Thursday Thoughts: Universal Permission

I talked to a writer the other day who mentioned that he’d never had writer’s block. He said that he writes down what he sees in his head–no more, no less. Sometimes, it is only a few hundred words. Sometimes, it is more, but once the scene is done, he quits for the day, hence no writer’s block. The word count all depending on the scene up there in his gray matter. I asked him if the scenes in his head happened in the right sequence, ie. A happens, then B, C, D, etc until Z is reached and he types, The End. “That’s the way the story wants to be told,” he said. Yeah, about that.

Most writers don’t have the luxury of simply writing a few words a day. Yeah, yeah, don’t look at me. I’ve been stalling Ariel’s Dang Book for almost 2 years now. Trust me, I have considered dropping it and going with other projects that are close to being finished just so I can get something published. Self-publishing is like academia: Publish or die on the vine! The Universe dropped this into the inbox not long ago and I’ve been giving it a lot of thought. Everything else I’ve tried as resulted in zero inspiration.

If you frequently give yourself permission to doodle, wonder, and be totally unproductive, Silver, and you actually relish such interludes, I can guarantee that your genius, creativity, and productivity will increase exponentially.

I’ve seen it happen a billion times.

Through the roof,
The Universe
©www.tut.com

P.S. Operative words, Silver, were frequently, permission, and relish; does not work with stingily, regret, and guilt.

Have I mentioned that writers spend waaaay too much time in our heads and it’s not in our imaginations. Nope, it’s in those dark nook and crannies where self-doubt, imposter syndrome, and “nobody reads my stuff anyway” crouch and wait for opportune moments to spring out and bite us in the arse. So, I’m going to give the Universe’s way a try. I’ll doodle, wonder, and won’t hassle myself for being unproductive. I’ll do other things. The will and drive will come back. And as it does, I’ll write words, a few at a time, or chapters. I’m too old to freak out over this stuff. What will be will be. And yes, I do hear Doris Day singing que sera, sera in my head.

Unknown's avatar

About Silver James

I like walks on the wild side and coffee. Lots of coffee. Warning: My Muse runs with scissors. Author of several award-winning series--Moonstruck, Nightriders MC, The Penumbra Papers, and Red Dirt Royalty (Harlequin Desire) & other books! Purveyor of magic, mystery, mayhem and romance. Lots and lots of romance.
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7 Responses to Thursday Thoughts: Universal Permission

  1. Vero's avatar Vero says:

    She also sang, “There’s a bluebird on your windowsill… (just sayin’)

  2. jovialvampyre's avatar jovialvampyre says:

    I loved Doris Day!

    The Universe has a great point. I’m thinking of Jenn and her diamond painting. Maybe a craft that has nothing to do with books and writing is a useful distraction? Can’t hurt – right?

    I finally got off the fear wagon and sent a text to my Dr. about the numbness in my hand. We’ll see if he gets back to me. He never got back to my OT☹️.

    It’s a rainy day here. It’s going to be very spring like the next several days – 60/70’s. I am already hating Sunday. That stupid time change😡.

    I hope you are having a nice day!

    • Silver James's avatar Silver James says:

      The Cold From Hell™️kicked my arse. I’m better–finally-but still slow. I’m not a doc and have only basic med training (now LONG out of date) but I’ve managed to injure myself a lot in my lifetime so I have experience. Is it possible the numbness is nerve damage? If so, it may take awhile for the nerve(s) to repair. It will! I was kicked in the thigh by a horse. Several muscles and the obturator nerve were badly damaged. The inside of my left leg was numb from the injury site down to my foot for quite awhile before it regrew the damaged area. Hopefully the doc will get back to you and it will be something really simple. I just want you to know that there’s always hope for a fix! ❤

      Yay for spring! Y'all have had a rough winter so enjoy it. Hopefully, the weather will hold through the wedding! 🤗

      • jovialvampyre's avatar jovialvampyre says:

        Thanks for the positivity 🥰. The doc got back with me Sunday afternoon and said it was just going to take time. If it’s still a problem in another 4 months he’ll consider surgery.

        I am so glad you are better. Colds are the worst. They linger.

  3. B.E. Sanderson's avatar B.E. Sanderson says:

    Yep yep yep… sounds like we’re in the same place. Like I said, I’m carving wood. I actually played with the tools today and made a pile of shavings. Woot. I hope to write again, but I’m not pushing it. (Still pushing the selling thing, though. It helps combat the depression over no sales…. sometimes. Sometimes it makes it worse.)

    :hugs: Enjoy whatever it is you do to wander through this and, when you wander back refreshed, it’ll be all the better for it.

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