I think it’s a common misconception that writers actually like to…well…write.
Perfect example…right now…I’m in hell.
I hate writing. Always have and probably always will. If you haven’t already guessed it by now…if it’s not smothered in mayo, then I probably hate it… and that includes you…. Miracle Whip…you sick son of a bitch.
And nothing is worse than the moment you realize your “pre-writing rituals”…also referred to as heavily drinking… alone… half naked…while finding more websites based solely on cats that look like Hitler.
… and when that fails…I just stare at my boobs.
But I’m staring at my boobs right now and…nada. Ideas are swirling… word placement is just not adding up…and that is key, my friends, key.
It’s probably not helping that I’m distracted by this insurmountable urge to pee, but I know once I leave to confines of my bedroom to break the seal, and find myself sitting on the commode…only to stare at my boobs yet again…it will all come to me, but… yet again…I will have been too lazy to grab my pen and pad to write down this epically epic idea all down…because…yet again…I think I’m smart enough to remember everything I just said perfectly in my head…
…I’m not.
…but come! In my defense it’s just not that hygienic to write shit down while I’ m chilling in the bathroom, now is it? And plus, where the fuck am I supposed to lean my notebook? My exposed belly? That curves perfectly into the shape of a table when I sit down?
…don’t answer that…or question why my belly is exposed?
I’m in an emotional/sexual/mayo-less rut…and while you may gawk at the theory….I’m pretty sure the sudden and massive lack of mayo-intake is directly correlated to my writing abilities…and my sexual prowess.
…we all have our vices, okay? Yours may make songs turn into colors and mine may just happen to go perfectly well with sandwiches/wraps/sex.
And that is why America is the greatest state in the world my friends! THE GREATEST STATE IN THE WORLD.
I’m also hoping that if I finally write all this bullshit swirling around in my head down...I can finally make room for some ideas/stories/mayo-recipes that don’t quite suck…as much.
Hopefully this is just a flare-up…but can we ever be completely sure?
A famous writer said (and I can't for the life of me remember who), "I love having written, but I hate writing." I know that you know what she means. The act of writing is pure hell. However, once you get it out and it is actually something that is genius... well, it is marvelous. Or maybe once you push past that horrible "stuck" stage and get into the zone it all gets better. But, I think she mostly meant she loved it once it was over.
ReplyDeleteI am going to give you something to think about. If you want to make writing your career. Your passion. Your way to make your living. Put notebooks and pencils/pens everywhere. That includes the bathroom and every other unlikely place. The truth is that you don't know when THE IDEA is going to gel for you. What you do know is that you can't hold onto it for very long. No one can really.
More than one famous writer admits that they get some of their best work done in the bathroom. Why? It is quiet. Maybe expectations are low. So creativity gets better. Whatever the reason, there is no reason to just starting. You can separate the junk from the awesome later.
You don.t ever have to be serious unless you want to, Everyone should have a little humor running around in their head. Not so much that you become stupid though.
ReplyDeleteOh I can relate!!! Except the naked thing. That's only because I write in the family room. And I hate mayonnaise. But other than that, totally can relate! Especially these days because I'm rewriting and actually I hate rewriting the most because of how much work is involved. I just need to stop handwriting my drafts. It's too much damn work.
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure why people think that writers ought to love writing.
ReplyDeleteThe only thing worse than writing is writing well. Because when I've written something decent, I feel obligated to write something decent the NEXT time, too, and that is more than anyone ought to be saddled with...
The only reason I stay sane is that I don't actually write anything worth reading very often.
Hey Natalie, America's a nation, not a state. FYI. Just saying.
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