Writing is a Sensual Mistress
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Writing Is An Addictive Affair
You're a writer, you know what I'm talking about. That seductive sensuality of your words coming to you of their own accord, or with a little easy coaxing. You sweet talk your muse, and it gives a little. When you're running hot, it goes all the way and offers up itself to you totally. It's magnificent! The words caress your mind and slide like sexy silk onto the page or screen. As they pick up the pace, racing towards completion, it can be hard to keep up with their rhythm. You do catch up though. The mistress must be sated.
Those are the golden moments, the ones a writer hopes will never end. If the body of work is short enough, the effortless flow may last until the piece is finished. When that happens, it can be nearly euphorically satisfying, orgasmic. Every word seems perfect. More importantly, they feel perfect. If an editor tampers with even one of those precious words, they take a piece of the writer's heart along with the editing.
Truman Capote once said that you sometimes have to kill your darlings. He was referring to your words, to the final draft. That part of the process where, by necessity, you tighten up your writing for an audience that only cares about the big picture, the easy-to-read article, poem, or story. They care nothing about your sacrifice and heartbreak. The writer is the only one who mourns the loss.
Still, we get over it and move on to the next golden moment, and the next masochistic tryst with the mistress (or in my case, super stud) known as writing. It's an author's seductive drug, and the reason we do it. It's why the affair will probably never end.
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- Writers & Co. - 22/11/2009 - Alice Munro Panel
Alice Munro tribute panel at the Vancouver International Writers Festival. Eleanor Wachtel assembled together Joseph Boyden, Amit Chaudhuri, Joan London, Alistair MacLeod and Elizabeth Strout, to talk about the work of Alice Munro. - 24 hours ago
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Comments
You're very welcome! It's gratifying when someone understands what you're talking about, what you're feeling about something.
Thx for letting me know you're of like mind.
Brilliant and sensual article, You really feel what u are writing about. We should enjoy being creative. I love to write fiction because it lets me feel like I am in control.
Thank-you so much! I really do get a huge kick out of writing well....I'm sure you're familiar with the feeling. Besides that, it's fun when it works. Of course, it's torturous when it doesn't, but that's part of the deal, and I suspect that those times contribute to our creative growth.
I'm looking forward to reading some of your fiction, and seeing your passion spilled out onto the page.
Thx again, Eileen!
How true! We do become addicted to our words and we do fight for their survival. Here's a perfect illustration. I wrote this children's story about 6 months back and "submitted" it for my father's perusing. It received many fab reviews (from the family) but came back with much of the descriptive verbage bye bye. My father's comment was this: Remember Robert, you're writing a story for children and not all of them have the vocabulary of a J-School grad. So much for stretching young minds toward inquisitiveness. Not to mention they don't even teach vocabulary in J-School. Great hub.
Hi Rob:
Thx for leaving a comment.
Never give up on your stories, no matter what anyone says! Perhaps though, you can say what you want to say to children, but through language they can understand. It sounds as though people liked your story, but just thought that the language was too advanced for little ones, who don't have language comprehension yet. That is good news, means your writing is good, only the words need to be simplified for your target audience.
Very best of luck with it.
Shirley :)
Hi Shirley! I was charmed, mesmerized, by this article, how sensual it felt!
Curiously, I don't think myself a writer, but a reader, and all you said about writing and how addictive it is, and the way "The words caress your mind and slide like sexy silk onto the page or screen" I felt to the core in regards to reading, which is my drug of choice.
Thanks for this, it was wonderful!
Elena, comments like yours make my writer's heart want to weep with joy! Being able to convey feelings in a way that others can relate to is sheer Heaven for me, thank-you for taking the time to let me know.
As far as having those feelings as a reader, I understand. Up until a few years ago, I thought that I would die if I missed a day of reading. I lived to read. If nothing else was available, I'd settle for cereral boxes or toilet paper packaging - didn't matter as long as I had something to read.
I think that reading is a wonderful drug. Enjoy it to the fullest.
Thanks again, Elena. I appreciate it so much. :)
jdeschene says:
2 years ago
You are absolutely right. Writing is a magical experience. I hate having to "kill my darlings" as well, but we must do what we must do.
Thanks for this great article!