Search For The Missing Word

As writers, we like to aesthetically please our readers with the comprehension of compiled words. They visualize the complete product but fail to understand the thought process behind each sentence structuralized for your viewing pleasure; hence, the purpose of Writer’s Smock – to see the nitty-gritty that goes into our work. Although glamorized by readers, writers like myself struggle to search for that missing, or that appropriate word that will leave you “mesmerized”!

Notice above how I wrapped the word mesmerized in quotation marks. As an example, it took me possibly a good 2-3 minutes to contemplate the proper word to identify the notion. It was the first word that came into my mind that I saw best fit. Instead of using words that are maybe less intriguing like “charmed” or “gripped”, I could have used more compelling words such as “spellbound”, “captivated”, “bedazzled”, or “transfixed”. As you can see, I had multiple choices of synonyms to choose from.

Either or, these words are utilized for yours and my appeasement. Writing or typing a sentence is never easy. Finding the best words to reveal that floating intangible of understanding is sewn in the fingertips of my voluntary motion with the pen and paper.

This past week, I came to the conclusion that without resources such as the dictionary or the thesaurus, such words that are boundless to my knowledge may never have been birthed in a given sentence. I use the book of words (hardcopy or electronic) ones every single time. I can’t speak for other writers, but it is a definite requirement for me and will continue to entice you with the words and sentences that I can offer.

Jeff L.

Smock Salute!

What To Write???

Pen – Check!

Paper – Check!

Myself – Check!

Idea of what to write - ????

Last night, I had all the available listing of inscribed tangibles except a simple idea of “What To Write???”

Well, while thinking intensely of what I was in the mood to engrave into my empty notebook, I came up with nothing of interest; I suppose it was just one of those nights of writer’s block. Enlightened inspiration was no where to be felt until I received an enthusiastic message from a Facebook buddy:

“Don’t think about it. Just put the pen to paper and see what comes out! Just share what comes out if it’s not too personal. Spread your art! ~ Anonymous

With illuminative excitement, I could not help but agree by responding:

“Word! I will paint freely with no regrets! (smiley emoticon)”

So, the statement “Spread your art!” really caught my eye. With those reverberating words, I took the advice and wrote whatever came to my consciousness and exercised my pen rigorously until I fed my paper enough ink to satisfy its insatiable hunger for vicarious thoughts.

Lesson Learnt:

As a reminder, don’t worry about what you write, before initiation; just transcribe whatever is on your mind. Brushing up and editing will come later.

Most importantly, enjoy the moment rather than focus on how the inscribed façade is going to be displayed for viewing pleasure.

Thank you anonymous Facebook buddy!

I bid adieu for this week.

Until Next Time!

Jeff L.

Smock Salute!

Immersion.

I've got a secret.

It's something I divulged to a mentee today to help him get over his writer's block. After spilling the beans, I realized that it might just be the thing to place here on the Smock. So here I am.

There are situations that I've been in, fully aware that they were/are harmful to my emotional being. Situations that include heartbreak, the unknown, pointless reiteration and sometimes utter chaos. There is this little being, inside of me, that gnaws at me to go through with the turmoil. Why?

Because deep down, that little being and I know that the madness will evolve into a flurry of amazing snowflake-method short stories/poems/journal entries. Yes, I let that damaging flame of a relationship burn out, I've taken the two train into the abyss beyond my stop and I've even sat in the middle of a random back and forth throttling between two strangers. 0_O

Because they make for damn good stories.

Crazy? No, not really. It's the journalist--being that I was one for my first two years of undergrad---inside of me. Just as the war reporter delves directly into the madness to gain a story, I've felt obligated to do the same.

This ploy is not for the faint of heart.

I repeat, this ploy is NOT for the faint of the heart.

The hurt I've gathered along my pathway to life is easily healed by placing it within the safe space of my journal. Knowing this, I've been able to recognize a good story as it plays out, step to the outside of it (while still being actually IN it) and formulate/speculate an ending before it happens. This helps me deem whether its worth going through with to actually write said story. Knowing that I could take this hurt and mold it into perfection on paper allowed me to push myself through many uneasy situations.

In no way is this recommendation. <-----In no way is that statement a deterrence either. If "immersion" is something you feel you can do without losing it, be my guest. If not, think again.

The second step is holding it all in until I reach the crevices of my lined sanctuary. I don't tell a soul. The words seem to bursts from my literary seams when I do this.

POTENT.

INTOXICATING.

Why not tell anyone, yet? Well, it's kind of like the game of telephone. A story diminishes its power a little bit, every time it's relayed. As a writer, its important for me to show my readers the madness firsthand, undiminished by retelling. That way, the reader leaves the page adrenaline rushing, wide eyed, dangling and strung along by the tale their heart feels they've actually just witnessed.

It is our unique experiences that make our individualistic tales so highly addictive. Every time I "immerse" myself into writing a story at my computer, I am entranced until I hit the very last letter of the last word. Writing it this way transfers my trance energy to the reader. Or so I hope.

I'm an addict for good literature and I'd want nothing less. So I try, whenever I open my ink veins and give prose hemoglobin, to give exactly that.........an addiction.

Get High.

-riv-
SMOCKER DEUCE