Monday, October 24, 2011

make it better without you

the trouble with late nights, is that it really gives way to over-thought.  thinking of all the things i should be doing, or should have had the time to do during the day, but didn't.  late nights give you the space to plan all the things for tomorrow.  add a little andrew belle or boxcar rebellion and it truly makes one think: what can i do tomorrow?  what will affect change in both my writing and personal life?

i have only made a few submissions to literary journals this year.  life has happened.  time for those has gotten pushed off time and again.  doubt has crept up.  apathy waxes and wanes.  so, what is it that makes "hitting the send button" so hard?  i read for two literary journals. i recently read for a poetry contest.  i am always thrilled to see the submissions rolling in.  they inspire me.  to read more. to learn.  to be a better writer myself.  to be proactive.  but somehow, i am still staring at the growing stack of my work that needs a home (or at least an attempt at adoption) and the growing list of places i would love to submit.

what moves us to continually put ourselves out there?  what moves us, at all?  here is to tomorrow:  and the hope and motivation it may bring.  where do you find your push?

To praise the sun is to praise your own eyes.
Praise, the ocean. What we say, a little ship.
So the sea-journey goes on, and who know where!
Just to be held by the ocean is the best luck
we could have.
                          ---Rumi, from Buoyancy

1 comment:

  1. I find my push in other writers. When I'm in my own head by myself for too long, doubt creeps in. I stop writing. I stop caring to write. I panic about starting again. And then submitting my work seems like the most insurmountable task.

    So I seek out that necessary push from writers: friends near and far (like you!), novels, blogs, other freelancers. And sometimes just being with other people and talking or listening to chatter in a coffee shop while I brainstorm opens up my heart to action again.

    It also helps to remember that fear's job is to prevent us from doing the thing which we know we're meant to do. Fear is a liar, and a jerk. I would recommend reading Steven Pressfield's "The War of Art" if you haven't! It's very inspiring and action-oriented!

    xo

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