Creating a novel is an emotional endeavor. It runs the gambit from love to hate, joy to despair and hope to despondency. Some days I thoroughly enjoy writing. Other days I loathe it. There are those times when the story comes naturally and freely, but most days when I sit down to write it is little more than work.
What is especially frustrating is when I'm driving somewhere and thinking about a particular scene from the story. In my mind everything is as it should be, the timing is perfect, and the words my characters use defy description. But then, when I get back to my place to write that scene, it disappears in a puff of smoke. My, the dirty tricks your mind can play on you!
On those days when the muse is not present I will, in desperation, write anything. I'll shut my eyes, pay no attention to spelling or punctuation and put down any and every thought that comes to mind, no matter how absurd or off topic. The hope is to get the juices flowing so I can continue the story. More often than not, the exercise will open me up to more writing, even if it’s just a few sentences.
What really fascinates me about the writing art is the connection I make with characters. This is equally true when I read. How is it that I can look at a flat, two dimensional piece of paper with abstract figures on it, known as letters, and see they are grouped together in various ways to form words, and from these words I get pictures, ideas and all kinds of information? It’s sort of magical, isn’t it? Through the magic of the written word I can be drawn to characters who have never existed in the world of the living.
As I read, my imagination follows right along. I create mental pictures of what the characters look like, smile when they are happy, worry about their heartaches, and even though I’ll never admit it in public, shed a tear for them when tragedy strikes. The same is true of my own creations as well. That’s the kind of sway a good story holds. Writing takes me to places known and unknown, it explores the complex depths of motivations, and truth, harsh as it might be, or freeing, to the deepest depths or soaring heights.
Maybe it is an escape, but what a thrilling one!
There are a few books I read over and over. I do not see this as a character flaw as some do. To me it is like visiting a favorite place, a particular beach, or mountain, for example, or any place that delights and amazes me. In my mind the fictional places are (almost) as real. I revel in the gentle humor of Samuel Clemens, and smile at the antics of Tom trying to impress Becky Thatcher. I snicker at his various tricks, as with whitewashing the fence, or when he proudly presents himself as a scholar in Sunday School. I thrill to the visuals in Lord of the Rings, as I note the simple honesty of the shire and compare that with the greatness, hidden at first, in Aragorn, and see the relentless pursuit of the dark forces against Frodo. I too am amazed at the magnificence and perfection of the elves, and the oddity of the various creatures they meet along the way. I follow the sweep of the story as the intrepid hunters cross the sea-like plains of Rohan in that desperate race, only to meet many more surprises, and eagerly await the final scenes. I am fully engaged all the way to that last, compelling sentence. To be perfectly honest, I am a little disappointed when I have to put the book down.
Through reading I’ve been to the top of Everest, the bottom of the seas, hunted for gold in the wild country of Alaska, travelled to Mars, Venus, and other galaxies. I’ve been swept along with missionaries in Burma and other little known places, slept beside Paul in prison, and watched as he addressed kings and other notables from history. I’ve seen how the fledgling continental navy put their faith in a young shipbuilding Quaker, of all people, to design ships that would ultimately defeat the mighty, and supposed invincible ships of the line that ruled the high seas.
Reading allows me to vicariously live multiple lifetimes through the experiences of others. It has been, and will continue to be, quite a ride! And, to think, what a joy it is to have become a small part of that community of writers.
Let's create some magic today.
