I read this great post yesterday at Men with Pens. I love that blog. If you like to write, want to write, want to learn more about writing or just love to read about writing. That’s the place to go.
Anyway. The particular post I read was about voice. We all have one whether we realize it or not and at this particular moment you are experiencing mine. The author of the blog post talked about the process of reading and how in our minds we hear the author’s voice. He even gave it a cool label. He called it “sub-vocalization”
I also read a post where he talked about writer’s block. He said he realized that he had writer’s block because he was trying to write instead of just writing. I can relate.
Some Scattered Thoughts………
I’ve been learning the ropes of freelance writing. Like anything, if you want to be financially successful at it, chances are you’re going to have to do a few things that are not necessarily artistically satisfying, but pay the bills. I think it’s the eternal struggle with creative people. Because, somehow, most of us think that art and creativity are mutually exclusive with making money.
That’s because most artists and creative people are by nature very rebellious people. Not in an obnoxious way (unless you’re Sean Penn), but there is something in most artists that compels them to walk against the tide. Here in our capitalistic, money-driven society that would mean rejecting materialism and other money making ventures. Personally, I think it’s a phase.
Bonnie Raitt wrote a song about it in the 70′s. “What is Success? Is it doing your own thing? Or to join the rest?”
End of Scattered Thoughts…….
Anyway. So, back to the blog post. The author said to be successful at writing and to keep writer’s block from paralyzing you, you have to write for you. Write as if no one else will ever read what you have written. I’m cool with that. I’m usually pretty happy to write most everyday for hours at a time. I’m not happy if I am aware of some big bad eyes on the other side of those words who might be evaluating me and my writing skills. Hence, writer’s block. Cause, “oh no, some body’s watching”
I hate that. You have no idea.
I haven’t written much on this blog. But, I think about you dear blog, every day. This is one of those ventures that if I stay at can bring me a huge amount of personal satisfaction. Opening up one’s heart and soul, especially on paper is one of the most gratifying things I can think of doing. That and eating Ben & Jerry’s ice cream. Holy cow. That’s good stuff.
So, listen, rather than prattle on about this and that. I’ll link to the post here and here. If you love to write, want to write or whatever……..read the posts.
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