Accountability

On February 27th, 2007 at 5:28 pm, Marti said:

Okay, maybe if I comment I’ll get more conference tidbits?

You may already know that being of the non-ADD mindset makes it even harder to put that internal editor to rest. HOWEVER, in my magazine work, I have had assignments that just plain did not spark inspiration (I’m sure you can relate). I could always write the article once God gave me the particular angle, but I would sometimes sit for hours and days waiting and yes, praying, for (for lack of a better term) the muse to strike. That waiting did not happen often–but when it did–uhhh. That’s why the 130+K words on these 2 projects seems so amazing. What was all that blood, sweat, and tears over a little 1500–2000 word article? “Puhlease!”

ANYWAY, there was (and remember, you’re dealing with Monk here) at least ONE time (stop laughing right this instant!) where I went ahead without the desired angle and wrote an article that, for lack of a better term, was just “crap.” I couldn’t believe I was actually writing something so bad that wasn’t, say, a blog posting. I wasn’t trying to fix it, or make it pretty, or help make it more connected–I was just putting something down to put something down. Guess what? When I went back and reviewed it later, I actually had a starting point. Actually, more than a starting point. I was able to fix it, submit it, happy ending, yada yada yada.

All that to say this: I know the “write as you will” method actually CAN work, even for Shakespeare (you know the reference), even for nonfiction. And I will definitely do it again as needed. I have had a number of times during my two recent projects where I didn’t know where to go with the material–but I pressed on (as I think I mentioned a few posts ago) and, lo and behold, it worked.

BTW, as a Christ-follower, my writing is so very tied up with my prayer life that I can’t do one without the other. That doesn’t mean, however, that the ideas flow as constantly as the prayers. Just that they’re very very extremely connected, and I like that. I think God works in me the way He knows I will listen best (after all, He IS God. He has this thing about knowing the end from the beginning!).

Okay, this has gone on from thoughts and musings to ramblings–and I still have a book to write here!

Hang in there. Still praying.