when
it’s ready, not before or after. So, today, I’ll try not to beat myself
up too badly because I didn’t write a brilliant musing on the structure
of a brilliant scene, or pass along an inspirational tidbit of writing
expertise. The truth is, I’m just a writer, just like you, and today
these are the only words I have.
I believe they’ll have to do for now.
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