Wonderment and Writing by Debra H. Goldstein
The art of
writing is both a joy and a business. On the days my ideas and words flow, I
forget time and experience a state of euphoria. Unfortunately, the need to deal
with finances, promotion, social media, and other tasks often dulls my creative
abilities. When that happens, I get angry for not writing. Last week, I failed
to write one word. I planned to, but things didn’t work out – even when there
was an opportunity and time to write.
I was on a
cruise to Alaska with my family. We ranged in age from five to seventy-five. I
wasn’t the youngest, but I wasn’t the oldest, either. The five-year-old reminded
me of one of the most
important axioms for a writer – never lose the sense of
wonderment associated with the passion of writing.
With her eyes
wide-open and her parents, aunts and uncles, or grandparents trailing her, she
explored every nook and cranny of the ship. By the end of the trip, she was
able to tell us her three favorite things: “I can walk everywhere without
having to sit and wait in a car; I can go to the pool and find friends anytime I
want; and, best of all, I love the buffet.”
Being one who
is not wild about a buffet, except for late night ice cream or pizza snacks, I
was surprised she ranked it as her favorite thing on the ship. It was only
after watching her walk from station to station picking out exactly what she
wanted that I realized how wonderful the variety of food choices seemed to her.
She only selected a little from here and a bit from there, but she knew her
options were unlimited – and she relished that experience.
Writers begin
with the ability to go in all directions, too. Unfortunately, deadlines,
business needs, and even occasionally allowing oneself to become pigeonholed
into a certain writing style, can make a writer forget to hold on to the sense
of wonderment. I’m guilty of sometimes losing the joy and excitement I usually
associate with the passion of writing – what about you?
