Plumbing the Depths: What Fishing and Writing Have in Common
Exploring my creative mind
I was thinking about why I like fishing, and also what I wanted to write about this morning, and I realized fishing and writing have some things in common. I have done some fishing and crabbing myself. I enjoy watching the waves while observing my line bobbing in the water.
Waves are a surface phenomenon. The light reflects off of them and it can be mesmerizing. The hypnotic state frees my mind, allowing my subconscious to emerge. Changes I observe in the water’s surface, perhaps a ripple or bubbles, hint at something moving underneath. It’s like the mind and ideas.
Skimming my mundane thoughts may not yield much of interest, but if I allow myself to sink deeper into the mysterious realms — where all possibilities exist — there is a wealth of interesting thoughts to explore. For a “fisherperson” looking for a story, there is always the possibility of hooking a treasure.
It could be a story about pirates and pieces of eight, or
about a secret cave you discovered, and those who frequent it and why. Or it could be a mythical creature.
Whether you are fishing for fish or ideas, it helps to be creative in your approach. It helps the odds to think of different approaches to hook a fish or to come up with an original turn of phrase. If you can’t get a bite on your line you can try fishing at a different depth or a different spot of the lake, or switch bait, or use a different rig, or use scent on your bait. The same applies to writing. If you can’t write about one subject, try a different one, or try writing longhand instead of using an electronic device. If one thing isn’t working, try something else.
Both fishing and writing are unpredictable. You never know when the fish will strike, so you have to be ready to set the hook and keep that line tight so the fish can’t use the slack to get away. In writing, you never know when an idea will occur, so you have to be prepared to jot down an idea when it appears. They can fade quickly as a dream. Some folks carry a notebook, some make notes on their phone, whatever works best for you.
In order to be successful at fishing, you need to know the habits of the fish you want to catch and where they are likely to be found. Knowing that there’s a drop-off so many yards out where the fish congregate will up the success of landing a fish. Similarly, when looking for ideas, doing the necessary research and gaining knowledge about the topic at hand increases the chances of coming up with a good angle for your story.
Writing and fishing are also impacted by environmental factors. When fishing, weather and water conditions can greatly impact your success. If there’s a big storm, it’s not a good day to be fishing. Similarly, when seeking inspiration, environmental factors like mood, stress level, and surroundings can affect one’s ability to come up with ideas.
Writing like fishing requires patience, creative thinking, adaptability, and being prepared. Somehow, it comes back to the waves for me. The ocean waves generate their regular patterns, while my brain waves, in turn, become harmonized. The inner world is infinite and beckons to my imagination. I open myself every day, and like a fisherperson, with patience and optimism, watch the waves, and keep my net handy.
In an ocean of ideas, I am rarely disappointed. Wishing you all the best of luck whatever kind of fishing you may be doing today!