At this very moment, I’m poised at the beginning of writing
a new novel, with my thoughts and brainstorming and scribblings scattered about
me. My heart speeds up just thinking about what this story could be. I’m excited
about its potential, but it’s daunting. (Somehow, all beginnings seem daunting to me.)
You know that gap between what you can imagine and what you
can create? When your vision for your story is UP HERE but your writing ability currently seems
to be down here? Yeah, that gap. I always fear it's enormous,
and if I attempt to tell this story (meaning, any story that catches my heart) I’m going to plummet to the depths of… what?... disappointment? failure?
Truth is, I’ve got a feeling, an image, a hope
of what this story could be, and I just don’t want to wreck it.
And yet... Maybe I’ll be able to close the gap enough to do
the story justice, to be happy with what it becomes, even if it isn’t the
perfect story of my imaginings. It won’t be anything at all if I don’t try! And
who knows—maybe what it becomes will be the story it’s actually meant to be. I
have to believe that, I think, if I’m going to move forward.
Maybe that’s how it is with all creative work. You start out
with a vision, and then you put your heart and soul into it, and you so want it
to be brilliant.
But then you look at it, and when you see what you’ve made,
it’s not what you were aiming for. And you’re like, what?!?
Maybe somewhere along the way you went off track, or you couldn’t quite “bridge the gap”, and you’re disappointed and maybe frustrated and maybe a bit
why-do-I-even-bother. But I want to encourage you to trust that your efforts are not wasted or worthless. Trust that if you put your
heart into this act of creation, it will speak to someone else’s heart, too.
And that bridges a gap between hearts. Between people. Isn’t that the most
important bridge to build?
So… see that gap? It’s okay. Jump.
I'll jump with you.
So… see that gap? It’s okay. Jump.
I'll jump with you.
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