Writing is utter solitude, the descent into the cold abyss of oneself.
— Franz Kafka
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Writing is utter solitude, the descent into the cold abyss of oneself.
— Franz Kafka
I think the exact opposite. Writing is the way I make connections to the world, and realize that I’m not alone at all.
Beth, I love it! Maybe both can be true at once.
It’s a wonder I get any writing done at all, surrounded with small humanity as I am. 🙂
Amy
The physical act of writing is the “cold abyss of oneself” but the writing community is so warm and inviting.
Writing at times can feel lonely, but then I realize there are many writers on the same journey as me some get there faster some like me has to learn more about the craft of executing a promising novel and taking a step back to polish projects but in the end it’s more than the writer alone many people eventually will be included in the “cold abyss.” Agents/publishers/Beta/Critique partners family the online communities. But until that happens I am at peace when the house is quiet and I sit in front of my computer conjuring up new adventures/risk the 100+ edit/revision that I swear will make my head hurt and my eye sight blurry. But nothing beats the feeling when we look at our manuscript and realize it is completed.
Hi Caroline, I can’t tell from your previous post (and your comment under your profile), is May B. being released soon? I am so hoping it is!!!
Hi Kathryn, I’m in wait and see mode with MAY B. With Tricycle closing, I have to wait a few more weeks to find out what will happen to my book…
You’ve been in my thoughts a lot. Sending lots of warm wishes, good karma and hugs!
Love Beth’s approach too – maybe a little bit of both 🙂
Well, Kafka was a bit dark. I think both Beth and Nicole made good points above.
Writing can be a lonely act (even if you’re writing surrounded by kids or a television-watching hubby, etc). Maybe it SHOULD be a lonely act. But once you send it out to your writing group or an editor or agent you’ve made contact.
And contact is what all humans crave. One of my favorite all-time quotes:
“All religion, all life, all art, all expression come down to this: to the effort of the human soul to break through its barrier of loneliness, of intolerable loneliness, and make some contact with another seeking soul, or with what all souls seek, which is (by any name) God.” Don Marquis (1878-1937), poet and author of Archy and Mehitabel.
Thought-provoking post, Caroline. I’m not sure what Kafka believed in…
Kafka would know. LOL.