Thursday, January 07, 2010

Writing Again - Yeah!

I don't normally post daily life stuff, but want to let my few loyal fans know why I've posted even less lately.

I AM WRITING. Yes, I have stumbled free of the lifeless writing desert in which I wandered for the last few years - with a vengeance! Alleluia.

My life took a delightful 180 last fall when I was cast in a local production by a new theatre company. (Preview and pics of rehearsal). Two weeks into rehearsals, I began writing plays.

My plays are all character driven - starting with a few people in an opening scene or situation. I have no idea who these people are, what their story is about, the turning points, the larger message, etc. My only job is to record what the characters say and do... And then edit the thing into a producible play. I've finished four one acts that vary in length from 7 minutes to 1 hour, and have a longer play in the initial stages.

I've never written character-driven stuff before. It is fun. Way fun. More alluring than reading, yet with none of the grunge feeling of addiction. Now I get what other writers mean when they say, "I can't wait to get started and find out what my characters are going to do today."

Writing has never been this self-generating and irresistible. It seems I have stumbled on my "writing medium" - which feels a little odd after writing seriously in other formats for over 20 years. Not that I won't continue with creative non-fiction, etc. (I still intend to find an outlet for the memoir of my monastic sojourn), but WOW.

This is also interesting in that I was kicked out of the monastery 5 years ago last November. In classic grief healing mode, perhaps I am finally ready to center my life elsewhere.

Peace all,

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6 comments:

  1. Anonymous8:02 AM

    Never put off till tomorrow what may be done today..........................

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  2. 三合, not sure about what igoogle's translator was giving me, although it was intriguingly cryptic and wise: "The aim of education should consider what is not, but I taught how to think." Perhaps you meant, "Education shouldn't teach us what to think but how to think"? If so, I heartily agree.

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  4. Congrats! Good to hear you are writing again. Can't believe it's been 5 plus years since the monastery.

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  5. Erica! It's so nice to hear from you - whenever and however. five years. Yes. Just about the time in the normal grieving cycle when a major loss truly looses its hold - and that seems to be what is happening for me.

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