A Writer's Question

Please tell me , all you  inspired writers, what

keeps you focused to write what you write

To create a story, and choose the plot

that captivates the reader , and

holds ‘em  close, like prisoners caught

Is it the sentence you make

or words you spell, perhaps

punctuation—a comma,

the period, or question mark ?

Please tell me ,  all you inspired writers, what

 keeps you going both day

 and night, what keeps you

focused to write what you write;

Your ideas flowing like a

river flowing  toward the sea

about long ago places, and distant land; People

of history, Mystery

Crime fiction, non-fiction, science fiction

of faith, wee faeries, family

and friends

Please tell me, all you inspired writers, what

keeps you focused to write what you write

How  you decide  between dialogue

 and narrative , and

descriptive thought

 And  the story's  beginning,  middle,

and end.   Who is protagonist ?

antagonist? Is your character complex,

or easy to grasp

Please  tell  me, all you inspired writers 

what keeps you focused to write what you write

I believe  that’s the question many of us aspiring writers ponder, and ask , “How do we keep focused on our writing?”  There are a  hundreds , maybe thousands of books and magazine articles to help answer the question, but one I find helpful  is Writing Down the Bones by Natalie Goldberg.  In  her chapter, No Hindrances she writes , “when you accept writing  as what you’re supposed to do, after you’ve tried everything else  - marriage, hippiedom, travelling , living in Minnesota or New York, teaching , spiritual practices—finally there’s no place else to go. So no matter how big the resistance, there is one day, there is the next day, and the writing work ahead. You can’t depend on it going smoothly day after day. It won’t be that way. You might have one day when it’s superb, productive, and the next time  you write  you are ready to sign up on a ship headed for Saudi Arabia.  There are no guarantees. You might think you have finally created a rhythm  with three days running, and the next day the needle scratches the record and you squeak through it teeth on edge. 

See the big picture . You are committed to writing or finding out about it. Continue under all circumstances. Don’t be rigid, though. If one day you have to take your kids to the dentist when it is your time to write, write in the dentist’s office or don’t write. Just stay in touch underneath with your commitment  for this wild, silly, and wonderful writing practice.”

Another book I find inspirational, and encouraging   whenever I begin to doubt my writing is Walking on Water, Reflections on Faith and Art by Madeleine L’Engle .  While L’Engle is author of several books,  including her memoir, A Circle of Quiet, she may be best known for her young adult fantasy, A Wrinkle in Time.   In Walking on Water she  writes, “ Since time was created, had a beginning, and will have an end, it is a creature with whom we can have understandings. All artists ( writers)  know days  when time collaborates with them, and they can do more than they can do in one day. There are other days when they are equally diligent, and yet get little or nothing accomplished.

Perhaps one of he saddest things we can do is waste time, as Shakespeare knew when he had Richard the Second cry out, “I have wasted time, now doth time waste me.”

So there you have it, writers  - those of you just starting out, and those of you who have been writing for years ,  don’t be discouraged when your pen runs dry, persevere.  Grab another one ,  and write  on ! write on !