Wednesday, December 05, 2007
Strange Inspirations
Though perspiration is famously more vital to writing than inspiration, I'm convinced that it's inspiration that matters. That's why I hate the idea of "morning pages" - writing every day, to what purpose exactly? Yet, I guess, when you work full time at a demanding job, like I do occasionally (it's always full time, occasionally, and recently, demanding), perspiration be damned, you need some inspiration to sit down and free the muse. I'm reminded that, inspiration be damned, a nice red wine also helped free the muse (doesn't it sound like a Facebook group? 38 members.) But inspiration's what I've been lacking of late. I've had "ideas" but not "imperatives" which is not the same thing at all. I guess, the imperative for alot of writers is probably a cheque in the post or a competition, but without that, then you need to develop different ones - and I always used to be quite good at coming up with something; yet it's that which I've been lacking the last couple of years. And what, pray, is my imperative now? It's not that simple, of course. But it seems I need to have a sense of innovation to my writing to really compel me to start writing again. A few years ago I wrote a story, "I am no one" which was so non linear that it stopped me writing for a while - since how could I go back to "normal" stories after going out on the edge? The answer of course is finding some middle ground. Earlier in the year I read quite a bit, a few books like "The Damned United" and "The Book of Dave" being contemporary novels with the innovation I've been longing for - add in a bit of sci-fi and a sprinkle of Borges - and I've thrown off the straitjacket that I'd grown into, and starting writing something interesting again. Yes, that's the key. So for the first time in years, I've written 3 short stories in a matter of weeks, all very different, but all notably different, interesting, even experimental (though I use that word with a peg on my nose.) A bit of sci-fi here, and a bit of wine with a friend here, and a bad day at work over there, and voila, the chef is back in the kitchen. Or something.
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3 comments:
I find the concept of an "imperative" an interesting one, in simple terms, a reason to write. I had always considered writing an end in itself, certainly for me it always has been. In fact I have always found writing to order off-putting and when I attempt it, it's never my best work.
I do see your problem after working in a certain style and then trying to find your "old" voice. It's not something I've had a real problem with luckily but I have found myself stuck on a particular theme before and the only solution I found was to write it out; there's only so much to be said on any subject.
Never been able to write sci-fi though for love or money. I love reading it. I love watching it. But that's about it.
Appreciated the nice comment on my blog yesterday by the way.
I'm reading The Book of Dave at the moment. Quite unique! When I started it, I didn't expect to finish it, but now I'm reading short passages at a time because I am dreading the void that will confront me when it's finished.
As for inspiration, perspiration and all that jazz. The missing ingredient might be courage. I find I have inspiration often enough, but not the courage to allow the imperative to take hold.
Dave King
http://picsandpoems.blogspot.com/
Dave - I think The Book of Dave is a minor masterpiece, read the cockney bits slowly, and revel in them!
Jim - writing is an end in itself but not any old writing - else why would we all try and get better at it? Thats probably my imperative - there's loads of stuff out there in the world, to add to it, you need some kind of reason - at least for a while. But,yes, writing to order doesn't really work - but its not to be dismissed if someone does order you to do it! Keep writing the blog, you've a lot worth saying.
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