• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • About
  • Contact
  • Blog
  • San Diego Momma
  • Nav Social Menu

    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
San Diego Momma

San Diego Momma

Sharing some humor, a bit of writing and way too much information

Home / Etcetera / Support, Don’t Subvert, Other Writers

Support, Don’t Subvert, Other Writers

Etcetera

{{A re-post!}

 

Writing sweats it out of you, sometimes turnip blood, sometimes holy water, but the act is always a birth, a labor to be endured with sturdy legs and open mouth. There’s such pain rooted in the craft, which is inexorably tied to bliss, both binding together in a paroxysm of creation. A single burst of inspiration sometimes. A hard-scrabble bout with crippling insecurity others. And you never apprehend the way it ekes from you – a spurt, a stream, a leak? – to make it happen just the same way twice. Words are water, writing is wind; it puffs, it squalls, it sings; it hauls you up, it plants you down. I know this all to be true, every unsettling consequence, and still I puzzle it out, usually in the midst of a tunnel I’m scrambling from, clutching scraps of paper with messages I’ve scrawled and bled out: Why all this fuss, all this fracas? Must I twist in the labyrinth, search for words, trust them to lead me somewhere I’ve never been?

 

Yes. Because the the light gleams in the nethers and I will forever coax it out. The shadows bubble there, too, somewhere profound and bottomless, and it’s equally important to summon their mournful stories of closed bedroom doors and the girl waiting inside. I’m not always ready for the surfacing, but I welcome what comes because the girl needs me to bust open the door. But sadly, so sadly many writers shut it. Told one time or another they’re no good, they should stop trying, or worse, they’re not writers. Somberly still, these arrows of criticism are sometimes slung by the people closest to us, and those are the deepest gashes to the soul. That kind of silence is the heaviest of all, a thunder clap that erases all else but the voices in a writer’s head. Belief in self is unyielding for some; but for writers, it can be wearisome and a mountain to scale with scabby fingers and burned-up spirit.

 

It takes some of us years to shed the belief that our words have no value, don’t hold worth; that we should shut up because who wants to hear what we have to say.

 

So why would someone, anyone, especially another writer, join the army of voices in your head?

 

We all know what it’s like, the sweat, the shadows, the silence. Put down your battle axe.

 

The wind calls us both to the labyrinth.

 

Share this:

  • Twitter
  • Facebook

November 29, 2011 · 12 Comments

Sure I’d love to see you again

Previous Post: « PROMPTuesday #173: Found
Next Post: PROMPTuesday #174: Bawdy Holiday Prose, the Fourth Installment »

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Comments

  1. julie gardner says

    November 29, 2011 at 5:10 pm

    Lean in close so I can whisper in your ear:

    You’re a writer. A crazy-gifted one. In case you didn’t know it or someone else has told you something different.

    Did you hear?

    Reply
  2. Ferd says

    November 29, 2011 at 5:23 pm

    Deb, negative people suck. You can’t change them. You CAN always try to avoid them. And don’t listen to them. If you must, look upon them analytically as if they were strange bugs. Feel sorry for them and their negative selves. And then walk away.

    Then do your own thing. Look for those that support you and love you for all you are. And really, it’s EASY for people to support you, because you ARE amazing! :-)

    Reply
  3. Morgan B. says

    November 29, 2011 at 8:54 pm

    This was amazing, Deb.

    Reply
  4. Sugar Jones says

    November 29, 2011 at 8:57 pm

    WORD.

    Reply
  5. SurferWife says

    November 29, 2011 at 9:09 pm

    Debbie Deb. I love your butt.

    Reply
  6. Maegan says

    November 29, 2011 at 10:02 pm

    Whoa. Just whoa.
    Thanks!!

    Reply
  7. Middle State/MomZombie says

    November 30, 2011 at 5:24 am

    This is just beautiful. I want to print it and post it near my computer as THE WORD. You are such an inspiration, do you know that?
    I had a cathartic October in which I truly hemorrhaged words, most of which are curled up in little clots inside my hard drive. Whenever I write that way it takes so much out of me I become ill. No one seems to understand what I mean when I say that, but this piece validates me and everyone else going through the process.

    Reply
  8. Mandy says

    November 30, 2011 at 6:39 am

    Yes, yes, yes. Thank you for putting this out into the cosmos to contradict the bad voices (real or imagined).

    Reply
  9. green girl in wisconsin says

    November 30, 2011 at 7:48 am

    It’s true, that voice of doubt is a strong thing.

    Reply
  10. tinsenpup says

    November 30, 2011 at 1:33 pm

    We’re all in this together. You certainly live this way. I hope I do too.

    Reply
  11. Jennifer says

    December 1, 2011 at 5:41 am

    I loved reading this post. Most of us have to write, right? It’s just oozing out of our pores, so to speak. So I agree, we should support, cheer on, urge each other forward. Thank you for your powerful words!

    Reply
  12. Lance says

    December 8, 2011 at 7:08 pm

    writing is like open heart surgery with no pain meds or eether. Why anyone would hurt someone else over their writing is beyond me.

    I love the community I’ve joined through my writing/blogging.

    Reply

Primary Sidebar

I love words. Every one, every time. (Except “moist.” That word can go.) …read more

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

Sure. I’d love to see you again.

Categories

Archives

Blogroll

  • Blog This Mom
  • Da Goddess
  • Dirt and Noise
  • Discover San Diego
  • Foolery
  • Juggling Life
  • Mama Mary Show
  • Mel, A Dramatic Mommy
  • Mom Zombie
  • Mommy’s Martini
  • Motherhood is Not for Wimps
San Diego Momma

Footer

Archives

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

Categories

sandiegomomma

sandiegomomma
Back in Lake Geneva after 36 years… Circumstance Back in Lake Geneva after 36 years…
Circumstances have changed since post-Prom-picnic-circa-1986-vibes…
#WhereIsBryanAdamsNow
Dorm drop! 🏫👩‍🏫🥲💕 Dorm drop!
🏫👩‍🏫🥲💕
💫Travel poster for Saturday wine tasting.💫 💫Travel poster for Saturday wine tasting.💫
Celebrating the new 16-year-old with a quick Santa Celebrating the new 16-year-old with a quick Santa Monica trip.
And now she knows she doesn’t want to live in LA….
#LifeLessons
It’s happening….. It’s happening…..
Barely tolerating me….. Barely tolerating me…..
Beach day with my “little” one while big sis e Beach day with my “little” one while big sis explores Cal Poly…
Life transitions. Beautiful but I haz the olds.
#NotAboutMe #Whhhhyyyyy
A rare Bubbie sighting. Spotted in the wild. #HeDo A rare Bubbie sighting. Spotted in the wild. #HeDoesntLikePictures
Sunset squad. Brought a picnic and drinks to Del M Sunset squad.
Brought a picnic and drinks to Del Mar and watched the waves and horizon. Not too crowded or cold - another good hang with the neighborhood gang! ❤️❤️
Imprinting 2021 holidays on my brain (and in my In Imprinting 2021 holidays on my brain (and in my Instagram) (and in my antibodies). It’s a COVID New Year’s Eve…
Husband and I down for the count(down).
BUT. We’re doing decent and it’s cozy up in here…
Winery times! Winery times!
Guys on couch watching football; girls in kitchen Guys on couch watching football; girls in kitchen talking about everything.
Smells like a Sunday neighbor night. ;)
Line dancing lessons… My two left feet did nothi Line dancing lessons…
My two left feet did nothing right - but they did it with gusto.
Looking for a new book to read! #BookClub Despite Looking for a new book to read! #BookClub Despite the seeming divine intervention from above, we weren’t struck with the “perfect” next book to put on our list…..
Post-white-water-rafting super exhaustion. (Oh my Post-white-water-rafting super exhaustion.
(Oh my gosh you guys…! No! I’m not a sports model! But I totally understand how you might think so.) 😜😜😜
I wanted my hair to do that. #NordicSisters I wanted my hair to do that.
#NordicSisters
Dad’s hats on the people who loved/knew/laughed/ Dad’s hats on the people who loved/knew/laughed/sang with him.
Miss you Dad. Hope we do your hats justice. Lord knows we’ll have fun in them, just like you did. 😇
Paso Robles! Wine tasting beauty. It’s stunning Paso Robles! Wine tasting beauty. It’s stunning here. And the landscape is nice too ;).
Found my brother’s old ad copy. Good fun-writing Found my brother’s old ad copy. Good fun-writing inspiration...
Just in case I wasn’t feeling ancient enough, th Just in case I wasn’t feeling ancient enough, the rainbow jumper and white bobby socks oughta do it. No but wait! There’s a bowl cut. Annnnnnnddd giant gold-rimmed specs.
#CentennialFashion
Load More... Follow on Instagram
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy Policy

Copyright © 2023 · Hello Chicky

We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies.
Do not sell my personal information.
Cookie settingsACCEPT
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Non-necessary
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
SAVE & ACCEPT