I write everyday these days. (And surf Mr. Gore's world-wide-web for a job, sort through boxes from my now-empty storage unit, answer emails, contact more friends who might assist with the job search, and . . .)
Now and then I get an email from a regular reader at Tea With McNair asking if I am okay, alive. MIA? They tell how they enjoy this site and are eager to hear (read more from McMe.
Then it hit me. I don't blog more because I am writing more on magazine articles (cash flow during the permanent-job search) and I am working on four new books: one for the business community on creativity as a team sport, one for pew people, and two are targeted at younger audiences. So my scribbling genes are being used up, or nearly so, daily.
Fear not, little squirrels, I am devising a plan to use some of my book words–in little slices–as blog posts, or post its...postets. Bit I don't want to be serializing one of my new books. If a post is from one of the books I will note it.
Meanwhile, I find that I don't have a better day than those days that I get to write--creative writing. This includes editing existing verbiage in these projects. Books are mostly rewritten , not written. My experience is if I just write, without giving it to much arduous thought along the way, the scribble moves along more freely.
With my book that is targeted to pew people, faith folk, I have already had several occasions where I had an idea to write on a particular subject and started in on it. Then, somewhere early on, the writing shift to another subject, different tact for handling the chosen subject, or different characters entered the story to handle the telling. In every instance where this sort of a shift occurred, the piece turned out better than my original idea.
We don't write alone. Our imagination, our experiences, talent, and our Creator Spirit are all sitting in: suggesting, encouraging, nudging, pointing, clapping along when the words become a song without music.
Developing this writing-as-habit is one of the better developments in this period of lots of new developments in my life. Even if it's just an hour or two at my new local coffee house (in an actual old Victorian hotel) it restores my soul.
As I am attempting to put in four to six hours each day on work that builds toward finding my new career spot, having a creative outlet is the opened window of fresh air that blows through and reminds me that I can do more than dash of mounds of emails, leave voice mails, and scour the newspaper and Internet for available positions that fit my carnival of skills, experiences, and abilities.
Job hunting has become a habit, too. And developing a pattern, a daily routine, of "going to work" (on getting work) is a good habit just about now.
But I need something to do that felt like I was accomplishing something, creating...anything. I try, too, to sketch something in my sketchbook everyday. This week that has included a sketch of radio talk show host and film critic do a live remote from Fior d'Italia, one of San Francisco's great eateries (Est. 1886.)
Here again, I don't put high expectations, if any, on my sketching. Just sketch. I am not trying to make art, and sometimes I do.
Find a way, even in small bites of five of fifteen minutes each day, to develop a habit of creating. Dig your college marching band trombone, violin, or oil paints, out from under the sleeping bags in the garage.
Get moving. No expectations other than to do.
I'll meet you back here sooner, rather than later.
McNair
...great post
...want to talk soon?
...how's the food?
Posted by: Wes Roberts | Wednesday, 12 December 2007 at 10:58 AM
Hey, Great sitting next to, and talking with you, during Michael Medved's live broadcast at the Fior d' Italia. Thanks for everything and look forward to talking again next time I'm in SF.
Posted by: Chatty Kathy | Friday, 14 December 2007 at 10:55 AM