Writers Create Something out of Nothing

 

Looking at the poster for today, it occurred to me that maybe writers don't give themselves enough credit for what they do. Think about it. Writers start with a whole bunch of nothing and create something from it.

That's magic, isn't it? Writers don't wave a wand to create this magic. Instead, they delve deep within and bring it forth from past experiences and imagination.

More than once, I have thought about a man like Walt Disney, not a writer, but one who created a wonderful world from nothing more than the ideas in his mind and ionspiration and hard work. Hard to imagine a world without what he has given us.

Writers are the same as they come up with an idea, feel inspired, and spend time seeing it to fruition. 

Is it hard work? It is. Anything worthwhile is going to involve a work effort. 

Do you have a list of publications in your files? Take a minute or two today to read through the titles. You created each one from nothing, made it into something and managed to get it published. Go ahead, pat yourself on the back. You've earned it. 

What about the file that holds all the pieces you've written that have yet to be published.? Take credit for them, as well. Once again, you started with nothing and made something. Not everyone can do that. Are they all perfect? Probably not, but you can continue working on each one and make it better, maybe good enough to submit and hope for publication. 

Start with an armful of nothing. End with a great big scoop of something. That's the writers' own special magic!

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Writers and Magic

Yesterday's post highlighted the blank page. The picture-quote above continues in the same vein.

Did you ever consider yourself a magician? I certainly didn't. At least, not until I saw this quote. Stop and ponder on the quote. We who write create something out of nothing. Wow! I think that's pretty awesome.

With that blank page before you. you have choices galore. You can opt to write a short story or a personal essay. Perhaps you'll start on a memoir or an article about writing. Maybe you'll pen a poem. Do you have a magic wand in hand? Probably not. You have something even better.

You have a mind and a memory. So much of what we write evolves from memories and experiences we've had over the years. Besides those memories, you have a mind that can create new things, too.

Think about it. That's pretty exciting. A college professor or assistant prof teaches with the aid of a syllabus. Some write their own while others teach from an outline someone else has created. Yes, created, not copied. More magic.

Elementary school teachers and those who manage high school classes use textbooks as the basis for what they teach. Someone waved his/her magic wand and created those textbooks. They started with that blank page and built their creation little by little.

Actors and actresses would have no job if someone had not waved the wand and created a story for them to present to play-goers or movie buffs.

When you write a new story, pixies don't flit around you sprinkling the magic pixie dust. You're the one who does that. You are the magician in residence, the one who creates story upon story upon story.

What a writer does is just plain amazing. If you haven't patted yourself on the back yet, go right ahead and do it now. Then go practice a bit of your magic.