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IWSG, July 2021

2021-07-072021-07-07 John Winkelman

Welcome to the monthly Insecure Writer’s Support Group post. This month’s question is the following:

What would make you quit writing?

Short answer: Nothing or death.

Long answer: The heat death of the universe, were it to occur within the natural span of my life. Or something like that. I may take breaks now and again, but writing is what I do.

And for any of you who are dealing with a dry spell, remember: There is no such thing as a “former” writer; only a writer who is currently (and temporarily!) inactive. Writing (or whatever your passion may be) is the best of things, but sometimes the mundane world intrudes, and sometimes you just need a break. Barring an event which compromises you in such a way that you can no longer form thoughts in your head, you can still write. Writing is not a physical exercise; it is the creation of realities using the power of your mind, and as long as that faculty exists, you are still a writer. You need never put pen to paper or pixel to screen, and you are still a writer.

And should you lose the ability to create these realities, remember: the fact that you once wrote can never be taken away. Events are the only truly permanent things in the universe. The last copy of a book may be lost, but the fact that the book was ever written is forever a part of the history of the universe. Causality only happens in one direction. Manuscripts don’t burn.

 

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Posted in Literary MattersTagged writing

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3 thoughts on “IWSG, July 2021”

  1. Anna says:
    2021-07-07 at 17:37

    I like how you think, friend. 🙂

    Reply
  2. Diane Weidenbenner says:
    2021-07-09 at 10:26

    I like what you said, “Writing is not a physical exercise; it is the creation of realities using the power of your mind, and as long as that faculty exists, you are still a writer.” It’s a wonderful reminder. I’ve always said, too, that writing is one of the only things that I can do that is truly me/mine. No one else can write like me. That helps me through discouraging times. Keep up the good work! Found you through the IWSG, which I’ve joined and failed at several times. Soooo, I’m trying again!

    Reply
  3. Quenntis says:
    2021-07-10 at 10:44

    Absolutely: Nothing or death.

    Writing is life.

    Reply

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