Wednesday, August 22, 2012

WHEN A WRITER DOESN'T WRITE


View from my window. Rain time!


Power out, generator down, I gazed outside my window at the surrounding greenery; the palm trees, the plantain trees, the cassavas, cocoyam leaves. I have never felt such serenity before. Some people would pay thousands to experience such calm. I had it free. Yet I felt very uncomfortable.

Why?

Since the blackout I had read for over three hours, then stopped. Felt like doing something else. Maybe take a nap to calm the slight headache. But I stood by the window, gazing at the approaching drizzle, watching squirrels hop from palm tree to palm tree, listened to the sound of the forest birds; the coo of the doves, the cry of the canaries, the cackle of hens, then watch the sky darken again. Yet I was uncomfortable.

Why?

I wasn’t writing. Or… I haven’t written anything today.

I made up excuses; “The power’s out. Your generator is down. You cannot write because you have nothing with which to power your computer. So why not wait until power comes again before you write something.” The frustrating part is that whenever there is a downpour here, the power company sees an opportunity to mess with the electricity. Why they do that, I don’t know.

I accepted my fate, then turned to my second love, music. Earpiece on both ears, I listened to different genres of songs for over an hour, eyes glued to my phone’s battery meter so that I get to save some for calls and text messages. I didn’t want to go back to the dark ages.

I was still uncomfortable. Something was missing. Something wasn’t right. Deep down I knew it wasn’t the rapid reduction of my battery meter that bothered me.
I haven’t written anything today.

I stopped the music, decided to do it the ancient way before the advent of typewriters; write with a pen on a piece of paper. When power comes again, transfer to my computer.

But what do I write about after such frustration with the power company?

I decided to write a blog to share this uncomfortable experience and explain a bit on the blog hiatus.

Since the last two weeks, I have been in my hometown, to visit my grandma and to concentrate on finishing the editing process of The Road Taken, a YA Urban Fantasy set in South-Eastern Nigeria. I finished the first draft of The Road Taken mid last year, then hopped into The Intersection, second book in the series. Four months ago, I started Dead End, conclusion to the trilogy, but the writing output has slowed a bit because I’m now editing The Road Taken while writing Dead End. It’s hard work, but a writer has to do what a writer has to do, especially as it makes me happy and takes away that discomfort I feel whenever I haven’t written something in a day or two.

Sometimes I think writers are the most hardworking people on earth, because it isn’t easy at all to make up stuffs. We are sort of little gods; we create new worlds, new beings, new races; we create vampires, werewolves, aliens, goblins; we create places, situations, weathers. We tell truth and we entertain in our lies. We also create the future.

For now, I’ve not decided on which publication road to take. All I’m interested on now is to become a master in the craft, perfect my manuscript, and support other authors who have gotten their works out there. Maybe when my manuscript is close to perfect, I’d decide.

The question comes now.

Do you feel uncomfortable if you haven’t written anything in a day? For painters and artistes, do you feel uncomfortable if you haven’t done any painting or done some music in a day? Please share your experience in the comments section. Thanks!

12 comments:

  1. If i dont write till the end of a whole day, honestly......i'd have a nightmare. Writing is my life.
    Nice piece you wrote.

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    1. Thanks, Wuyi. Talking about nightmares, I sometimes write in my dreams. Think I should call term it "writemares" I just can't do without writing or music.

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  2. I understand this so much. If I haven't written anything, no matter how nice a day it's been, there's this underlying discomfort. A twitchiness that doesn't subside till I've gotten my hands on a keyboard (though paper will do in a pinch) and put something down about the worlds and people rattling around in my head. And if a few days go by without writing... oh boy. :)

    Nice to hear I'm not the only one.

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    1. Haha, Yeah. Recently I was hospitalized, and that was when I suffered most that discomfort of not writing. Writing in my diary wasn't just enough. Music was a very good comforter then. But I'm glad I'm out now!!

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  3. That's awesome. We are born to do writing. Obviously we can't resist the urge or shy away from it but God's grace is always available to spur us.

    Creativity is part of life and quest to write colours the world. Imagine going back to school without a teacher, Imagine sea without water, imagine the world without writers/ creativity.

    Thanks for being there!

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    1. Thanks for the wonderful comment. Yeah! Still trying to imagine the world without writers. Guess it's going to be a boring one. :)

      Thanks for stopping by my blog.

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  4. Very nice post Kaykay,
    It is happening to me too. Especially lately I was focus on University stuff and I hadn't the time to write a single word. Now that exams are over, I am doing some editing and it has a little writing, but it's not same as writing. I have missed writing so much and for so long that I am just not happy. Plus I want to edit my second novel and write the sequel for that book! There are so many things that must to be done and I wish I could have someone else do the editing. Friends are helping but in the end, I have to read it again and consider their thoughts. *sigh*
    Thanks for sharing and forgive my mumbling. :)

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    1. Thanks for the comment, Athina. I guess I'm in the same boat with you. I've been editing THE ROAD TAKEN all these while. I miss writing too, and I wish I could do some kind of magic on the editing. But what's a writer to do if not to write, edit, write and edit again?

      Thanks for stopping by :) I wish you the best on your novels.

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    2. Yes, now we are editing, but I guess the time will come when the books will be ready!! This day will exist!!

      I wish the best for you too and I hope you will publish your books soon so we can read them. :)

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    3. I smile at your beautiful comment :) Yes, a day will come when our books will be ready. The anticipation of that makes me smile as well as work harder to achieve the dream.

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  5. Hmmm.... These are blood-y writers. It flows in them. I can spend a day without writing and not feel bad.


    I hope no smart head caught that!



    (Nah! Not the wordplay about bloody writers. The other one.)

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    1. Haha! They caught it, and they're coming for you. :) Maybe they'll give you some muse to write everyday. LOL

      Thanks for stopping by! :)

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