As a writer, I find it difficult to keep my mental folders in order. There is so much information available that I often become a victim of information overload and board a broken down bus at least once a week.
Board a broken down bus...what the hell is that, you ask....
It's when I have so much information to process that I stop EVERYTHING...I stop writing, I stop reading, I stop being stimulated by my environment...I even stop being a mommy, daughter, sister, friend, and wife when I board the bus. It's a must if I plan to remain sane!
Every now and again it's okay to stop the presses. I'd like to challenge that it's a MUST...at least when you are a writer. The time frame in which one chooses to take a time out differs, but the goal remains the same.
Don't get it twisted though...just because you take a day off from playing your many roles, writer included, doesn't mean that you do nothing...
It means that you give your mind some time to sort out all of the information you've gathered. Give your mind time to properly organize and file the contents of your mental folders, trash what's not needed, and make notes regarding information you need to gather in the future.
I return to 'business as usual' a little more refreshed and inspired. My senses are more keen and I feel I can conquer another week without falling apart. Information is so empowering and stifling, simultaneously....
This process happens in life, in general, as well. Maybe not as often, but it happens...
How often do you board a broken down bus?
Stay peace
Tuesday, October 2, 2007
Writing....
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Wednesdays & Fridays Blog
|
5 comments:
There is one week out of every month that so much things are swirling around in my head that I have to check out of reality for just a bit, so that I can come back functioning like I need and want to.
it is sooo needed!
I'm with you on that one. It's so difficult for me to write when everything else is not in place. If there are problems with work, if the kids are sick, or if I'm in the middle of an unsettled argument with the wifey, I can't write to save my life.
Sometimes that information overload can be related to writing itself. I live in my copies of "The Writer" magazine and have learned so much from it and from critiques from other writers that I almost hear them when I start a project. For me, I had to force myself to tell stories through dialogue instead through narration but when you read what I'm working on now in comparison to all my other stuff, there's no comparison to how much it's improved.
Most of the great writers (the ones who only live off of writing for a living) force themselves to write at least 1500-2500 words a day. One of the great things about not being under contract is that there are no deadlines. Lucky for me, because some days I can belt out 2000 words and sometimes I can go weeks without writing a single one. I can't write every day yet. It's just not in me. What I do is outline, create characters, and then write the story. When the writing isn't there, I go back to the outline and refine it and refine characters and plots.
Wouldn't it be nice to go to a Writers' Retreat and mostly do nothing but write?
We all need down time, I take lots, however there are what I call my dark periods, when I am inside, the blinds are closed, my hair is uncombed and I simply sit still...unstimulated...gets me back on track every time.
angelia
man...broken buses are my specialty, lol
lately, i know i need to sit back, chill, think, come back to MYSELF so that i can do what i need to do. it's even harder when your broken down bus is somewhere like in louisiana, in the dead of summer, at the time of day where the sun is hottest and blazing down upon you as you stand on the hot asphalt, wishing someone would come and help you, lol
Post a Comment