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When Writing Becomes
Duty
By Uma Girish
Sometimes the hardest thing for a freelance writer can be showing up at work. Nobody expects you to clock in, the
boss isn't hollering for you, nor are you in any danger of acquiring the 'latecomer' tag. It is you and you alone who
must push yourself to face that blank page (or screen) and get on with the business of filling it up, day after day. When
you wake up in the morning and the walk to the computer seems like the longest one you've taken in a while, sniff
trouble. Writing has become a duty. And there could hardly be a more demotivating word in the English dictionary.
Somewhere along the way we forget that we're writers because we want to write, we need to write. Despite the rejection slips, and a never-say-die inner critic. We're not people shackled to a nine-to-five desk. We opted out of that, remember, six-figure paychecks and all, just to experience the passion of pouring bits of our selves on paper?
But if ever the pen (or keypad) begins to feel like a manacle, it's a signal to take the day off. Yes, I know you're thinking ... what about all those accomplished authors' how-to articles that exhort the discipline of daily writing? Write we must, and preferably
every day. But be aware that writing doesn't happen in regular, predictable bursts of inspiration. You can't tell yourself you'll write 20 pages
every day for two weeks, or three hours every day for 10 days to get that assignment out of the way. There are days when I arrive at my writing desk ready to begin my writing day and I can feel the words jostling inside me like a bunch of eager kids, each ready and raring to go. And there are days when my subconscious decides to go the movies, leaving me dry, empty, and wondering why I'm conning myself that I can write.
If you as a writer are aware of, and prepared for, those 'blank' days, you're doing yourself a big
favor. You are entitled to your breaks. You don't have to force the words out when they seem to have disappeared. Tell yourself to let go. Take a couple of hours off. Go to the movies (you just might bump into your subconscious there!), lunch with a friend, read a book, walk the dog, walk yourself... anything to limber up those cramped creative muscles. When you return to your notepad you will discover a fresh burst of enthusiasm, a genuine desire to write, a need to tackle your project with new energy.
When I bid a temporary goodbye to my writing schedule, I go out and feed my creative spirit. I give myself a chance to tune into the real world - smell the air, soak in the colors, feel the heat, eavesdrop on conversations - rich fodder for my forthcoming pages. It also feels pretty good knowing you're on the job all the time even if you aren't actually writing or pounding away.
Your rejuvenated subconscious will surprise you by springing an unexpectedly beautiful metaphor, a turn of phrase you never believed you had in you, an idea connection that seems so right.
Writing is fun. It's also demanding, lonely, difficult and scary. Now, no one's gonna blame you for taking the odd day off that kind of a profession,
right?
Uma Girish is a full-time freelance writer based in Chennai, India. She is currently working on a short story collection. Her book on Reading to Kids is in its final stages. A personal essay of hers was recently published on
www.sevenseasmagazine.com.
You can contact her at umagirish@vsnl.com.
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