“Writing a novel is like driving a car at night. You can see only as far as your headlights, but you can make the whole trip that way. — E.L. Doctorow

Word by Word

Good quotes are like poetry – somewhere just beyond the words you find the meaning. This particular quote, though it refers to writing a novel, applies to all aspects of life. Lately, more than ever, we are finding that no matter how much money, power, or tangible assets we have, we are vulnerable to life and its unexpected, unexplainable influences.

When we enter the creative process, it is like life on steroids. We may start out with an idea, but where it takes us, we never know until we’ve arrived. That is the “creative edge” we play with when we adventure outside the routines that give us the illusion of control.

Learning to feel comfortable with being out of control alleviates much of our suffering and helps us enjoy life and the creative process in its many forms. It is like riding a roller coaster. You can experience all the ups and downs knowing that the controls are not your responsibility, nor in your hands.  Surrendering to the ride is true freedom.

When writing, no matter how brilliantly you craft a story, how large your vocabulary, or how well your use of grammar, you still embark on the unknown path, the mystery just beyond the mind’s comprehension. The excitement of the unknown is both daunting and awe-inspiring. It is where we become partners with the thrill of the “here and now.” We partner with the uncertainty of the artist’s path. 

If writing a book is on your bucket list, take the plunge, go for the ride of your life, feel the wind of freedom in your hair, let go, let the Great Mystery have the reigns, and write on for the ride of your life.
“Yesterday is gone. Tomorrow has not yet come. We have only today. Let us begin.”  – Mother Theresa

Enjoy!