The Writerly Mind

I've been away with an unhappy tooth. However, if I ever had any doubt about being a writer, then it was quashed this week while sitting in the dentist's chair. During the whole experience my crazy mind turned to descriptions: the pain, the surgery, the fear. I could turn the experience into a horror story or a thriller about a psychopathic dentist. Not because the experience was that bad, but because my writerly mind turned in that direction and found story opportunities. Only a true writer could think those insane thoughts while getting a tooth drilled.

The experience even turned my thoughts to comparing root canal therapy with line edits. Yes, there are comparisons. For example, both can be painful, but both are necessary and everything will be a whole lot better once they are done.

It brought a smile to my sore mouth.

Do you have any amusing moments that reminded you that you've made the right choice about your profession?

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The Muse Myth.

Many moons ago my muse malfunctioned. Her malicious mind made fun of my meandering musings. She mistakenly thought me mediocre in my moment of independence. No longer a mentor, she meddled with all her mischievous might. She misinformed me by mentioning I lacked merit without her.

‘Minds become mazes without Muses to mediate,’ she murmured.

My mood migrated to melancholy until I realised she’d manoeuvred me into madness. The maintenance of a miraculous Muse is not mandatory to write. We can manufacture marvellous manifestations of memory, magic, or the mundane through meticulous method.

Muses are a myth.

Note: my Muse now means for me to meet my maker

Do you rely on a Muse to give you ideas for writing? Do you have arguments with your Muse?


Note: This post was written as a bit of fun for the A-Z Challenge. To learn more about the challenge click the image on my sidebar.

J is for the Jam Donuts of Writing

Some writing is like a jam donut: too sugary and full of unneeded fat. And yet, it’s often addictive. Once you have one, you want more and you think you’re satisfied. This kind of writing can often be fun to read (as long as you can hush your inner editor), just be careful: Read too many and you could pick up bad habits.

Some writing is like aged wine. It takes time to develop and has amazing depth of flavour which lingers long after it’s been consumed. This is the kind of writing we need to revisit, the kind that will inspire us and push us to do better.

What would you liken your writing to? What's your favourite style of writing you like to read?


Pic: I couldn’t bring myself to buy a jam donut because I know I would have eaten it and I’d rather chocolate as my prime fat/sugar delivery system. Instead I tried taking a picture of jam. It ended up looking like zombie brains. I settled for a close-up of sugar.


Note: This post is part of the A-Z Challenge. To learn more about the challenge click the image on my sidebar.