Contemplating
Have you ever felt that urge to put pen to paper, that story of inspiration awaiting to arise from words held within, or maybe you’re driven to write a piece focusing on a historical note or again may be something a little lighter as you write a piece of mirth where the story line weaves the magic dance in and out of fact and fiction.
These ideas, these concepts, can be unbelievably compelling yet sit forever on the back burner, never quite becoming a reality.
If any of this fits then welcome to the world of the writer. How many of us have started a hundred books in our mind? How many are scared that their work - that they - are not enough “Who would want to hear their story any way?”
All this procrastination, this self doubt can stop us from ever reaching that ultimate buzz of presenting an original piece and being heard by others.
Instead of waiting for the best word to kick off with any word, always knowing that you have the power to change if you find another word fits better as the story grows.
How many stories are waiting to be told, stories, experiences to be shared. Facts and fiction - words dancing the mystical dance of life. If you feel the drive to write your piece, then I appeal to you to find the courage to look at the idea. Look at where it is at the moment in your mind, prepare to start your first draft. How much time have you spent contemplating how to start, what’s the best word to begin this masterpiece. Countless hours are spent thinking about how to write our great story but we’re unable to make that emotional commitment - put that first word on paper and let the story evolve.
How many best sellers are written in our minds but never make it in the functional world of the shared reality? Don’t wait for that perfect first line before committing your thoughts to paper. Once they are on paper you can play with them, test their strength: how they sound, how they flow.
When I write, I eventually take off my comfortable slippers of complementation and put on my work boots as I procrastinate — look at the ideas. Lay down the foundations, structure the piece and then I need to put on my excessive slip ons to fine tune, commit and promote.
Complementation, Procrastination, Commitment and Acceptance are all important steps when writing that first draft. All stories begin with a first draft as you play with ideas and concepts. Allow yourself to play, to test your words and write. Develop your first draft, develop this as a tool and write.
For a final piece to be written the first step must be taken. So contemplate - think of your ideas - procrastinate about the how’s and the why’s but if you want to move beyond a story in the ‘if only’ bin, find the drive, the courage to put that first word on paper and write.
I’ve always wanted to write but like everything else I didn’t think I could. If I wrote a piece and someone mentioned a different way it could be expressed I thought what I had done was wrong and felt judged but now I accept that not everyone is going like every piece I write but if they pick up a piece it’s a foot in the door. The possibilities begin to open; Name your piece. Date your piece. Sign your piece. This helps you see where you’ve come from, where you are and whose dream this is.
Stories, facts, fiction, words dance the mystical dance of life. Take what you have - the experience you experience, add some courage, patience, insight and intuition, speak your words and feel the power of language.
