24 July 2008 268 views One Comment

Free

All dogs love to embrace their freedom to roam, to explore, and discover. They’re pack animals at heart, loving to spend time in company, surrounded by activity, and deep into the thick of any event. Rambunctious and frolicking they throw themselves into every activity with all of their being.

Having so much abounding energy can be very draining. As writers, we turn this energy into a raw power that spins words on the page. We’ve followed the sit command but if we heel or sit too long inspiration wanes, frustration and boredom builds.

It’s important to let yourself off your writing leash from time to time. Schedule opportunities to write but include opportunities to play, to relax. You’re creativity depends on your ability to come to the page fresh and inspired.

Come

While you’re embracing freedom you’ll find ideas forming of their own accord. They’ll call you back to the page and when that ‘muse’ strikes it is vital you head the call.

The “Come” command is perhaps one of the hardest to teach a dog. It is also the hardest to learn as a writer. Turning away from other distractions and focusing on a single target is challenging. It’s tempting to put off, procrastinate, or ignore the call. A dog just wants to have fun.

It’s important to coax the animal within you with treats. Just as you’d reward a dog with praise and food when they come you need to train yourself to feel rewarded for taking that initiative.

Not heeding a call to “Come” can have disasterous ramifications for a writer. We’ve often been told the ‘muse’ is fickle. If you believe in the lady muses as a representation of where your creativity comes from, or as just a name we call that sense of feeling that has us eager to reach for paper, it’s important to remember, that if you ignore it, the ideas will fade. The more you turn away from the “come” command the less you’ll hear it. When you later come, you may sit or heel to your hearts desire but the words have wandered away without you.

Take action when inspiration strikes. Even if all you do is write notes about the ideas as you fit them into your lifestyle. Acknowledge the come command because you will always find opportunities to be free again after.