What's Magic in Writing?

I love this poster quote. Especially the last part that says You create something out of nothing. That's powerful. It is a kind of magic, except that there is no magic wand. It's you writers who are the creators. I wrote a post last March on this same theme, which is often the case. Same theme, different perspective.

Consider that you begin with a blank page, whether it is in a notebook, a journal, or on your computer screen. Blank! Waiting for you to create the magic by putting words together to form paragraphs, then paragraphs one after the other, and finally a full story, essay or whatever. Those who are poets do the same by in a different order--words into phrases, phrases into verses until the page is filled with a brand new poem.

It sounds so easy, but we all know it is not. Even so, when we do create a finished piece of writing, it feels a bit magical. It gives us satisfaction, some pride, and incentive to keep writing another and another.

When what we write tosses out one stumbling block after another, we can't feel much magic. Instead, we are frustrated, disgusted, and perhaps angry. Nothing magical about that! If we keep working around those stumbling blocks and finally reach a point where we are satisfied with what we've written, then the magic floats over us like the magician's swirling cape.

Is every piece of writing going to be magical? Probably not, but if we work hard and practice writing on a daily(or almost daily) basis, we're going to have some of those magic moments. Each time we do, we're inspired to start a new writing project. We like that good feeling, and we would like to have it again and again.

Ponder on that final sentence in the quote: You create something out of nothing. Not everyone can say that, but many writers can. Step 1 is to believe you can do it.