I think people hugely underestimate the written word.
Maybe that’s not completely true in today’s overly-connected, overly-creative, overly-informed world. Maybe the fact that websites like Wattpad and Fanfiction.net are flooded with content should convince me otherwise. But there’s something about the transmission of ideas from the mind to the page that has fascinated me for as long as I can remember, and for some reason, it feels like an underappreciated phenomenon.
Of course, reading is still alive and well. The fact that this message is being communicated to you right now proves as much. But writing, writing genuinely, writing passionately, and writing consistently, is a heavenly thing.
Writing, in essence, is a pragmatic love of life; a love affair with the world around you and a desire to quantify your experience. I lost that for a long time. In the midst of listlessness, there was nothing worth quantifying. Then, three weeks ago, I was at a convenience store purchasing a lemonade and Reese’s peanut butter cup, and as I stood behind the man in the red windbreaker, I was reminded of my limitless power to convey. As I stared at the Slim Jim display, I thought to myself, “I want to write again.”
What about? That’s the problem. That’s always the writer’s problem. I want to write about everything, and I can’t think of a single thing to write about. I was inspired two weeks ago when I watched that one episode of Black Mirror, but I was swamped with homework then. I felt the rush of the pen come over me the other night as I spoke to my friend on the phone, but I was way too tired to write anything coherent.
The trick is to write.
Write whenever, whatever, wherever. There will never be a perfect inspiration; there will never be enough time; you will never be completely prepared. It’s 2 AM and you’ve got to be up at 7? You can sleep later. Those words aren’t coming back to you. Are you in a restaurant with nothing to write on? Ask the waiter for extra napkins. Want to write but nothing’s happening? Just start writing the thoughts in your head.
My throat hurts.
I’m so psyched for Avengers: Infinity War.
I miss Florida. But I know we’ll be going back soon.
Just keep writing and don’t stop until you’ve filled a page.
Don’t go back and read what you’ve written. Just keep writing. You’ve got a limitless power to convey at your fingertips and it’s languishing as you use it for anything but that. Your phone will still be there but those ideas - they’re expiring as you wait.
Oh, the written word. What a curse. What a blessing.
