No pain no gain
When I wake up in the morning and put on my glasses, at first, I get a little bit of a headache. Not a real headache, just a zap that is an adjustment of my brain and my eyes working together with the glasses to their job. Glasses are new for me. I have had them for less than a year. But I know if I resist putting on the glasses that my day will be strewn with squinting and headaches whenever I’m reading (which is often) or writing (which is also often). I’m always glad that I’m wearing them, glad that I have them, glad that my days might start with a zap but are blurry word free.
My very own version of no pain no gain.
As so it is with my writing. When I have to write something that’s difficult, for me or for my characters, I resist because I know that if only momemtnarily, I am going to get a headache. I mean, I can put off something for months. Even table it for good. If to get what I want I’m going to have to be uncomfortable, tap the bottom of my writer resources and maybe even get a little nauseous…I’m never sure it’s worth it. Until I do it.
No pain no gain.
And that’s what has happened yesterday. I stared down the devil. I walked right into a dark room, my worst nightmare scene, the one that I’d been resisting, the one I’ve been writing around, making notes for, skimming, peeking at from around my monitor but always promising to come back to.
Writing it one day, was yesterday. And I came out on the other side with something that works. Fancy that. One word at a time resulted in actual, heartfelt, if not excruciating verbiage.
I did have to take a break when I was done. I was relieved, but I was nauseous. I was proud, but I was also sad. I was glad, but I was also exhausted.
Pain and gain.
I had avoided it for so long and now that it’s done, I’m a little annoyed with myself for putting it off for so long. Had I not, I can only imagine that my WIP would be closer to finished than it is right now. I plan to use this experience to my benefit the next time I’m avoiding a chapter or an essay. Pushing through the resistance most likey end up with something good on the other side.
My own version of live and learn.
Does this also apply to doing laundry?
Enjoyed your post … The phrase that caught my eye was “one word at a time.” Sometimes that’s what it comes down to, doesn’t it? Congrats on writing your scene.
I resist this, too! This is just the reminder I need today. THank you!