I stare at a blank screen watching the cursor blink endlessly. Finding words would seemingly come easy to a colorful mind, yet the task proves to be more daunting than expected. It’s all there. I swear it’s all there. The problem is formulating what’s there into something coherent, interesting, and original. That being said, originality is a hidden gem in this age of adaptations. Although I’d like to think all the ideas that come to mind are my own and unique, that is far from the case. An idea might form organically, but it is going to derive from something else. A writer’s job is to channel creativity and be a conduit for the stories we wish to tell. If you’re lucky enough you get to dive into the ever expansive pool of consciousness where creativity connects the dots. It’s quite the feat if you can stay and swim there for a while. Most people are in and out. One and done.
This is not a pity party though. No one is going to write for me. The discipline to sit silently is the first challenge. No music, podcasts, or any distractions that will keep my mind occupied. The clutter that rattles around my head doesn’t need any more stimuli. Just like a computer, I need a mental reset. I’d like to say I need to recharge, but I’ve been dormant enough recently. No excuses. Here we go.
I get a cup of coffee, take a deep breath, and center myself. This is what you want to do, so let’s do it. I’ve already outlined my next story, so I just got to synthesize. Easy enough.
To my pleasant surprise I open up my laptop to see that the battery is dead.
Shit.
I look around for the charger and quickly realize I left it at work.
Of course I did.
I look at my old notebook from years ago that was my canvas for storytelling. I pick up the notebook and go outside to get the creative juices flowing. I sit and listen to the natural sounds around me. I close my eyes letting thoughts flood my brainwaves. Time to put pen to paper.
Nice use of spacing for emphasis with the “of course I did.” And “shit.”