Tuesday, May 4, 2010

is there 'pepto bismol' for writer's flux?

i've read many bloggers' chagrin over writer's block and am sure i
will encounter that dreaded condition, but so far i seem to suffer
from the opposite malady.

it's difficult to know what to call it, maybe the writer's flux.  there
are so many trivial, insignificant thoughts popping around my brain
that i have a difficult time landing on an appropriate one.

another strange symptom is the good intention to wax eloquent on a
poignant, meaningful subject, but instead watch in befuddlement as i
boldly type something completely different.  it is horrifying to imagine
that i have so little control over what i write.

for instance, this morning i purposed to climb onto my soapbox and cry
out against Christians who are reputed to be the worst tippers, causing
every waiter to dread the stingy sunday lunch crowd.  shame on us!

but, no, here i am rambling about the mysteries of my unpredictable
prose and making myself a little sick to my stomach, one more symptom
of writer's flux.

it is also a great illustration of the famous quote, "it is almost impossible
to exaggerate the unimportance of almost everything." (19th century
cleric, whose name is apparently unimportant)

thankfully, unlike my drivel, "all scripture is God-breathed and useful
for teaching, correcting, and training in righteousness." 2 timothy 3:16
i guess you could call it 'pepto bismol' for the trivialities of life.

love,
lea

49 comments:

Blondie's Journal said...

I had a little giggle over this post because a similar thing happens to me. I feel like a car that is veering off the road!! Ironically, my posts turn out better when I let them go in their own direction. I think that {and as in my journal writing} I am getting to the core of my thoughts. Sometimes I do wish I had more food for thought, I am trying to write more often.

Nicely done! ;-D

xoxo
Jane

Jo said...

"It's difficult to know what to call it, maybe the writer's flux. There
are so many trivial, insignificant thoughts popping around my brain
that I have a difficult time landing on an appropriate one."
You sound just like me. My brain is going a mile a minute, with ideas for blog posts popping in -- and out again -- so quickly, I have to sometimes write them down. And then voila! my blog post goes in a completely opposite direction. It's strange, isn't it?

Joan Elizabeth said...

Something wierd is going on with your comments ... lots of them were posted in March and April.

I giggled at your note about tipping ... because it is not common in Australia we are considered the worst tippers in the world ... we either forget or don't quite know how it is done.

Single and Sane said...

Maybe it's in the air. I've had so many thoughts bouncing around inside my head that I'm having a hard time catching one so I can just go with it!

Debbie Petras said...

You are so funny! The thing that stuck out in my mind upon reading this is ...too many Christians are bad tippers. LOL. I guess I've seen so many groups leave church to head for the local Applebee's and stay for hours. When they leave, they don't tip very much.

Farm Girl said...

I completely agree with you. I cannot believe that I have so much to say about so little. Sometimes I just cringe that I wrote what!! and people read it??? I sit down and I never know where my finger will take me. I do sit down to write on a subject and something takes over. I like though what you write and where your fingers take you.
Just a fan. :)

Steph said...

Hurray for writers you know what! I'm so glad you have it. :)

myletterstoemily said...

my comments are flying around to other
months....

Town and Country House said...

I'm afraid I suffer from that malady as well. I have to say that my favorite part of your writing is how you find the perfect scripture to conclude each post. I have tried to do that some, and it never seems to come out quite right--not The Word, of course, but my words--of which, once again, there are too many!

Brittany Ann said...

Something tells me I have writer's flux, too!

http://bitsandpieces-sonja.blogspot.com/ said...

Ha! I like that picture...pepto bismol. Maybe I'll just put a bottle on my desk the next time I start letting the words fly!

I do love the quote...'it's almost impossible to exaggerate the unmportance of almost everything'..

You're a 'fun' writer... with a good message! And you always make me laugh.

Burlap Luxe said...

Thank you for finding me, this way I could come over here and take in what you have to say.
I tend to think to much, write to much and go on and on. I too have way to many thoughts running in my head and a whole lot to tell all of you :)

It's a chronic condition :)

Have a great week
See you soon!
Dore

kate said...

i might need some prunes or something :) have you read "bird by bird" by anne lamott?

myletterstoemily said...

kate, you're pretty funny.

i have read a couple of anne lamott
books but can't remember the titles.

sorry.

WhiteWhispers2u said...

Hello~I just wanted to stop by for a visit and say Hello! Thanks for the visit, I will stop by again.~Cheers Kim

Southern Lady said...

Seems like you have put a name to what many of us suffer from. What ever it is, I always enjoy your posts. Keep it flowing! LOL! Carla

Cinnamon said...

I always enjoy your ramblings :-)

~Cinnamon

Vicki/Jake said...

Pepto Bismol part is the best!
Just let all the flux flow!

KathyB. said...

This is so funny and so true! You have no idea, oh..maybe you do, how many times I have started out to write a post about something I have had on my mind all day, have written and re-written in my mind, and then posted something completely different and unrelated. Often I ask myself "where did this come from"? Very often I think God has prompted me not to write some of the things I have planned...and in the end, I was always ( no exaggeration here)glad.

Funny and very apropos post!

I Love Pretty Little Things said...

I know exactly what you are saying! I start writing and suddenly I am going in a totally different direction! And, I have about six "in the wings" posts for "someday". I write them down before I forget them, which doesn't take long... Ha ha
Thank you for your sweet messages on my blog. I have been blessed with a wonderful family. I have been especially blessed with a wonderful heritage of loving, godly women. I am thankful.

red ticking said...

you are so sweet to encourage others in this post... i am so happy to have found your blog
many blessings to you ... xx pam

Janna Leadbetter said...

I've been dealing with this, too. So much overcrowding my brain, it shuts down my creativity. Harumph.

And Lea, I had to come say here, too, that you're right! Joanna is related to Anthony Trollope (he was an uncle or grandfather somewhere down the line). Cool, eh?

Andrea said...

Yes, it's feast or famine right?

Years ago when I was a waitress, we did dread the Sunday lunch crowd!

myletterstoemily said...

janna, how cool is that? i will run to get
her book!

Darcie said...

I think I suffer from the exact same thing. Sometimes it can be a bit overwhelming because I have so many thoughts going through my head. The funny thing...I never noticed it before I started blogging.

Thanks for all your sweet comments and I love everything about the time I spend visiting you over here.

myletterstoemily said...

darcie, i just mentioned to hans that i
don't think i really noticed much before
i started blogging. writing must force
us to do that somehow.

Liz said...

Yes, Please don't stop! Your blogs are so great! They are refreshing to my soul:) I usually save up for a few days then read all of your posts. One of the most enjoyable parts of the day for me!

Jen said...

Thanks so much for your compliment on my shirt. Really, it means alot. I love your writing style by the way and I think it is darling that you are writing letters to their children. That is such a beautiful legacy!
Smiles to you, JEN

Jen said...

err I meant your children

Auntie Cake said...

Hi Lea,
Thanks for stopping by, I had to laugh at your comment on the teacup, salamander, goats and worms. That is actually a reflection of our life, a little of everything all mixed together! Things that would never go together, like high heels and football, all seem to roll into one!
Kate

Grandma Yellow Hair said...

So happy that I slipped out of bed to visit your site. You always leave me with a smile.
Just wanted to thank you honey for the get well wishes. I appreciate your kindness and I am slowly getting better. I think..lol
Love
Maggie

Personalized Sketches and Sentiments said...

Thank you for sharing your writer's flux with us :o) I find that my "issue" is I tend to be a wee bit too wordy... I do try to be brief, but...

Thank you so much for stopping by and for your sweet comment. My hubby and I had a wonderful time up at my dad's (the 26 hour drive to my dad's from our home in Georgia to his home in Wisconsin was well worth it :o) Thank goodness though for the midway stop to sleep and visit with our kids who are all at college in Kentucky :o)

It was straight back to work for me, so haven't had a minute to catch up really on blogging, but I want to try to reply to the wonderful comments left on my N post.

Blessings & Aloha!

(Ah! here is a prime example of my "wordiness"! even my comments are long! )

I Love Pretty Little Things said...

What I want you to do is very simple, because I get confused. Ha ha
You just comment on my post that you have something pretty on your blog and I will post the name of your blog, and I will link it.

This is going to be fun!
Joyce

Anonymous said...

Hello, thank you for visiting and commenting on my blog. That means a lot to me.

Jenners said...

I hear you meaning to write one thing and then writing another. I kind of experience that today when I wrote my open letter to new moms. It turned out much darker than I anticipated ... I didn't know I had that all pent-up inside me. Those early days really marked me forever I think!!!

I love that quote from the unknown 19th century cleric. Sometimes it is important to keep that in mind when you don't have the greatest of days.

Lynn said...

I love the famous quote from the insignificant cleric. Your post just goes to show you have a very active mind, one that can't be told which way to go. You'd probably make an excellent novelist :)

Rosie said...

Oh my dear Lea...you write so beautifully. I always look forward to your eloquent words of wisdom...God has gifted you with a very creative mind, that WE all benefit from...so although you feel your all over the place, that is the beauty of this gift and selfishly, I thank Him for it...sending a smile and a hug your way...Rosie

Cheri Bunch said...

Eloquent! :)

koralee said...

you are amazing my friend..I love every word you write...I always find some inspiration over here..so I thank you...please keep being who you are. xoxoxo

Julie@beingRUBY said...

haha I know what you mean.. sometimes it just gushes.. and at other times like now.. I can't find words to go with my posts.. well.. I guess it is cyclic in nature ...

thanks for your lovely comments Lea.. and I always find your posts not just interesting.. but thought provoking... hope you have a great day.. xx Julie

Debby@Just Breathe said...

Unless I get horrible service I am a 20% tipper :)

Farmgirl Paints said...

So glad you don't have writer's block. Milk it for all it's worth before it comes;) Great scripture reference.

Anita Diaz said...

You always come up with something that makes me think, and that's what it's about for me! Now, I am sure you can set a beautiful table too!!

Coryanne Ettiene | Kitchen Living with Coryanne said...

I too suffer from the same ill symptoms, I keep waiting for the day when my well dries up, and for that I keep a notebook full of the ideas that I want to write just incase...the trouble is finding the time to say it all....I am finding my writing so healing that I am drawn to it more these days...I have a home journal, a diary for each child and the blog...now all I need is the time to get everything else done.
Enjoyed your post today, thank you.

I Love Pretty Little Things said...

Great! I can't wait!

Rosie said...

oh sweet one...you are so dear...thank you for joining my followers button...wishing you a fabulous Friday...smile on Rosie

A Refocused Life said...

Lea,
I always enjoy your words - you are a wonderful writer. I now know where to go for ideas when I need post topic. Rita

Joanne@ Blessed... said...

Lea, thanks so much for stopping by this week.

My firt time here and your blog-home is beautiful. What a lovely thing to be doing for your children. I would have LOVED it if my mother had written me letters.

I'm looking forward to coming back. Am following now too. Blessings to you.

His Song to Sing said...

I'm here to say I hope you keep "fluxing" away. You are an inspiration no matter what you are writing about and always manage to reflect Him with the scriptures you always aptly tie into your thoughts.

You are a blessing to so many!