Writing Practice and Meeting up with your MUSE
Writing Leap #61
Hi Writers,
In his picture book, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, Dr. Seuss created The Grinch, a grouchy old bah-humbug if there ever was one! He dressed up as Santa, squeezed down all the chimneys in town and stole every Christmas tree (with the ornaments,) the twinkle lights and the filled-up stockings, leaving behind only empty hooks where mistletoe and pine cones had hung. Just because he was a real meanie.
The Grinch stole something from me too. My writing time. Usurped by the magical Christmas dance. We decorated the tree with nostalgic ornaments; I got lost in the excitement of presents, wrapping paper and ribbons; I made three versions of cornbread with cranberries, “editing” them until I mostly found the taste I remembered. I was tired at night, but happy.
Here and there I felt little niggles of guilt, longing to be at my desk. I always have little niggles of guilt and longing when I’m not writing something. The empty space inside doesn’t feel good.
The Grinch stole my writing time but he filled it with Christmas instead. Little sixteen-month-old Teddy, just beginning to toddle around like a miniature person, holding out his arms to me, his Gramzie, despite his sniffles. My heart melts. And the fourteen-month-old twins, Sadie and Layla, insisting on crawling up the stairs, rocking and clapping to any strain of music. My heart keeps on melting. I was immersed in a constant state of delight and family love as well as family dramas.
So Mr. Grinch. Guess what? Your grabby ways were a blessing. I’m refreshed and ready to snuggle up with my computer again, bringing an extra dose of awareness to my writing journey.
Did the Grinch steal your writing time too, writers? He has to go away now, or better yet morph him into your ally. In the book the Grinch loves Christmas in the end and brings happiness to the town. I might even let him sit next to me at my desk.
Much inspiration and soul-satisfying writing moments to you all in 2016!
LINKING THE ARTS
A Holiday Word: Gift… Every moment can be a possible gift to a writer, especially the unlikely, frustrating, mysterious ones.
Image: Ebenezer Scrooge, the grandfather of all the bah-humbugs, in Dickens’ A Christmas Carol.