Wednesday, May 20, 2015

Writing troubles

There's an old saying when you're trying to go against the flow that goes like this: You might as well be pushing a chain.

Well the last few evenings, I've been pushing a chain. I wanted to write a Memorial Day column for this coming Sunday and it was due today, but everything seemed soulless and as thin as a liars promise. So I quit trying and started thinking about another topic.

I told myself to get a good night's sleep and fix it in the morning. That was sound advice except I kept waking up during the night. When I woke up a 3:50 a.m. I never went back to sleep.  I simply closed my eyes and breathed deeply trying to force all thought from my mind.

Then about 5 AM I rolled out of bed and headed to my office. When I fired p the Macbook, the opening paragraph flowed as if it had been there all along and was waiting until I was ready to write it down.

Within 30 minutes, I'd finished the column. I should have laid back down and slept for an hour or so, but instead I hit the brew button on the coffeemaker.

When I was younger, losing a little sleep would not have been noticed, but I yawned all day today. Even now, I keep looking at my watch and thinking, "Is it too early to turn in?"




10 comments:

  1. I know what you mean Rick... I remember being able to stay up late and get up early... those days are gone... my body needs some rest... have a good rest ;-)

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  2. Nap my friend, you earned a nap. Napping is old people crack!

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  3. So glad those words came and you were able to complete your writing....
    Have sweet dreams this evening.
    J.

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  4. There are mornings when I'm up and at em early like that but I'm retired so I can get in an afternoon nap. Hope you caught up on the sleep last night !

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  5. Since I was a little girl I washed for day and day and day.

    Today I still wish for day and day and day. There just seem to be not enough hours in a day and when I sleep I sleep because I have to, not because I want to. The best writing comes from a little rest and meditation though, cause even then the mind keep working.
    Glad it worked out for you.

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  6. There was a time when I had insomnia and wouldn't sleep for three nights and still be able to function. Now I have to nap in the afternoon if I don't get a good night sleep. I agree, naps are old people's crack.
    JB

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  7. You seem to have some trouble lately becoming inspired to write. A small thing like an interruption to your normal routine (lack of sleep) made it easier for you to write. Perhaps you just need to shake things up a bit.

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  8. I love going to bed, even though I go alone. When I was a writing tutor and a grader for a professor, I told my students who couldn't get started to write something, write anything, just write. It always got me going.

    Love,
    Janie

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  9. Ahh yes I remember staying up all night and I could keep going. Now I will do the whiplash thing and my head will hit the wall-time for sleep! I hope you get your beauty rest. Love the picture-very cool

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  10. It is hard sometimes to write when there is an assignment. It is so much easier when there is not time limit.
    Also, sleep is wonderful.

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