Friday, August 03, 2012

The Writer's Struggle


What I see in my brain is not what ends up on the page. In my head, it's a beautiful movie, with lots of gorgeous scenery and sounds and smells. Transcribing that onto the page is an exercise in madness. Why? Because it will never be exactly as we see it in our head. That is impossible.

But isn't it neat to think that what we end up writing will be seen differently by each and every person that reads it? Each person will relate to your words differently because they will bring their experiences, their memories, and their reactions with them as they read.

Of course, in the end, it all boils down to one thing: you must write. Because if you don't write, then your words will not be read and experienced in a multitude of varying ways by a variety of people.

Therefore, go and write. Get it down. Fix it later.

And above all...

Enjoy the process.

16 comments:

  1. Yes, I know that struggle. You see it so clearly and are so sure you can put it down, but ...
    It's fascinating how we see things so differently when we read, which is why books are so much more enjoyable than watching movies. I do love a good movie, but there is very little need to use your imagination, therefore much less interaction.
    Your sentence: "Because if you don't write, then your words will not be read and experienced in a multitude of varying ways by a variety of people." is so encouraging and motivating, thank you!

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    1. I'm glad this post was helpful, JT! :) Here's hoping you get LOTS of writing done today.

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  2. Once I remember writing something I thought was on the serious side, and several readers commented on what a great piece of humor it was! You just never know how what you write will be interpreted, do you!

    I haven't written much lately because of painting and I feel out of sorts! Hopefully I'll be back at it soon:)

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    1. It's amazing how, when we don't write for awhile, our minds tend to feel cluttered. Hope you can get in the swing of things soon!

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  3. Definitely... spot on! :)

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  4. Totally agree... That's the point I want to delete a project sometimes - when what I wrote just has no resemblance at all to what I imagine anymore.
    But you're right, everybody's going to imagine it differently again, so maybe it's all just okay anyway. :)

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    1. I think all we can do it put the words on the page to the best of our ability. :)

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  5. I love this; sometimes when I'm blathering dialogue, trying to verbally plot out a scene, I wish to express all those spoken nuances, yet that would make for cluttered dialogue. The reader's imagination fills in those blanks, and takes the rest of our prose to places we never dreamed.

    Your last three lines say it all!!

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    1. I have that same problem, too - I think I need to spell everything out instead of trusting the reader!

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  6. This is such a beautiful post. It all comes down to we have to write. The rest will happen from there.

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    1. Yep - and sometimes that's the hardest thing to do, to just sit down and put the words on the page.

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  7. WOW this is exactly what's been in my head the last few days too. Getting that gorgeous movie that's playing in my head down on paper... and being so discouraged with the 2d result. But at least it's down. It's in words. It can be improved. JUST WRITE!!! THank you.

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    1. You're so welcome, Margo, though I find I have to remind myself of this over and over again. I wish I could just program it into my head and be done with it. LOL

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  8. I so agree Melissa!

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