Some days I feel particularly judgey of my writing before I even actually write anything. I’m in the shower, thinking about what I want to write (lots of good thinking happens in the shower). I get out, get ready for the day, sit at my desk, open the little notebook and…
Nope. That’s dumb, I think. So boring. Why bother. What is this even about. I’m the worst writer, I’m the worst human. I don’t deserve…and on and on. It’s on days like that when I believe exaggeration can come in very handy. First of all, you’re already exaggerating. NOTHING that you ever write is all that bad that you become this terrible person. No. Sure, it may not be a New York Times bestseller, and maybe it isn’t coming out the way you thought it should—but it is yours, your work, and if it’s not a gem itself, then it’s helping to get you somewhere. Trust that.
I know I know. When you are in it, pep talks don’t work. So, here’s a writing tip: don’t take yourself so seriously and exaggerate your way out of whatever thing you are writing that you hate so much. Tell lies. Make yourself laugh. And free that right brain from the greedy, controlling hands of the left for just a minute.
I was the saddest I’ve ever been. So sad that I was reduced to a puddle of tears that my cat had cried because I was too sad to get up and feed her.
I could do better. Ok.
I was on a rollercoaster, and not one of those old rickety kinds, but a rollercoaster so high that by the time I reached the top of the hill, I was not only in the sky, I was the sky; the heavens surrounded me and I could just see the glorious greens and blues of the Earth’s own curvature against endless space; and then, I plummeted. For a high that high would inevitably get you a low that low, lower, even then Dante’s innermost circle, where, if I had been Dante, I would have placed the inventor of price tags and SKU stickers on pieces of fruit.
Have a very, very good creating day, friends.
And now for everyone’s favorite time of day: Name. That. Mood! This one always makes me feel like I’m listening to NPR when they have a couple extra seconds of dead air time between shows, so they just roll some filler music. What do you think?
—MBF
NaNoWriMo+Mood Music Ep. 7