Monday, June 2, 2014

Hiding Behind My Words






Writers are creators of magical worlds where anything can happen and usually does. We play with words...dancing and dipping across the page to help shape the lives of our main characters. But maybe it's the other way around and the characters of our stories play with us...teasing us with hints of literary greatness lingering just outside our reach. 

When I first started writing, I wrote with abandon. Like a painter, my pen created broad strokes upon the page...shaping and molding each story into something special. A bit of myself I thought I was ready to share with the world. 

But I was wrong.

What I was really doing was hiding behind my words. While I was playing by the rules and diligently making sure each manuscript was tied up in a nice little package of perfect proportions, I was shackling my characters to a mundane existence when all they wanted to do was fly.

These days I dare to look beyond the tried and true rules . These days I dream of worlds beyond my younger imaginings...where the impossible is possible and magic really CAN happen. These days I no longer hide behind my words, comfortable in the mediocre mumblings of a writer unwilling to take a leap of faith into the writerly unknown.

What about you?

Are you still hiding behind words because it's comfortable there? Or are you daring to step outside of that comfort zone and challenge the heights to which you were born to soar? In the end, to know even if you don't  reach the sun, you still landed among the stars...







4 comments:

  1. I love your post. I think I am still to a degree hiding behind my words, but I am started to reach out. Your post shows just how worthwhile a process that can be.
    Talking of stepping out, perhaps you can help. Over on my blog right now there is a very special post about a very special little dog called Mako, who needs bloggers to step out on his behalf and spread the word about his search for a home. Why is Mako different from other dogs looking for homes? Well Mako has Cancer and there are uncertainties about his life expectancy, which means it is going to be very difficult to find him a home and as a result he needs the news to be spread far and wide about his search. Pop over and read my post about Mako and see if you could help. Myself, Mako and Suzanne who currently cares for Mako, would be very grateful for your help. :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Joss! Thank you for your kind words. I've included your link to Mako's story in my reply so others can learn about this little guy. My fingers are crossed that he will find a forever home...http://joss-dreamingofpublication.blogspot.com.

      Thanks for stopping by and come back any time!

      Delete
  2. Great points. I normally spend weeks or months (sometimes even a year or two) thinking about a book, so I let my imagination carry me around (I've been thinking about a superhero book I've been wanting to write, and had a main character, thought he got too powerful, and erased him. But then I put him back. In a minor role. :) ). It works for me.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Erik! I love listening to your writing process...and you will only continue to grow as a writer...

      Thanks for stopping by and come back any time!

      Delete