'talent' 24/2/17
It happens every week. The first thought is , "NO! I can't do this one. I'm going to have to pass this week." But a worm has wriggled into the fertile soil otherwise called a writer's imagination. This is a fearsome place to visit - populated with all manner of personalities; possibilities and impossibilities; dreams and never-ending fantasies. Sometimes it's a nightmarish cave yawning large (sinister music), then larger (loud and harsh DA-DA-DA-DUMMMM piano chords pound the inner ear, revving up the heart to a painful level).
First search the word definition and synonyms to add to the shades of grey fogging up our already bleary grey matter. We check quotes from the truly talented and famous; pictures that may inspire. In desperation, a wade through our old works may provide a different slant. May find something to rewrite... repurpose? (Scratching the bottom of the barrel now, some would say.)
Momentarily laid aside (or more likely for some hours to come) is the 'bigger picture' story we're in the midst of slaving over. That would be the one we're spending our life's blood, sweat and tears over as we imagine and research and take notes and write and edit and prune and edit and rewrite (ad nauseum) and edit. And then start the serious tweaking. That would also be the one we take a most welcome break from to indulge in the comparably easy-peasy nature of the 500 word weekend write-in. A tiny flash fiction is all. Ha!
Suddenly the writer's mind is electrified. A vague concept is glimpsed somewhere in the deepest fog, coming closer, getting larger by the moment. The fingers suddenly itch uncontrollably for a pencil and writing notebook, or one of the pieces of recycled papers clipped together alongside the telephone... even that used envelope, half tucked under the tissue box. Sometimes, nothing but an uncontrollable rush to the nearest keyboard will do, or if the writer is already there, it's a simple matter of opening yet another tab/page/window/word document/notepad/whatever floats the boat at that moment and let a morsel of your brain drift off somewhere high above and marvel at the speed of the fingers racing furiously in an ambitious attempt to match the stampede of words and thoughts that crowd a head suddenly fit to burst.
Here it is! That ridiculously wonderful time, directly after the glimmer begins to brighten. Magic happens. The seeds of possibilities are emerging in a confusing profusion. The most tender sprouts require careful nurturing, but regardless, many will wither and die in infancy... or later! But suddenly THE ONE rises above the rest, surging ever upwards and outwards like the hardiest of weeds, ignoring any attempt to check its blossoming. This feeling is beyond imagining, beyond words... well, nearly!
As one of those poor, beleaguered writers I say to myself - "What a wonderful talent" - and myself agrees and applauds loudly.
I like that exceptionally modest (hrrrr-humm) self... a lot!
© 2017 Christine Larsen
YOU ARE READING
Paradoxically Yours...
Short StoryA collection of flash fiction (and non-fiction) tales written for the purpose-designed 'Weekend Writein prompts', challenging writers to produce around 500 word stories each time we choose to join the party.
