goodopenenglish

“Writer”

I’m a “writer”. In other words (remember those?), I used to write. Undergrad major. Worked on some publications. Got a few awards. Then life got between us, didn’t it forgotten scribe? An unplanned pregnancy. A dozen moves. Half as many jobs. Another few degrees – the kind you mindlessly munch on, like bar pretzels. Naturally several innocent bystander men in there. All in all, I’ve left you alone while I’ve gone off to play a lame game of musical chairs with my priorities. That’s ok. Flip me the bird. I deserve it.

Once one tries the notion of being a writer on, then finds it fits – there’s nothing like it. All the bumbling, breadline sounds and speech of the world and you have the ability to turn one language – a desert’s sand after lighting strike, into glass: articles, poems, reviews, songs, short stories, novels. You, but gramophone. You, but someone else too.

I’ve been ready for a creative kick to the jowls and bowels for a while. A summoning of that once barbaric yawp I’ve since allowed to withdraw, whither and recline – afghan shouldered. A September 1992 Reader’s Digest in hand. But now, the alarm is sounding. I want to be the literal zygote to my generation’s tailed unspoken meets ovum paper. You know you do too.

Reader – you can relate. Listen, there’s no shame to admitting to bouts of hibernation. Personally, I like to refer to mine as “seasons of marination”. That’s okay. Excuses are pragmatic. But you know you’re at your worst whenever you’re not practicing your best: writing. Here are “create5” easy pointers we can practice to reawaken the writer within:

• Note yourself noting something simple or extraordinary – make a note about it.
• Find a quiet space in your world to flesh that note out. Notebook. Computer.
• Share that note with others. They may not be writers, but may know writers. Meet them.
• Exchange written with these writers – your drivel and others’ published works (for balance).
• Publish – world renowned edition or DIY leaflets – no matter. You’re writing, writer.

As promised Create5 will star 5 guest bloggers exchanging creativity tips. The first is from Katherine Steiger a Bostonian resident in Leipzig. She works for the local International School, a poet at heart if a little lapsed in the practice. Her last venture was at the English Room for the So Readings where she enlivened us with her dulcet tones and text.

This entry was posted on Thursday, February 3rd, 2011 at 2:34 pm and is filed under Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.