Write or Die

I was thinking about why I have suddenly hit a wall with my writing. No, it's not the battery in my laptop, although I could use a new one I think. Nor, is the lack of time and zero interesting events other than being in a freezer landscape. So, I took keyboard in hand and came up with this:

Why do we wait for that first twitch of inspiration to finally kick us in the walls of complacency, which will drive us to type, find a pen and a clean piece of paper, a napkin? We must accept that we must always create. We cannot wait for long periods without writing. This would be like watching an in denial suitor waiting on a corner believing the next five minutes will end the apprehension and embarrassment of being stood up. This cannot and must not exist within us. Our minds must be restless and waiting to mine expression and ideas from every day life where there is always drama, conflict, humor, and irony. Even in their most primitive forms, once formulated the expression of an idea will eventually thrive in abundance if given the chance for growth since within the artistic mind non-action has no chance of taking root. There is always a description, a metaphor, or analogy waiting to be laid out like freshly pressed suit of clothes. We may fuss with the edges and smooth the creases, but we know the longer the details are withheld from the page the shorter the time we will have when all things end in death. Whether idea, opinion or complaint what we say drives our heart's message. Whether this message is significant or a load of doggerel is immaterial. Once a thought is expressed an impression begins its wait for reaction to take place. We have the power to cause a flinch with our abruptness or forge the heat of disagreement with our premises. We can even create the base of an ignition point to be used to create a great fire that will end only when its flames are cooled and its cinders rest in their coldness. Never fear the critic for they are the collector of souls. We write or die. There is no alternative.

Dave Tongay