I’m sure there are people who sing as they sit down to face the blank computer screen, itching to get words out, bouncing on their typing chair, struggling to contain their enthusiasm. They are probably the same type of folk who leap out of bed in the morning, or sing “Oh what a beautiful morning” in the shower.
Don’t know about you, but this type of behaviour just isn’t natural in my book. They’ve either been reading too many of those self-help books and are taking them way too seriously, or they’re close to running on empty, just on the brink of a serious crash and burn. Trust me, something isn’t right.
I say this because I know that after writing words every day for 25 years, it doesn’t just happen. A blank page is still a blank page, that just stares back at you, unhelpfully. No, words always seem to appear in fits and starts, sentences start to form slowly and after a while a whole paragraph seems to hang together. Then, after a while, the brain gets into the swing of things and knows where it’s going. Eventually, words appear faster and the end is visible.
I don’t know how the thoughts are formed, or where the thread comes from. They just arrive in front of me and I watch as the process continues. When it’s over, the whole business can actually feel quite enjoyable, despite the painful, always difficult start. What a funny way to make a living.
Posted by Ian Minter
Love it.
Know exactly what you mean.
I usually start with a central idea or concept then develop it as I write. Sometimes most of my writing is done in my head as I pace around the room trying to get my ideas to gel into some sort of congruent whole.
Thanks for sharing
So……thanks for that Ian BUT I would have preferred the secret to making it easy and fun. Next post perhaps.
Agreed; it’s not an easy way to make a living.
I see writing as an exercise in faith. I do the research and roll it around in my head, and I know that — at some point — The Idea will occur. It can take five minutes or two hours, but usually there’s no stopping The Idea once it’s on a roll.
Yes, we all agree that writing is difficult, but what interests me is how we all want so badly for our customers and colleagues to recognise the fact! I sometimes get comments along the lines of ‘well, it’s easy for a profesisonal like you’, and it maddens me. I am constantly trying to convince them that no, it’s not easy for me at all. The difference between writers and everyone else is perhaps simply that it’s POSSIBLE for us to write, whereas it might be IMPOSSIBLE for others (ever seen a non-writer confront the challenge of leaving a message in a guest book?). It isn’t actually easy for anyone! I am writing this on a sunny Sunday morning in southern Sweden, as I preapre to sit down and write a promotional brochure about the partnership between my customer and a well-known environmental group….that famous blank page awaits, menacingly. To put off the moment, I started looking for Ian Minter on Facebook.He was my flat mate in Sydney in the early ’80s and arguably the person responsiblefor getting me into this business in the first place…Didn’t find him on Facebook, but ended up here instead. It’s a funny old world, and yes, it’s a funny way to make a living Ian!!!