Brain Washed

Writing, I think, is not apart from living. Writing is a kind of double living. The writer experiences everything twice. Once in reality and once in that mirror which waits always before or behind. ~Catherine Drinker Bowen, Atlantic, December 1957

I have discovered that the more I write, the more I think like a writer in every situation I find myself in. For example, it is sometimes hard to read books without feeling the urge to edit even the tiniest mistake. And possibly to a fault, I sometimes gauge the quality of books, not by plot or character appeal, but how the manuscript is constructed...much like a composer of music. If it sounds awkward, do the words make any sense?

Another instance of "writer interference" was during a conversation with my husband several days ago. I was telling him about my day while propped up in bed and he stopped me in my tracks, pointing out that I had configured my last sentence as if I were introducing a character instead of just discussing the details surrounding a person that we both knew. I believe my e-mails could possibly sympathize with my husband as well.

I went to a concert with a close friend over the weekend and although I thoroughly enjoyed the music, I found myself focusing more on the song lyrics and how they told the story that the band wished to convey. In soaking the "stories" in, I began having idea after idea for things that I could write...and oddly enough, during the 2 hour show, I sometimes wished that I was at home in front of my computer, purging all of these thoughts. Of course, now that I am home, I cannot remember most of my "bright ideas". Even as I sit here writing this, I am thinking about new ideas for stories...yet it is time for carpool. How is it that we can have such wonderful ideas if we haven't the time to jot them down or remember them an hour later? Hmm...

The difference between the right word and the almost right word is the difference between lightning and a lightning bug. ~Mark Twain

When it comes to writing submissions, I think that the bone folder is possibly mightier than the pen. How else can you take about five pages and a SASE and thin it down to the point that it only needs one, maybe two postage stamps, max?

Proofread carefully to see if you any words out. ~Author Unknown

There is nothing creative about writing query letters, printing manuscripts, folding (if the submission is small) and stamping. Thank God for self-adhesive stamps and envelopes, however! The process is drone work almost making me want to "hire" my 5 year old to do it for me while I sip a latte and read a novel.

As for keeping up with my submissions, it is now extremely easy since I found the program Sonar online. It allows me to keep up with when I mailed my submissions, and if they have circled back like a boomerang for me to dispense yet again to another editor.

Don't be too harsh to these poems until they're typed. I always think typescript lends some sort of certainty: at least, if the things are bad then, they appear to be bad with conviction. ~Dylan Thomas, letter to Vernon Watkins, March 1938

Here goes nothing....yet, maybe something?