The art of writing
“If you’re going to be a writer, the first essential is just to write. Do not wait for an idea. Start writing something and the ideas will come. You have to turn the faucet on before the water starts to flow.”
Louis L’Amour
I love this quote from the great western saga writer, Louis L’Amour. So often we sit and worry about what to write, how to write it, and if we will ever write it. It’s quite a visual bit of advice, turn the tap on and the water sometimes will splutter and start, but in the end from a trickle and a hiss, the water flows.
Writing I believe, especially in fiction, is the mind’s journey from the present consciousness to a world that exists only in the deep recess of one’s mind. There somewhere in the dark, are worlds that when we write, we are actually occupying. This is the reason that when we get distracted by the phone, a person asking if we would like a cup of tea, it is like a slap, a jolt, for we are ripped from another world back into reality. It is a rough journey back, we snap, can’t you see that I am writing. Then slowly we realise how unreasonable the response was, how it was too harsh, too sharp, but it cannot be avoided for the next time the water flows, we are once again transported into another world and we do not want to return.
A camera travels 
MTM regularly gets this reaction from me…..he’s a saint to put up with it. 🙂
I think writers when writing are not good bed partners…I have been guilty of that reaction a few times! I have a saint also. Now my Ted on the other hand just wags his tail, it’s all an offer to play ball no matter what I am exactly shouting! 🙂
So many distractions, it’s true. I’ve finally learned I must work on my novel-in-progress for at least an hour before I open up any social media sites, preferably more.
Hi Carrie…social media is a nightmare! Such a distraction! Worse for me though is google. I need to look something up and bang…I can be gone for an hour doing research that isn’t really needed! 😉
Been there, done that. 🙂
I think my tap is dripping at the moment, Susan. I’m not exactly sure what is coming out of it, but it’s something! 😀 I very often get lost in my far away worlds, so lost in fact I even miss interruptions…!
Hi Tom! Drips add up to massive floods! I love losing myself in the world of words! I don’t want a map to find my way out!
Hello Auntie!
Might I just say that you are an incredible inspiration in my life and this is a great quote and documentary about it… so many people push themselves into the idea of doing something brilliant, pressured, and are always sweating over the idea that something sporadic will pop in their heads, but simply waiting isn’t the key- just writing is, your words- not the sweat beds you put into it- should be what show through the page. 😀
Keep writing 😉
Hi Christina! Why thank you for your kind words. I am inspired by your dedication to writing! I have no doubts one day I will see something published by you!