I’m trying to squeeze in more writing time these days (not, as previously mentioned, for projects that someone is threatening to pay for imminently, but just for my own satisfaction).
In spite of the fact that I really want to write, I find myself needing a jumpstart, so I’m reading about writing a little more too. Sometimes I come across things that help get me started. I’m going to share some of them from time to time. They may not seem important or they may strike a chord, depending, I suppose, on where you are and what you’re up to.
But here is today’s, from Stephen King’s On Writing: [he is writing about how he knew his son was trying to give up learning the saxophone]
I knew, not because Owen stopped practicing, but because he was practicing only during the periods [his teacher] had set for him…What this suggested to me was that when it came to the sax and my son, there was never going to be any real play-time; it was all going to be rehearsal. That’s no good. If there’s no joy in it, it’s just no good. It’s best to go onto some other area…
Talent renders the whole idea of rehearsal meaningless; when you find something at which you are talented, you do it (whatever it is) until your fingers bleed or your eyes are ready to fall out of your head. Even when no one is listening (or reading, or watching) every outing is a bravura performance, because you as the creator are happy.
Tell me you don’t want to rush off and do what ever it is you are passionate about right now?