*YES. This just totally hits the nail on the head. I’m so glad you mentioned it. Maybe not something I was actually conscious of, but it’s so true. Maybe it’s why I have an even harder time w. corporate America than my friends.

I also agree about the spectrum of creativity, and think it ties to the above quote.

Happy to have another reader and commiserater in this process! Thanks for dropping by and sticking around.

I don’t know if this is the same for others, but for me, writing (or taking photos, or creating something with my hands, etc.) occurs in a space where my mind is free to fly around and dodge in an out of ideas and time is somewhat stretchy. But if I have to do a more linear job, like your data entry (which is my idea of hell and I’ve sooo been there!) I pretty much go mental because repetition and form filling do not leave your mind the kind of flying space that is needed by creative thinkers.

I should clarify that I don’t believe people are either creative thinkers or not, but that it’s more of a sliding scale. However, if you are way down at one end I think it’s pretty hard to make the jobs at the other end fit.

I’m at the same point as you, it seems, as far as getting ready to drop all those other things that have been distracting us from our writing. It’ll be great to keep in touch along the journey. I’ll surely keep an eye on your blog from now on!

I love days when everything comes together–different posts, etc. So telling.

You writing regularly in a small isolated country is a perfect example of this. I’m sure you were so aware of all the good and bad–just what writers need to balance perspective on life and what they write.

Love to hear more from you anytime

I have absolutely been there! Standing in a bookstore feeling overwhelmed and wanting my name to just BE on those books and articles. Feeling the same way in the blogosphere lately too, and planning to write a post about it this weekend. I’ve been a little absent from my blog because my feelings are starting to tip toward tortured…

More directly related to the question – the first time I wrote regularly and passionately in my life (though I had always considered myself a writer) was when I was very tortured in a small isolated country. I thought I had finally found “it.” Then I came home and felt happy again and conveniently forgot to write in favor of outings and socializing and getting out there and doing things…so interesting.

I could write a novel-comment on this topic, as my mind is abuzz with thoughts. I think I’ll leave it at that and try so hard to compile a coherant, thoughtful post on it this weekend.

Just know that tortured or not, you’re in a community that is collectively feeling all of this together. I know the fears/questions/frustrations I’m feeling are not mine alone. That helps.

I didn’t even think of the type of torture that comes from reading others’ work (both better and worse; although I think it’s all a matter of taste in the end!). I definitely feel some of that–like my anecdote in Borders. It was torturous for me to sit there, surrounded by writing–something I so desperately wanted to be apart of!

I guess maybe that ‘needing the bad’ comment was stating the obvious, huh? True like would be PRETTY damn boring without the bad.

I think maybe there is a misinterpretation here–a sort of which came first the chicken or the egg?

Are we writers because we’re tortured? Or are we tortured because we’re writers? Both? Neither?

My point here was that last week there was a point where the question, “Are all writers tortured?” popped into my head. Humans are tortured. We torture ourselves internally by over-thinking, not going after our dreams, lots of things. So obviously on the most basic level: yes! (but honestly, this is just getting awfully dreary and depressing, right?)

My feeling was that the more unhappy I was, the more story ideas were streaming into my mind. That fact was beginning to startle me–mostly because in general, I am an extraordinarily happy and upbeat person!

Thanks for stopping by and commenting. Happy to hear from an unfamiliar face here!

Another side note: it is late and I am beginning to ramble. For that, I apologize!

Thanks again for all of this. Happy reading (my e-mail)!

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