Connections

For me, my writing is the river in my life and like a river if it's dammed for a time it will eventually break free and flood out in new and exciting ways. There are times when my river of writing is slower, calmer, and weaves it's way through my days in a mellow, soothing way. Sometimes though, it becomes a torrent carrying me to places I thought I wasn't ready to go, opening my eyes to aspects of myself I didn't realize existed and constantly broadening and deepening my perception of the world and people around me. It's in these times of torrent my writing leaps to undiscovered heights, gains strength and breaks free of its previous boundaries in skill, style and workmanship.

I've discovered there's a pattern to the raging rushes of inspiration and activity which disturb my sleep patterns and make my fingers itch to connect with the keys on the computer or draw words across the pages in my notebook. First comes restlessness and indecision, gusts of wind testing the forest of ideas and pondering. Then comes the need for physical activity, an overwhelming urge to get out and run, walk, somehow get away. The itch comes last. Words waiting at the ends of my fingers, the skin on my body alert with desire. I know then is the time to sit down at the computer and let the zone come - everything is forgotten and I become totally immersed in the world of the story - emerging 5 or 6 hours later weak with hunger.

Connections are important too. Rivers connect with the land, hugged between banks of rock and sand, they bring life to the trees around and the fish which reside in it's ecosystem. I've been strongly immersed in writing mode lately and there’s been rash of emails between myself and a few writer friends, seeking and giving feedback, as we each try and perfect what we’re working on. I sometimes look at it this way. People who love to read must read. People who love to write must both read and write and rewrite and rewrite many times.

Reading and writing are both solitary activities and I've found that knowing and talking with other writers and belonging to part of the nurturing community of my writers group has helped my writing and confidence grow exponentially. In the group we talk about writing, give each other feedback, problem solve for ideas when we're stuck on where to send something or how to find a specific piece of information and even, on occasion, just take the time to write in the same room with other people.