Ruminations on a Beach Walk

I wrote this a couple of weeks ago. I am full of gratitude as I walk the beach on this beautiful morn. The thoughts of the lying, corruption and greed that is so disturbingly inherent in today’s society have deserted me. Thank God. In the bring sunshine, all around me are millions of seashells, some still clinging to the bright green seaweed that the ocean just ejected. It is a sobering thought that each one of these little seashells had a life and thus has a story.

Writing Ideas Flow When We Change our Venue

Almost immediately writing ideas began to flow. Thoughts of times in the past when writing was hard remind me that a change of venue, for me the best is the ocean, woke my muse. I came to a rock jetty and decided I’d risk painful knees and walk out to the end. If you’ve never walked a jetty, you might not know how carefully you have to choose each boulder you are going to make your next step on before you step. Sometimes there isn’t an easy way to proceed and you have to scramble down one boulder and back up another one before you can go on to the next boulder.

Is it really Writer’s Block or Something Else?

Isn’t this a lot like writing? Sometimes the words flow and then there are the times when stymied on how to get to the next word you’re stopped in your tracks. I don’t believe in writer’s block. I think sometimes writers become lazy and don’t want to do the work of finding the right next word so they procrastinate and soon find themselves out of a good writing habit. The only thing to do is write your way back.

I suggest changing your venue. Of course, not everyone has an ocean nearby to run away to, hence my gratitude. Other places will wake up your muse. For me it is always water. If you cannot get to the ocean for that rhythmic tidal flow of water, look for the nearest lake. Some writers might find the mountains inspiring.

Walk yourself into a Story

Walking is also a great way to set aside the mundane events of life and bring the creative thoughts forward. Walking is not only good exercise, but there is something about the rhythm of putting one foot after another that also reaches our creative depths. It is good to bring along a small pad and a pencil to record those thoughts as they come.

As I walk the beach, I’m watching a flock of sandpipers running back and forth with the flow of the tide, digging out and eating the little crabs. Immediately I wonder is it possible that we humans look like these little sandpipers to some creatures who might be watching us from outer space? AHA there might be a story in that thought.

We Need to Expect the Best

Today I’m thinking about how expectations change lives.

I’ve been reading too many social media comments recently about the low quality of self-published books. The low quality, hampered by an unrealistic expectation on the part of writers that they can publish a book without going through the hard work of checking and usually rechecking every word, spells disaster for the industry.

Rewards Without Work?

This presumption that you can get rewards without putting in the work seems to be a trend in society today.

At least some of today’s tumultuous economy can be laid at the feet of people who look for everything as if it is due them, even though they haven’t earned it.

Mind/Body Connection

I’m a firm believer in mind/body connection. A tremendous amount of what we feel; joy, sadness, fear, anticipation, anxiety, anger, etc., is brought about by what we think or expect. If we have a low expectation of what we can accomplish in life then that’s what we provide. If we presume to have the capabilities and ambition to execute a plan for the future, there is no reason that cannot come true.

This also is true of what we think of others. It is very easy for someone who interacts with you to realize that you have a low expectation of what he or she can accomplish. That sets the standard for that relationship.

Setting high expectations assumes the likelihood of positive fulfillment.

Expectations for Children

Studies have proven that when parents set low expectations for their children, the children only perform up to that level. On the other hand, a high expectation expressed to a child with the assurance of assistance will set the child on a path of believing he has positive prospects in his future.

My Expectation

My expectation is that my diligence in my research, my experience in writing and my willingness to edit and re-edit every word, will lead to the completion of a book that individuals interested in women’s history and the history of CT will want to read.

I would love to hear from other writers about how much they edit.