Joy is the reason I write. When it’s going well, it’s a high like nothing else. When it’s not going, well, nothing could be more frustrating. But I usually manage to find my zone afterward.
It’s when all I am aware of is the character and the scene. I know what the character is feeling. I know what he sees, what he see smells. I am barely aware of the keyboard and typing stuff into the computer.
It’s like I am not even telling the story. It already exists, the character whispers what happens into my head and all I have to do is write it town.
I write for those moments. It’s intense. When I come out of it, I need a moment to fit into the real world again.
It doesn’t happen like that all the time, but it happens often enough and I wish it would happen more often.
Afterward, I always find spelling mistakes and grammar mistakes because I am not paying attenuation to stuff like that. I find words that I’ve used too often, other descriptions that don’t quite work. It’s not perfect. But it’s still not bad and mistakes can be fixed.
Still. Even when the writing isn’t going well, the joy is why I always continue.
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I know the feeling. Do you ever wish your fingers could move as fast as your head?
All the damn time!
I think that joy is the reason why anyone should continue participating in certain activities, whether that be writing or bicycling or singing, etc.
Reading about filmmaking and spirituality, making movies, as well as listening to music brings me joy but blogging is somewhere in my top five activities. Oh, and eating cupcakes! I’ve also found a new joy in cooking, or rather learning how to cook new things that I never put together in the kitchen before such as baked flounder.
You are probably right about that! I love eating, too, but cooking? Not really.
Joy is personal.
Joy is your inner yes.
I know exactly what you mean. It’s the best feeling. :)
It really is!
so wonderful, you find such joy in writing–i don’t feel joy in writing all that much–just some times feel inspired to write–great post
Well I do love it!
I have heard other writers talk about losing themselves when they write and the characters forming themselves and creating the events. Must be a great experience
it is, the best expereince
I know exactly what you mean. It can be frustrating at times, but that joy you get is like nothing else. :)
I know! There is nothing else like that
May writing bring you many more years of joy. A lovely thing to get out of the process.
Thanks John!
Mm. It is wonderful. I’m not a writer but get that kinda feeling when I’m bringing a project to life around the house. Taking a bunch of little, random pieces and finding a way to put them all together into something completely new. Pretty great feeling :)
Anna@ Herding Cats & Burning Soup
It is the best feeling ever! I don’t do projects like that, but doing one would probably feel good too.
That feeling, that joy you get from writing, is one of the best things in the world! In most respects, and I agree that the joy of writing certainly cancels out the frustration which we can all suffer from at one point or another. Great post.
I love it when I’m frantically writing what I’m observing. How else could I write?
Occasionally I go visit the characters too and they tell me where I need to change things to keep their character true. That’s fun.. it’s like having a chinwag with the actors while filming takes a break..
Enjoy the AtoZ