Tue 8 Sep 2009
I’m wondering how many times it will take. I’ve had this realization countless times. I’ve written about it here. I haven’t searched to find out just how many, but I’m sure it is an cheek-blushingly high number. Posting to Facebook doesn’t cut it. Composing lengthy emails to friends gets closer, but it’s not it either. I use these as placeholders. I feel their inadequacy, even when I don’t know it.
I crossed paths with a quote by a playwright/screenwriter recently that, often, reflects how I feel about writing: “I don’t like to write, but I love to have written.” Sometimes, while in the moment, I do enjoy it. Mostly though, the work of writing is stretching, awkward, and laborious. It is rewarding, but not in a instant-gratification-sugar-high kind of way.
“I write entirely to find out what I’m thinking, what I’m looking at, what I see and what it means.”
-Joan Didion
Writing is similar to photography - it requires a consciousness. It asks me to be aware of life (and not just my own). It invites me to see it, record it, review it and breathe it in again a second time. The brilliant and magical part of it to me? The second time around is no less new.
September 9th, 2009 at 9:04 pm
I finally found a good description of my love/hate of writing. Thanks.
Shoot me an e-mail, please. The address I’m using for you must be old.
September 9th, 2009 at 11:19 pm
“I don’t like to write, but I love to have written.” how true! I can relate to the Didion quote as well. I really need to spend more time writing as well - it really helps me organize what’s swirling around in my brain.
September 11th, 2009 at 1:15 pm
Good…I enjoy sharing what you think, what you see and what it means to you. Knowing what others think stimulates the rest of us to think!
September 18th, 2009 at 5:00 am
I whish I would start to write, I’m too lazy. I have this blank book on my night stand that I got for last Xmas and haven’t started to write a thing. My dad writes constantly, everything he can remember, his memoirs, poetry, articles etc. He’s 87 and still has a lot to publish.
Maybe when I get older I’ll feel the urge, now I’m thinking of starting to paint, but I also am not prepered for that, where and when to begin.
All the best,
Sigrún.