I’m thinking today of timing—how important it is to success. Timing and perseverance: the two go together. I’m also noticing the seasonal aspect of creativity, how cyclic it is. That too is hard to grasp. I want it all the time. I’m afraid if it isn’t there, it won’t return. But I need to remember that if I pursue my creative impulses, and if they’re in accordance with my abilities, then there will be success. Maybe not financially, though that would be nice. But I’ll experience the satisfaction of achieving what I’m capable of.
I must keep in mind that the cup will empty, fullness will recede, as happens each night with the waxing and waning energies of the moon. I can’t help but hear “moo” when I write moon, those old nursery rhymes of the cow jumping over the moon still playing in my imagination. Of course, cows are very much moon creatures, with their emptying and filling, the various stomachs they have for digesting food that turns into nourishing milk. They’re a wonderful symbol for the creative person.
Perseverance is the key word. I need to keep this in mind to combat the bombardment of negative things I’m reading currently about being a writer. Not only is publishing like finding a needle in a haystack—especially publishing fiction—but also only five percent of writers support themselves on their writing.
10 thoughts on “Timing and the creative process”
Thank you for the cow and moon connection. For so many years as a child and then again raising my children that nursery rhyme was a constant. Now an empty nester rediscovering my love of writing and newly discovering how satisfying it is to write later in life!
Delighted to hear that the image unlocked something for you, Lisa. And congrats on giving birth again to your writing self!
When I started, I told myself the Pride’s Children story was what I would like to have on the one shelf next to my bed in the nursing home, so I could reread it any time I wanted to.
WHEN I finish the last volume, LIMBO (to go with already-published PURGATORY and NETHERWORLD), the intertwined stories of recluse ex-physician Kary, rising Irish actor Andrew, and Hollywood princess Bianca will be locked into a physical form (hope I can still read print – the audiobook ‘as read by author’ is still far in the future, but I’d need hearing…), and I can read it any time I want to, and, TECHNICALLY, I will be content.
I started in 2000. But along the way I found I really want to SHARE the story, so I hope I can find the readers to keep my legacy project alive.
If you’re a writer who perseveres, everyone else will think you’re crazy – until you’re famous. Then they will all remember they knew you when.
I can persevere – I’m not sure I’ll ever be able to control the timing.
Do persevere. It’s an essential attribute of a writer!
Stubborn as a mule. Just turned 76, but Mother and her Mother each lived to 94. I’ll be working as long as I’m able.
Absolutely!
LOve the moon/cow connection! A fresh analogy, to be sure, and so apt.
May your hard work bring you great satisfaction and us, wonderful entertainment and insight.
Thanks for your kind words!
Time and creativity, the rush and frustration of having to pause and refuel. But I also want it all, non-stop creativity, not what seems nature’s way. Give me patience!
Good luck with it!