Wednesday, August 6, 2014

August 6 2014. Yes, I do have adventures—but not (during the day) while I’m writing. Then my characters have them. Seems only fair.

Every production of an artist should be the expression of an adventure of his soul.

W. Somerset Maugham

Adventure is worthwhile in itself.

Amelia Earhart

The very basic core of a man's living spirit is his passion for adventure.

Christopher McCandless


Recently, I wrote about the importance of have a routine when writing—and a rigid one at that—yet while I was out walking this evening it occurred to me that I was projecting a picture of a very dull life.

Four  things here:

  • I never find life to be dull when I’m writing. On the contrary, I find life—when I’m in focused scribe mode—to be singularly exciting—and at least as good as exceptional sex. As to which is better, I can never quite decide. Fortunately a writer can have both. In fact, one complements the other. If you are sitting in front of a computer all day, it’s rather pleasant to be more active at night. Besides, it is much easier to write about sex, when you’ve just had sex. Trust me on that.
  • The whole idea of a routine is both to prompt writing and to simplify life so your focus can be on the story. If you are dodging bullets in your study—so to speak—you won’t get much writing done. The idea is for you to be calm and disciplined in order that you can concentrate on your characters while they fight, fornicate, investigate, stress out, exchange repartee, explore, confront, deceive, adventure, and kill. It is turn, and turn about. It seems only fair when you think about it.
  • I do have adventures—in the very real physical sense—with attendant risks—but try and confine them to when I’m doing research in the field. Adventuring is fun and dangerous—and  stimulates the creative juices. That said, I regard writing as the greatest adventure of them all.. And it keeps on getting better (an agreeable surprise).
  • Never confuse the appearance of a dull life with reality. The surface is not the substance. Energizing—and really, truly, and absolutely using your mind—is the ultimate high-risk adventure. Everything else pales.

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