blogger: Cynthia Ruchti
Some days, writing be like…
(I know there’s a thought worth putting on paper. I know there is. An idea. One idea. That’s all I’m asking.)
And other days, it’s more like…
(I could do this in my sleep.)
Or when things are rolling along nicely, writing be like…
(I got this. Oh, wait. A call from my agent. I don’t got this. Wait. An email from the contest coordinator. I got this.)
But sometimes, writing be like…
(That’s printer ink not blood on my palm, isn’t it?)
Or like…
(And it wasn’t from too much time in the sun. Just sayin’.)
And then again, writing is often like…
(Did I say often? Frequently. Okay, sometimes. Once in a while. It’s been known to happen. Did someone make confetti out of my copious notes on the rise and fall of the Qin Dynasty?)
Writing be like…
(That’s what the line looked like at your last book signing, didn’t it?)
Or at times, it’s more like…
(The pencil’s no more exhausted than the writer who held it.)
But someday, someone will be like…
And then, it will all be, like, worth it.
Using word images rather than visual images, create a short metaphor to describe what writing is like for you. (Recommended that you down another cup of coffee or tea before attempting this exercise.)
Writing be like…worth it. Click to Tweet
8 Things To Do While You Wait
Fun, and funny!
I never get questions of “What’s writing like?”, but sometimes Barb, against her better judgement, asks about my day.
You ask me what my day was like,
and how do I reply?
I have my finger in the dike,
but I am going to die.
Today was unfettered hell,
tomorrow will be worse,
but I hear a strong clear bell
and feel a joy perverse.
I breathe ’round a hard sore mass;
a tumour, plain and cold,
and the good die young, but true badass
lives forever, or so I’m told.
Ghastly days will come betide,
but in His Love I will abide.
Andrew, I sure hope you and Barb are archiving all of the things you write here. Sometimes I read your responses, flop back in my chair, and exhale a “Whoa!”
Damon, wow…thank you!
Yes, they are being archived. The plan is to eventually link each poem with a bit of Scripture, and publish them as a devotional. It’ll be a Kindle job, since it seems that no-one publishes poetry these days.
Don’t know if I’ll be the one to do it…I’m a bit ragged now…but it will hopefully happen.
It may be true that no one’s buying poetry these days, but many of us are appreciators!
Maybe my legacy will be making poetry cool again, Cynthia. I could live with that.
Okay … I really enjoyed that. And if a picture is worth 1,000 words, you just put of a 9,000 word blog post. 😉
Thanks Cynthia.
Thank YOU, Damon.
My metaphor for writing is old-fashioned gold prospecting. There’s definitely gold (writing ideas) in them thar hills. Sometimes I dig in the right spots and find gold quickly. Other days… I work up a sweat with my shovel and pick, but don’t quite strike pay dirt. When that happens, I need to take a break and then trying digging elsewhere.
Great word picture, Rick! Thanks for sharing it.
Writing is like drowning. Your arms are flailing and your feet kicking to stay afloat. Then your body slowly slips below the water; you shut your eyes tight hoping if you can’t see then you’re not really sinking. Your lungs burn from the deep breath you long to take. Just as you lose hope, your toes touch sand and you push with the little strength you have left. Bursting to the surface you suck in all the air your lungs can hold and find a little orange ring floating in the water. You grasp it with numb fingers and push your arm through it as your rescuer tugs you back to shore.
I got shivers, but some days…
Wow! I want to read your book!
This post is so emotional…and humorous…and sad…and true! Love it!
And hope-filled for the someday reader!
And then it will all be worth it. Beautiful. Writing is the roller coaster ride that life is. Truly. I always struggle finding the idea that is worth me pouring my life into … like digging into the Cracker Jack box in search of the prize. I don’t want a bite until I find that prize. Once I find that prize, move over everyone, because I’ll eat the whole box while writing. Hee hee!
Yes. I get this. May your Cracker Jack boxes always carry the best prizes, dear Shelli, so that your readers devour your books.
Blessings ~ Wendy Mac
Fun picture, Shelli!
Writing be like coastal winter weather: It’s a moody mix of sun, sleet, snow, and rain within the same day. But be like a letter carrier and deliver the goods anyways.
(Loved this post, dear Cynthia.)
Blessings ~ Wendy Mac
Yes, Wendy Mac … deliver!
Be like a letter carrier–so much depth in that illustration!
Love this post!
And we each have our own experience that is often a mix of the above.
Love this! Very engaging. Thanks for the prompt.
Look, a bird. I need to do laundry. Oh good, the phone. Lean back, what if…? What should I name this character? I think I should go bake cookies. What if the MPOVC is a retired architect? I need to check on FB.
I grab my phone and write in an idea, finish what I’m doing and hurry back to my computer before the ideas go back to sleep!
That’s what it’s like for me. Learning discipline to stay in my chair and focus. Not wanting to lose ideas so writing on every device or paper possible. Staring at the screen trying to remember what it was I wanted to write before the last interruption. Learning not to give in to disruptions unless it’s an emergency.
Oh the joys, mountains, valleys, and desperation of writing.
And I don’t want to do anything else! ; )