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There is a land not too far from where you sit right now.Its velvet grasses miss the press of your feet. The billowing clouds strain to see your body walk slowly up the rising hill.
The fragrant winds blow through the lonely tree branches, whispering your name as they seek some trace of you.
It is where the magic lives.
That realm is lonely, wondering where you have been.
Where have you and I been?
We have been caught up in the drudgery that writing has become. Burdened by life's duties and our own doubts, we have lost our way.
We have lost the magic.
Did we lose it straining for that first perfect sentence in our new novel? Looking at the blank, impatient computer monitor did we forget the simple wonder of just writing the first simple sentence that occurred to us?
That creative power which bubbles so tingly at the beginning of our book quiets down after a time. The journey becomes slower and slower, the inertia of doubt steadily dragging our steps.
Do we continue doggedly on or do we stop to refresh ourselves?
The answer to that question determines whether we find our way back to the magic or not.
How do we refresh ourselves on a long wilderness walk? We stop by a stream and drink.
Drink of those poets and writers who sparked that love of the written word spoken in the lonely heart of the reader.
As a hiker takes shade under the canopy of a huge oak, listen to the music of those artists who stirred you to imagine images that you just had to write and make live in your own way.
Then, you shall write as a child writes ... not thinking of a result but thinking in terms of discovery as if you were hiking once again where the magic lives.
{Hibbs, the bear with two shadows, lives there as well. Listen to his new audio book.}**
If I decide to continue writing I will need to take time to find the magic again.
ReplyDeletethis was a very timely post. all of the above-it applies. hopefully, by the weekend, i'll have things in a better balance. good advice, for sure. thanks for the reminder! and do the same for yourself!
ReplyDeleteVery beautiful Roland. I came to find your RFW story, but I fear I'm a bit late for that one - that's okay, this was a very nice post too :)
ReplyDeleteThat's so beautiful. Just what I needed today, thank you!
ReplyDeleteIsn't that the best kind of writing? So fun.
ReplyDeleteNo one can give us back the magic, we have to find it ourselves, in ourselves.
ReplyDeleteOne of the reasons I read classics is to remember the beauty of words. There is so much of 'what you should do' thrown at the writer, that methinks often of ignoring all these 'shoulds' and rules. That's the rebellious part of my nature, which I usually keep in tow.
These words you share, are the kind of words this writer needs. Thanks, Roland.
The imagery at the beginning of this post is magical and almost tangible. I have only started writing on my computer in the past couple of years- before that, it was pen (and a very good pen) and paper. The words flow through the pen. I would then type it up and edit it on the computer. It took longer, but the magic remained intact :)
ReplyDeleteAlex:
ReplyDeleteThe magic is right there within you. Just tap the dreams of childhood within you.
Words Crafter:
AT&T hasn't helped with my modem dying last night, keeping me off the internet last night and today. They say they will repair it tomorrow morning. We will see. I am work right now. I am glad this post helped in some small way. :-)
Charmaine:
AT&T killed my Friday Romance story. Sorry. Blame Ma Bell. I am glad you liked this post!
Heather:
It was a bit of Hibbs' magic that helped me write this post I think. You made my weary evening with liking this so much! :-)
Lydia:
Yes, the very best!
D.G.:
You're right: no one can give us back the magic -- we must tap into it ourselves! Again you are right: rules are one thing -- but we dwell in the Zen of Writing - to write in the moment without pausing to consider rules, only the heart. :-)
Your reply made my evening. Roland
Underground for Tea:
Writing on paper first, then transcribing it on computer is a good form of editing and condensing your prose.
You are very kind about the start of this post. All the magic belongs to Hibbs! :-)
Thank you for this thought-provoking post. I think I need to find the magic again myself. During a phone conference last week, my agent told me I'm pushing myself too hard, over thinking my story. I have to agree with her. Somewhere along the way of edits, I've lost the spark of the story, and I so desperately need to find it again.
ReplyDeleteI'm thinking I need to get back to reading some of my favorite authors to refresh myself. I spend so much time composing critiques, reviews and blog posts I've forgotten what its like to write just to see where a story will go.
ReplyDelete.....dhole
Candilynn:
ReplyDeleteOverthinking a story reduces the vitality of the spark that drove you to write your story in the first place, right? Trying reading your story as a fresh reader would and then try to make the novel fun for that reader!
Donna:
To write just to see where a story will go is an amazing, fun journey! Thanks for commenting on Victor's chapter 4!