In tranced fixation dreaming upon object before you
Dear Writer,
Have you ever been in a writing trance? The muse. Divine inspiration. The force. Whatever you want to call it, when it’s there, you feel it. Nothing can stop you from creating the art you want to manifest into the world.
Well, except things like work, spouse, kids, social obligations… Life gets in the way.
Don’t waste this energy. When your neurons are on fire with an idea, hide somewhere for a writing sprint. Lock yourself in the closet. Get up at 2 a.m. when everyone else is asleep. Do what you have to do before the dream slips away.
Happy Writing,
—Christa
Where is your favorite writing place? Please share.
Continuing our elaboration of Jack Kerouac’s Belief and Technique for Modern Prose.
Blow as deep as you want to blow
Yes, writing is sometimes like standing naked in front of strangers who are poring over you with HD cameras. You sweat as they scrutinize every blemish, scar, and crevice.
But resist the urge to hold back.
Nothing is too wild, too ridiculous, too dark, too lewd, too silly if it tells a truth. Readers don’t want a half-assed, cowardly attempt. That’s a waste of time. They want whole-ass stories.
Writers are exhibitionists. Don’t pretend you didn’t want to expose yourself.
Be bold. Say what you really want to say. Blow as deep as you want to blow.
Continuing our elaboration of Jack Kerouac’s Belief and Technique for Modern Prose.
Be in love with yr life
Dear Writer,
I think all writers are in love with life. Why else would we spend countless hours dealing with the tedious business of inventing characters and stories?
Life might leave us confused, bewildered, awestruck, angry, sad, or outraged, but we still love it. Even if our experiences have mistreated us and left us bitter, we pay homage to existence by creating stories that illustrate its mystery, its complexity.
So how do you connect with that love for your life, even when it’s shitty?
Think about what makes it unique. Think about the littlest things that make it good. Think of all you learned and how strong it has made you. Take your pain and your happiness and turn it into beauty. That is the magic of art.
Nothing is more paralyzing than self-censoring before the words hit the page. Some part deep within us applies a filter for Mom, Dad, Grandma, our significant other, our boss, our kids, or future kids that we may or may not ever have!
You don’t have to take ownership of your story. It’s not you. It is a distillation of all you’ve seen, heard, and experienced.
You are not your thoughts and feelings. You have your thoughts and feelings. You are not your experiences. You are not your stories. You are a conduit.
Much of your writing may be based in truth, but no one has to know that. Write and let it go like a balloon into the sky. The words will be found. Then the stories belong to your reader.
Don’t worry about the nasties you write. Under the guise of fiction, you can write anything and everything you want. If Mom reads it and is appalled, simply lie. Yes, tell her you made it all up. Deny it to the death. She can’t really prove otherwise.
