The Divine Touch

Or is it the (witch)craft of writing?

“You are a writer. You were touched by the Divine, for who else can create worlds from nothing and life by mere thought.”

~ from a poster advertisement.

[I’m not recommending the poster nor do I get anything for mentioning it. I just appreciated this perspective on the writing craft.]

Some might say we are sorcerers or witches conjuring up characters and images and worlds from nothing. Others say we simply take dictation from our muse. I know several writers who claim to be taking dictation from God. One even titled his book Conversations With God. I don’t doubt that people have conversations with God. I talk to Him every day. However, I’ve never heard Him say a word much less give me dictation.

When I write, I don’t know where the words come from, but when they come, I’m grateful.

Sometimes something strikes me, like the quote above, and I feel inspired to say more about it. Other times I see something.

Yesterday I wrote

The inspiration for that article came from a sticker I’d seen:

I thought, yeah, I love them, too. Then I set off on a Google chase to learn more about what happened during those 10 years. I learned a lot. But it’s amazing how that label set me off on a week-long search that resulted in a story.

The other day I walked down to our still-frozen lake and sat on a bench I’d sat on last summer. Then I’d noticed a cement plaque in the ground, a tribute to a loved one or possibly a dear pet that had gone on to the next world. I wrote about that in a story.

Today, I woke up with nothing much on my “To Do” list. As I had my morning coffee and thought about my day, I wondered what should I write?

I resonate with that part of the quote that says we writers are touched by the Divine. I know that’s certainly true for me. I always do some praying for guidance in the morning. I ask for direction in my writing. Then, I turn to the keyboard. Some days it’s to do research; other days I focus on getting words on the screen; and on still other days, I do my best to get the right words on the screen.

Like most writers, sometimes I’m successful. Other times I just spin my literary wheels. I bet many of you can relate.

Yesterday I had the title for a story or maybe even a book: Zen and the Art of Writing. (Probably, it’s already been written. Yep, Ray Bradbury beat me to the punch with a slightly different title: Zen In the Art of Writing. Bradbury published it back in 1996.)

I vaguely remember reading and enjoying Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance (Robert M. Pursig) many years ago (early 70s, I think. It came out in 1974). I remember only a little about it. A man and his son on a motorcycle trip across the country — a journey of self-discovery. It inspired me to try and fix my lawnmower and my car (both projects turned out to be disasters).

That title appeals to me because I write best when I get into the zone. It’s like unplugging a clogged drain. Suddenly, the words flow freely. I can hardly keep up. I don’t know where they come from, but my fingers fly over the keys and the words appear, as if by magic, on the screen. Thoughts form. A paragraph results; then a page or two. And finally the story emerges.

Sometimes I miss the typewriter-days of yesteryear with the click and clack of keys striking paper. I don’t miss the hassle of correcting mistakes, nor do I miss all the wasted paper and ribbons from false starts. But there was something about the process of writing, the pure physicality of it, that appealed.

Sadly, for me, times when I’m in the flow don’t occur as often as I’d like. When that happens, I wish I could call “Roto-rooter” to unplug my brain and get the words flowing again.

The only thing I know to do is to keep plugging away. Write about anything. As one of my college writing profs said, you can write a 500-word essay on a blade of grass. Just observe it carefully, think about it, describe what you see and your thoughts.

My friend Rasheed Hooda once suggested that when we are at a loss for story ideas, to open our photo app and look through the photos until we find one that gives us an idea.

My writer friend and mentor Holly Jahangiri says to practice, Practice, PRACTICE ! That means to write, Write, WRITE!

Although the Divine may touch us writers, I don’t think Divine inspiration flows into everything we write. (Interesting, as I paused after keying that last word, I noted the word count: 666. Is that confirmation of what I wrote or a suggestion that it was devilishly inspired? Being a guy who loves numerology, I get off on such things.)

Approaching life with a sense of gratitude helps my writing. Many mornings I start by listing some of the things I’m grateful for. Things like good health; a warm, dry, safe house; a computer to work on; Word to record my thoughts, then allow me to make changes and edit them; coffee to sip; a bathroom nearby; a dear wife who doesn’t mind fixing lunch for a writer who’s lost in his own world.

I have a permanent gratitude list recorded in my prayer journal that I often review. I make additions when new things come up. To remind me of the importance of gratitude and the many positive effects, I often read from Attitudes of Gratitude by M. J. Ryan.

This morning, I read that “As we count our blessings, we literally bathe ourselves inwardly in good hormones [endorphins].” Whether or not they help us to write better, those endorphins have many beneficial effects that make us healthier.

Something else that helps my writing is not taking myself so seriously. Laugh! Laughter also releases good hormones. Being grateful and laughing lead to better health and better writing.

That dose of endorphins may be the “Roto-rooter” our brain needs to get unclogged and get the words flowing. It may be the Divine touch you need today.

Happy Reading, Writing, Laughing and Connecting!