I love that moment of energy when you know what to write. That feeling that there are muses and that we are just the writing instrument. Sometimes after I have a moment like that, I almost wonder if I read what I wrote somewhere else. (ofcourse I haven’t) But it came so easily. If all writing were only like that.
Right now, I am currently writing a history book about a war that unfortunately is not history. I am finding it difficult to write. My muse is yawning and that instrument feeling is discordant and out of tune. Almost like nails on a chalkboard.
Chris Lynch once gave a lecture called Inspiration, Muses, and Other Pieces of Useless Crockery. Lynch’s point was that you have to do the work of writing. That writing doesn’t always flow but you have to write anyway. He even suggested (when you were stuck) writing the last word you wrote over and over again because eventually you would get bored and write something else.
On the other hand, Before Chris gave his lecture, he asked Brock Cole if he believed in inspiration and Brock said, “absolutely.” (Chris said that almost ended his lecture before it started.)
So what are your thoughts on muses and inspiration and how do you force yourself to write when muse and inspiration are nowhere to be found?
I love inspiration. I love it when it hits, and when the words flow effortlessly and the end result scares me because it seems like its giving too much of myself away.
And I think the only way inspiration comes is through practice. Just keep writing, even if its about something mundane. I’m keeping a diary of my son’s pre-schooling years, because those are the years when Deb and I have the biggest impact on him. Some days the words just flow. Other days I just keep on writing, even if its only about what we had for dinner. I feel that if I don’t write the mundane stuff, I’ll never get to the other stuff.
In a way, this is like meditation. My understanding is that meditators have to let go of all the little crappy stuff that floats to the top so they can get to the good stuff.
Comment by Marc — September 11, 2008 @ 3:07 am |