It’s Spring Break this week which means that I have a little more time than I usually do. It’s a rather nice departure from the constant pressure that makes up most of my weeks. I had enough time, in fact, that I was able to add to a couple of the short stories I am working on. I wrote for few hours and, after I was finished, I realized that I hated everything I wrote. Now, it is quite possible that everything I wrote last night was absolute trash. I am certainly capable of writing garbage. In fact, depending on the day and my own bipolar sense of self-worth, I might argue that most of what I write garbage. None of that really matters, though. What matters is that I was able to get the few thousand words actually down on the page. I will go back over the writing during the editing process and cut, chop, and rewrite a good 30% or more of what I wrote yesterday because that is how it works.
We’re taught with art that inspiration is key. Every media portrayal of the artist follows the same arc of inspiration, mad dash of work, and finished piece. The artist then becomes this savant who magically weaves great works out of the energy of vision. While this is a wonderful romantic thought, it is also absolute bullshit. We look at the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel with a sense of awe and reverence only viewing the final work and forgetting about Michelangelo on his back painting for four years straight. Great texts, great paintings, great works in any genre and medium take work. They may also take determination, skill, and even talent but work remains the most important ingredient.
The truth is that there are days when inspiration is miles away. The are days when every word takes effort and every page comes with pain. I used to think that this was some sort of block. I realize now that this is the difference between being a hobby writer and someone who does this full-time. I love to write, I need to write but I also want to write for a living. That means I write even when I am not feeling the most on my game. Sure, I may rewrite it all later but the ideas still flow in their own sluggish ways. The work loosens those sluggish lines and opens them for something more later on.
At least, that is what I keep telling myself.
I am glad, though that you do push through. Your work, and it is that, is hard but will always produce. You are talented and know it. You back it up with your work. Later!!
Ditto to what Courtney said!