Monday, December 21, 2009

Colossus of Ink


Sometimes I sit with my muse and let him pour me a drink as I brood over what needs to be done. Rewrites and edits, hack and slash, cuts and slices, but also bandages and poultices, tinctures and medicines, fresh scenes and requests for amputations.

It is never sterile but dirty work that must be prodded with a hot poker and excised with the realization of the pain if it isn't done right. It will infect and fester, laziness growing gangrenous. Fingers racing about the letter board like a fencers duel always jabbing, poking, stabbing to get the words out that will last, that will mean something when you come back to them later or at the least let you remember what it was so you can do it all over again.

If the muse does not serve you well he (or she) must be replaced with another, whether a better host or hostess to ideas or a sparing partner they must forever push you to go farther and improve upon the craft. Each bout must be a little harder to beat, each round produce more muscle, every tournament attain the indomitable, all contests won. The eternal progression forever traveling. All experiences are for your good. Colossus of ink-write on.

15 comments:

Brian Murphy said...

I always like these interludes you write, David. Poetry and practicality in a single post.

It's not easy being a writer, and you've captured why here.

Anonymous said...

hmmm... not as powerful as al gores poetry but good, I guess.

Charles Gramlich said...

Never really thought of rewriting as medical but I can see your point. Great metaphor for it.

Charles Gramlich said...

Hum, never really thought of revising as being like a medical intervention but I see your point. Great metaphor.

nephite blood spartan heart said...

Thanks guys, nice when you're up late spouting whatever it is that comes to mind and it is still appreciated by those in your shield wall.

Angie said...

That's great. Loved it.

Tamara Hart Heiner said...

good luck with that. Sounds like you and your muses have a love/hate relationship.

Voidwalker said...

Quite verbose. Yay for inspiration.

nephite blood spartan heart said...

Thanks everybody, that is the verbatim ideas that flowed at 1 am.

Tamara
maybe-I was frustrated about what project to work on next.

Elizabeth Mueller said...

You know, writing is pretty much a battle zone. I like how you likened it with your poetic words!
(Merry Christmas!)

nephite blood spartan heart said...

Thanks Elizabeth-looking forward to your Viking novel.

TerryLynnJohnson said...

Cheers to Colossus of ink

nephite blood spartan heart said...

Thanks Terry, part of this is tribue to one of my favorite short stories-Black Colossus and that I handwrite in pen most of my rough drafts.

Christine said...

Great Post David. You definitely have a way with words. I'll be quoting you on my blog today. Check it out a little later.

www.christinebryant.blogspot.com

nephite blood spartan heart said...

Thanks Christine.