Although laundry as whole has not been a favorite pastime of mine, it has its rewards. Sure, I dread the collecting and sorting, but I don’t mind the washing and the folding quite as much. I despise the putting away, but love the fresh scent that I get to place in the drawers as a result of a task I saw through to completion.
However, I do find that things never quite look the same once they’ve been hung out to dry. That white shirt is never just as crisp and that black sweater always ends up a shade lighter than it once was.
It’s somewhat the same for me, when it comes to writing. I adore the process, but there are things about it that leave me feeling faded and worn.
That story that creeps in and convinces me it’s good, those lines, those words that shout, “I’m the one!” The subject that feels interesting and unique, the characters that promise to slay souls and sink ships.
They are silenced when suspended on the line to be judged. They become meek and mild when unpegged and pulled in. They stop clamoring for first and many times, let themselves fall down into the dirt below.
Luckily though, passion is persuasive and begs to be picked up, shaken out and washed again, as a clean slate offers endless possibilities.
You can read my (yet again) RUNNER UP short story HERE.
You definiteluy have a way with words. A passion indeed.
Also, looking very pretty here sporting the green. Happy St Patrick’s Day!
LikeLike
Aww, thanks Phil. :0) And, a very happy St. Paddy’s to you too, albeit a tad late.
That picture was actually taken at Tao in New York last March…but I basically wore the same outfit yesterday. Ha ha.
LikeLike
Great metaphor for the writing process–although I’m not sure I’m as crazy for anything associated with my “dirty” laundry as I am my “dirty” fiction.
LikeLike
LOL, PC – it’s the CLEAN stuff…I would never air my DIRTY laundry!! ;0)
LikeLike
Would you like more laundry Hazy? Think “inspiration”! 😉
LikeLike
Umm, no. 🙂
LikeLike
Oh Hazy (or should I call you Alana) you’re absolutely gorgeous!
I love your story – my favorite line: “I smile and her body seems to grow just a tiny bit.” What beautiful imagery!
Congratulations and very well done 😀
LikeLike
You’ve made my day, Dianne. Thank you so very much. 🙂
LikeLike
“I adore the process, but there are things about it that leave me feeling faded and worn.” Oh, so true.
LikeLike
Right?! 😛
LikeLike
It’s so hard to explain this to non-writers. Even an hour of good writing can be exhausting. It’s energizing, too, which is incredibly confusing. The whole screwy process is…delightfully contradictory.
LikeLike
Ambiguous creatures, aren’t we?
LikeLike