This morning was devoted to writing. It went pretty well, even though it got off to a rocky start. I am quickly learning that serious writing involves a whole lot more than skill with words. There are these things called emotions. Sometimes they are all on the same page at the same time. These are the moments when a shaft of sunlight breaks through the clouds and the angels sing. Magical. Other times most of them are on the same page and the rest have gone off shopping for the day and can’t be found, no matter how many times you try the cell phone. Other times there are so many emotions on so many different pages, you have no idea if you are even in the same library any more. And then, of course, there are the times when some emotion somewhere has gotten miffed at another and a good old-fashioned brawl breaks out and you are watching from the sidelines, wondering if you should just get a bowl of popcorn and call it a day. It’s like herding cats. I was on the phone with my brother the other day and told him that my muse was like a spoiled child. The key was to find as many ways as possible to bribe it into behaving.
So, I have an increasing level of respect for the challenge of being right-brained. I enjoy it, I crave the beauty and the exhilaration, I was made to function there. But goodness me, is it finicky. And as with any craft, there are the countless times when you do because you have to, and that little spoiled brat is going to perform whether it wants to or not. Sometimes a little left brained discipline is needed.
Well, anyway, I ended on a good note with the writing. I had closure on a particular piece. So, I headed out to run some errands, planning to do more writing into the afternoon. One of the things I have discovered is that incorporating some physical work or movement into a writing day helps keep things flowing. As I was driving in the car, I suddenly realized what I had really done that morning.
I had completed the first draft of the first chapter of the very first book I will ever write.
WHOA.
I started getting a little emotional. The emotions were ready at my beck and call for this one. In fact, a little more ready than I was planning. It started to slowly sink in. I ran my errands in a bit of a daze and started my project. I decided that I wasn’t going to write any more today. I needed to savor and celebrate this milestone.
This chapter isn’t much to brag about (yet). You’ll never see it in its current condition! But it IS. It exists. It’s a start. Writing a book has been a dream since junior high and probably before that. I have fought hard to be where I am. The enemy tried desperately to kill the love and replace it with fear, and it has taken me years to offload the toxicity and repair the damage. God is amazing and He has overseen this whole thing, that even now, I know I don’t fully comprehend.
It’s a milestone day.
Sweet! I’m savoring the first fruits with you! I love the part about God overseeing your process from an early age. In spite of the enemy’s best attempts…. here you are! Brilliant!
I full heartedly lend my right brain to this monumental emotional moment in time. I bless your brain. I bless your emotions. I celebrate this accomplishment with you. I will spill my emotions on this milestone, both in time and the structure. I will celebrate with the Ancient of Days whom I have come to know and love because of His deposit in you. Thank you for sharing with us Megan. I honor the Ancient of Days. I honour the hard work to get here. I honour the joy recovered. I honour your heart aligned and connected to share the deep treasure within you with us. I honour the battles to retrieve your treasure. I bless the words, their order, their feel, their light and beauty to continue to spill onto a blank page. I bless their continued continued flow from you.
Blessings,
Sonia
Awesome, Megan.
Way to get it going.
Yay! What exhilaration to have completed a chapter. I remember when I wrote a manuscript I had profound respect for ANYONE who got published. It’s no small feat to face the “white rhino” as Hemingway referred to the blank page. I bless you in your journey and your work.
YAY, GOD!!!!!
You wrote, “The enemy tried desperately to kill the love and replace it with fear, and it has taken me years to offload the toxicity and repair the damage. God is amazing and He has overseen this whole thing,”
What treasure and encouragement. Thanks for persevering.
I can relate, that first chapter, the first words, actually doing it, seeing words flow down and on to the paper out of the heart, writing what comes from that flow, simply amazing, feeling exhilarating excitement at actually doing it after thinking about starting writing for so long and then the moment comes….. and breakthrough !!!!