Saturday, June 19, 2010

Drunk On Writing

As my birthday approaches, I started thinking about just why I love writing and the best answer is it is the only thing that has kept my attention for over forty years. I started writing when I was a little girl with little poems and the moment one was published, I knew I had found something, which excited me.

When I was twelve, I started the great American novel fashioned after my all time favorite at the time, Gone With The Wind. I just knew if I could get it all together, I would have the best Civil War romance ever. Thank goodness, that book and all its iterations have remained hidden for years. Not that I haven’t thought about it, I have but I’ve also matured enough to realize it will never seen the light of day.

In all honesty, it shouldn’t. A lot of my work shouldn’t see the light of day because it never goes past the idea stage. Some actually get a little further but the moment I lose interest, I need to move on elsewhere. Again, some I actually get back to and some never. But I know these foibles about myself and accept them to a point.

You may wonder why I don’t accept them and me totally. Well, if I did more than acknowledge them, there would be a chance they would overwhelm me and I would have more than a handful of uncompleted work. Right now, that handful is okay. Anymore and I would doubt my ability to write or ever complete a project.

Another thing that I discovered in my twenties was the importance of writer meetings. I discovered this with my very first RWA national convention in Dallas and I never looked back. Matter of fact, yes I’m using a cliché, I am preparing to go to one today. Today’s meeting is all about synopsis writing and one can never learn enough about this craft.

Writers meetings can keep one actively thinking about writing. It can recharge you when the well is drying up and ideas aren’t coming as easily as they used to come. These meetings are always motivating in some was as you will always learn something new and different while there. From a new writer being published to a multi-published one finding a new niche, there will be something for you.

When I found today’s comment, I also knew I had found today’s subject:

You must stay drunk on writing so reality cannot destroy you. ~Ray Bradbury

Is this a wonderful quote? Writers must stay drunk on writing, not just so reality won’t destroy you but so you can keep focused on the task at hand. A writer must always love writing even when they don’t like it. They must forge ahead even when it seems the book or work will never be done. They must continue to fulfill their destiny every day or we won’t have all those wonderful books to read.

See you tomorrow...have a great one!

Lynn

2 comments:

  1. That's a great quote. I feel like there are times, during revision, plotting, whatever that a writer has to really drown in the creative flow to survive the process.

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  2. I so agree with you, Moondancer. Some days are better than others of course. LOL!

    Thanks for stopping by!

    Lynn

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