Begin the beginning.
The blank page is waiting for you to etch all your thoughts on! Never allow the fear of a start to cheat you out of what awaits you! You need only continue!
Begin the beginning.
With Love & Ink,
JBHarris
“Let it stir…”
Stephen King says to let the story ‘reveal itself.’ To that I say, ‘let it stir.’
What this means is to let it develop. Let it brew. Let it come forth naturally—just like woman that’s pregnant.
Just like when you stir coffee or hot tea, making it just the way you like it.
Let it stir. Let it bubble. Let it brew.
The idea you have, the one you keep rolling around, or you aren’t sure about, follow it. Let it stir, let it stir you.
You’ll be amazed what you come up with when given when you’re patient with yourself.
With Love & Ink,
JBHarris
Writing is hard. Writing is real hard. I wish that I could express to you–truly!–how hard this. Being able to pull something out of the nebulous creative ether and share that to other people?
It’s hard.
But what I want you to know something, and I will try my best not to sound conceited.
The cool thing about being a writer, is that not everyone can do it.
The hard thing about being a writer, is that not everyone can do it.
The impossible thing about being a writer, is that no everyone can do it.
For every work that you create, there will be a doubt. No matter how quick, not matter how long, no matter how infrequent. The doubt will be there. Almost like a too tight safety belt.
But, there is something to this. What I want you to do when doubt crops up is embrace it, not hold it. This is something that you will learn with time, and as you get comfortable writing.
Embrace the doubt= you realize doubt is there.
Not hold it= doubt will always be a weight, and it is not to be entertained long.
That is the thing about writing. You have to be able to believe you can do it, before you can ever do it. It is the doubt that allows you to still look at a work with some degree of respect–and realize that every piece, every work in project is your responsibility. To care for. And complete.Being a creative has a certain weight and heft to it. Some part of that creative is, does require a radical belief in self.
With that ability, do one thing for me: be grateful.
There are those of us along with journey to writing or creativity that hold on to doubt. Who forget that writing is not as natural for others as it is to us. Or, they allow the doubts of others to be projected on their own talents and cease to create anything. Or anything else.
But gratitude, that is the counterweight to doubting while creating. Your gratitude will allow and plow room towards what it is you want to create. Honor your talent. Honor your commitment.
Putting off the writing never makes it easier.
Taking your creativity for granted only makes you ungrateful.
An ungrateful writer is one most unpleasant to be around. Besides, there is nothing like a good bout of Writer’s Block to make one humble. Trust me.
Writers’ senses are always a little more keen than others. We see the world three ways:
How it is
How it could be
How it could become
Today, look at the worlds and circles you inhabit. Examine the spheres in which you move. I bet there’s a story there.
With Love & Ink,
JBHarris
Get to work!
Writing is more than words on a page! It is more than buying pens and notebooks! Writing involves work, dear ones! Part of that is research. Which means what? Say it all together: READ!
Most writers start of as readers, or in some way fascinated by language. Reading, feeding your curiosity to the point of frenzy, is the best way to keep your mind sharp. To expand your imagination’s boundaries.
The work of writing will always involve reading.
In Love & Ink,
JBHarris
Look it up!
Writers are these weird people with thee strangest walking around information!
Example: The pH of blood is 7.35.
Yes, that’s a real fact. But, I digress.
Writers need to remain curious! Things that intrigue you, scare you, turn you on, look them up! Your research base as a writer needs to be ever expanding!
This includes words you don’t know—vocabulary is still your meat and potatoes. Remember that.
Good luck!
I believe in you!
In Love & Ink,
JBHarris
I want you to go back to the drawing board today.
I want you to go on your computer, the Cloud, phone or desk drawer. I want you to look at your work.
The unfinished. The unstarted. The drafts. The doubts.
I want you to look at your work.
I want you to be aware that these pieces of tangible imagination came from you.
Now, with that same bravery, pick one to finish by the end of the year. It’s only May. You can do it!
Honor your talent.
In Love & Ink,
JBHarris
