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Re: to summer

Re: to summer

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Posted by Hal on July 24, 1998 at 08:04:03:

In Reply to: Re: to summer posted by Gretchen on July 23, 1998 at 15:44:47:

: I love music, it is one of the only things that helps me get throught life. For a long time I had been set on a career in music, but my technical skills don't seem to allow it. However, I am facinated with music theory and history, and would like to teach it. As for writing, I am quite lacking in motivation. Every once and a while i'll sit down and write, but I am not determined enough to finish. Why are fours so blessed with creativity, yet so lacking in motivation to do something with it?!

In a word, FEAR. And it's not to say that any other types are free of fear, they just have different ones.

I just finished a fiction writing course a couple of months ago, and one thing we talked about is why everyone finds it so difficult to actually sit down and do the writing. We all (fours anyway) have so many ideas and so much to say. But when push comes to shove, we are afraid that when we actually get it out on paper, it won't be any good and won't say at all what we wanted it to. We are afraid of ruining the perfection of the blank page by screwing it up with the wrong words. The blank page holds endless possibilities, and the story it contains has the potential to be perfect in every detail. But we're terrified that we'll get it wrong.

Why do we do this? I wish I knew. But the contradictions and tension created by these opposing desires is what keeps us going and gives us that blessing of creativity. My only advice is to push aside the fear momentarily, and just enjoy the process of writing (or making music, or painting, or whatever.) Realize that whatever you create is not set in stone--just get something on the page. It won't be perfect, but you can always go back an change it later.

And by the way, I too have dreams of doing this for a living. I wish I could just sit out in the woods behind my house and write stories. But my course also covered the realities of trying to make any money as a fiction writer. So I plan to continue writing, but it seems it will have to be a part-time hobby thing unless I magically become famous. Since I'm fortunate enough to have a "real job" (as a computer engineer) I can just concentrate on the art side of writing and not worry about the business. If I can share the stories with my friends, it's enough. If I never sell even one, I have found that writing is a great vehicle for personal growth.

Enjoy the process.

- Hal -

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: : I love music, it is one of the only things that helps me get throught life. For a long time I had been set on a career in music, but my technical skills don't seem to allow it. However, I am facinated with music theory and history, and would like to teach it. As for writing, I am quite lacking in motivation. Every once and a while i'll sit down and write, but I am not determined enough to finish. Why are fours so blessed with creativity, yet so lacking in motivation to do something with it?! : In a word, FEAR. And it's not to say that any other types are free of fear, they just have different ones. : I just finished a fiction writing course a couple of months ago, and one thing we talked about is why everyone finds it so difficult to actually sit down and do the writing. We all (fours anyway) have so many ideas and so much to say. But when push comes to shove, we are afraid that when we actually get it out on paper, it won't be any good and won't say at all what we wanted it to. We are afraid of ruining the perfection of the blank page by screwing it up with the wrong words. The blank page holds endless possibilities, and the story it contains has the potential to be perfect in every detail. But we're terrified that we'll get it wrong. : Why do we do this? I wish I knew. But the contradictions and tension created by these opposing desires is what keeps us going and gives us that blessing of creativity. My only advice is to push aside the fear momentarily, and just enjoy the process of writing (or making music, or painting, or whatever.) Realize that whatever you create is not set in stone--just get something on the page. It won't be perfect, but you can always go back an change it later. : And by the way, I too have dreams of doing this for a living. I wish I could just sit out in the woods behind my house and write stories. But my course also covered the realities of trying to make any money as a fiction writer. So I plan to continue writing, but it seems it will have to be a part-time hobby thing unless I magically become famous. Since I'm fortunate enough to have a "real job" (as a computer engineer) I can just concentrate on the art side of writing and not worry about the business. If I can share the stories with my friends, it's enough. If I never sell even one, I have found that writing is a great vehicle for personal growth. : Enjoy the process. : - Hal -

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