Monday, November 22, 2010

Writing is Like...


... getting a slab of granite and being handed a chisel, and then uncovering David.


Writing is like being thrown a jumble of 85,000 words and being told that if you arrange them just so, they will have the power to make people laugh, cry, and remember how true love feels.

Writing is like snow. One flake is a beginning. A million flakes are a winter wonderland.

Writing is like running. You start out slow. And it hurts. But the more you do it, the swifter you become. The stronger you get.

When I was a teenager I finally admitted to myself that magic doesn't exist. As an adult, I know better. Writing is... magic.

What is writing like for you?

--Bethany
Originally posted 12/15/09

18 comments:

Liza said...

Writing is the only place where I am dead-on true to myself. It's the place where I clear away all the wrappers and scrape down to the person I wish I could be all the time. And yes, sometimes, when I get there, it feels like magic.

S.A. Larsenッ said...

I really liked the way you put that. Writing is feeling the ideas, hopes, dreams, and even fears both inside and outside myself and knitting them together in an inspiring way to teach, grow, and learn.

Matthew MacNish said...

Writing is telling the truth, about things that never happened.

Magenta said...

Writing is like reading, except the story comes from your imagination.
~~~
Writing is like building a sandcastle. You gather a whole bunch of ideas and mix and pack them together, modeling them to your desire. Then you take a step back at your work and realize that some parts need to be taken away, or added to it. It is gritty and dirty work, and maybe the tide will wash it away, but you don't care. You're doing this simply for the joy of creation.

People passing by may stop to look at your castle. Maybe they'll admire it and say "Wow, you're an artist. Nice work." Or maybe they'll look down on it and say "You call that a castle? *scoff* I've seen better."

You can have friends help you with your castle, but really, it is your creation.

Finally, you'll stand back and find that your project is complete. It is perfect; nothing more can be added or taken away. You smile with the feeling of accomplishment.

And you know that the next time you go to the beach, you'll be doing the very same thing and loving every minute of it. ^_^

Magenta said...

Thanks for writing this post, Suzette. Without that prompt, I probably wouldn't have gotten the inspiration to write that sandcastle analogy! That was all on the fly. ^_~

Nicole Zoltack said...

Wow, that was beautiful. Writing is like sweat and tears, the best and worst of the writer.

Shannon O'Donnell said...

*sigh* Those are all awesome. I did a post last week based on a quote that says,

"A writer is like a bag lady going through life with a sack and a pointed stick collecting stuff."
~ Tony Hillerman

Candyland said...

Oh wow...this got me.
Writing for me, right now, is like a never-ending road. I can't see where it's going to take me (maybe nowhere),but I keep walking...

Michelle McLean said...

beautiful post, very poetic :)

Bethany Wiggins said...

You guys write the most beautiful comments! Thank you.

Katie Anderson said...

Oh wow. I LOVE this!!!!! Great post girls!!

IanBontems said...

Writing is like Christmas.

Unwrapping that exciting new idea like a present, then playing with it.

Of course, it's not long before you get the problems (where are the batteries? why does that character not work?), that seem so difficult to work out.

Then there's the noise (so many relatives/characters all talking at once), and someone will ALWAYS misbehave (usually Grandad after too much sherry and wine).

Plus, you can guarantee that someone will be sick, too (but that won't be Grandad, he'll be too busy snoring).

But at the end of the day, when you're exhausted and it's all done, you can think back fondly and start to look forward to the next one.

Jemi Fraser said...

It truly is magic. To create something that can move people from absolutely nothing but us? Definitely magic!

Stina said...

Writing is my escape. A place where dreams come true. My obsession at times.

Love the picture, even if it looks like where I live right now. And trust me, when it -30 C, the snow isn't very beautiful. When you have to drive your kids to school because the bus didn't show up, the snow isn't very beautiful. (Sorry, just tired of the cold already). ;)

Rosalind Adam said...

A beautiful post. I especially love the last line. Writing is magic, but right now I'm identifying with the running analogy. I keep looking at my trainers and then putting my slippers back on again even though I know how good I'd feel if only I got out there.

DL Hammons said...

I remember this original post quite fondly...so I had to go back and retrieve my original answer. :)

Imagine opening the most elaborately wrapped gift ever, covered in layers and layers of bright colorful paper encasing different size packages, one inside of another. The staging and obvious care demonstrated in each loving detail of the presentation make you want the revelation to go on forever. You finally reach that one last box with a simple red ribbon tied around it. When its opened, inside is a present that cost very little...but is perfect in every way.

Now imagine putting that gift together.

Meggan Boren said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Meggan Boren said...

Your so wonderful Bethany! Thank you for this reminder that writing is magic!