This morning I did an interview for a radio program, and I was asked questions about the writing process. And one of my answers made me think of this conversation from Shakespeare in Love:
Philip Henslowe:
Mr. Fennyman, allow me to explain about the theatre business. The natural condition is one of insurmountable obstacles on the road to imminent disaster.
Hugh Fennyman:
So what do we do?
Philip Henslowe:
Nothing. Strangely enough, it all turns out well.
Hugh Fennyman:
How?
Philip Henslowe:
I don’t know. It’s a mystery.
The natural condition is one of insurmountable obstacles on the road to imminent disaster.
An apt description for the writing process, too, I think. At least that’s how I’m feeling about my WIP this morning. I am not nearly as far along as I should be. I’m questioning my abilities. Insurmountable obstacles. Imminent disaster.
So how will I pull it all together into a book worth reading?
I don’t know. It’s a mystery.
To be honest, that is a lot of the fun for me. To simply show up at the computer and let the mysterious process unfold. If I know too much about my story in advance, I lose interest in writing it because I know how it ends. The plotting that I do is like the headlights on my car on a dark night. They light the road just enough for me to keep driving. I plot just enough to keep me moving forward in my story.
I don’t believe in analyzing the mystery of creativity too much. I much prefer to let the “girls in the basement” enjoy playing in my subconscious and then invite them to send up what they find worthy.
How does that work? I don’t know. It’s a mystery.
~robin
