Write. Make. Create.
My mind is alight with a new idea that isn’t even a true thing yet, more a sensation looking to find its form wrapped up in a handful of questions.
This book is going to be a joy to write. This book is going to be fun. Not that my others haven’t been both, but regular readers here know I find the creative process daunting, especially when it comes to a book’s beginnings.
One way I’m choosing to free up the overwhelming creating-something-from-nothing phase is to do a little mental word play. Much like I trick myself into steady work by focusing on the story’s present moment (rather than reminding myself I’m writing a whole darn book), I’m going to claim two words from Elizabeth Gilbert’s Big Magic:
I’m not going to write right now. I’m going to make. I’m going to create.
I’m always intimidated when I begin a new book. I figured it was because I don’t outline. I just start writing. But I love this idea of planning to “make” and “create” instead of write.
Isn’t it liberating?
I love this. I have BIG MAGIC here and am making my way through it, slowly. I’m not sure why create is a much easier word to embrace than write, but wow – it is! Going to have to use that trick myself.
This little word somehow feels revolutionary to me. I’d love to hear what you think about the Persistence section. I think it’s plain brilliant.
Love Elizabeth Gilbert’s quote – must get her book, BIG MAGIC. Sounds really good. Off to create! A Big Mess. Ha! :-)
Your big mess can spend some time with my crummy words. How’s that?
Coming tonight?
I was going to the schmooze until I heard from my editor yesterday who wants Book 3 NOW. I still have about 40,000 words to draft and I’m leaving at 4 a.m. Thursday for 10 days . . . so I’m in the dog house. I’ll be trying to draft 2-3,000 words every day on the airplanes and hotels around book and school events in 3 different states. Gulp. Catch y’all at the holiday schmooze! xo
Word by word, Kim. You flourish under a deadline. xo