Sacrifices to the Writing Gods
September 18, 2007 by Anne Wayman
Filed under Jobs
Someone reminded me today what it was like when I first started writing professionally. I remember the paralysis I felt staring at a blank piece of paper I’d rolled into the typewriter. (Yeah, I am that old, but the blank screen works just as well.)
Gradually, I came to believe the experts; if I’d just start to write, something would begin to work, usually several paragraphs down. I began to think of this initial, warming up paragraphs sort of like a bull pawing the ground before he charges.
Later, when I edited a magazine, I recognized how common these warm-up paragraphs were. The pros writing for me never had them, the beginners almost always. I actually discovered a couple of real talents just by striking the first two or three ‘graphs.
As I moved into writing books, I discovered that almost every chapter had these sacrifices to the writing gods… and sometimes whole chapters!
Once I discovered the notion of getting clear on the purpose of the piece, I generated fewer of these sacrifices, but I’m always on the lookout for them and totally willing to let my not-so-deathless-prose go.
What’s your experience with getting started writing a piece? Do you make sacrifices? Or have you found a way to avoid them? Tell us about it in the comment box.
Write well and often,
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Great idea! I have found that sometimes I’m stuck on that opening paragraph – but I have great ideas for the next part. I just skip down to the part I already have in mind, and come back to the introduction later. I think of the title at that point, too.
lol… titles seem to come to me toward the end… or at least the middle… rarely toward the start.
My writing just comes instantaneously, but not often enough. If I don’t write it as soon as I think it, I can never get it back.
As a Texas girl, I prefer to think of it as drilling for oil: you have to get through a helluva lot of dirt, water, and other muck before hitting the black gold. And there’s just no way around it!
Rachel… sort of like lots of frogs for the prince?
The writing Gods Have been entrapped at the tips of my fingers. As far as I am concerned they require no sacrifices. The ability to write is a gift that requires no human sacrifices. The secret to writing is to have a vision, then write and channel the course of your thoughts towards that vision. vision gives you a clear picture of where you are going and writing gets you there. If while on the journey you come accross dead ends or detours all you need to do is take another route by reconstructing your sentences until it conveys precisely what you wish to communicate to the reader. I will not make sacrifices to the writing gods, rather I will neutralize their powers and render them impotent by writing.
Sukky… yes, I recognize exactly what you’re talking about… however in my case, it took awhile to develop that vision and to have confidence in it… sacrificing a few paragraphs (not humans l) ) seemed to be part of it in the beginning for me.
A
Anne, what I am alluding to as ”human sacrifice” is the pain, stress, anguish and turmoil that has now been adopted as the norm for writers. I believe that the writer should see the blank page as the artist sees the canvass.We as writers must unleash the creating writing guru within. It also helps to be conversant with the topic or title chosen for the writing project.
I really love your title. It takes a great and creative writer to adopt your style. I will be looking out for more of your posts.
Sukky, I see… I agree, writing shouldn’t be painful. I find when I’m digging deep it’s exciting… and even when I’m not digging deep, like now, writing gives me great pleasure.