Writing and Life

Stephen King told me, in his On Writing book, that I should be writing at least 1000 words per day. Wow. 1000. I have now written 27. Well, 28 including the word “27.”

Then he says, What should you write about? Anything. As long as it’s true.

As long as it’s true. I love that. That statement in itself is so true. But it’s still hard to know what to write about.

I find the idea of being a writer so romantic. Though, I must say, I find the idea of being many things romantic. For example, today I went with 3 of my (amazing) cousins to an outdoor store and while they were looking at clothes, I sat on the comfy couch and looked at a magazine about outdoor running. It was amazing to me, the things that people do. People get certain ideas in their heads and they work to excel. It’s so beautiful. It makes me want to cry.

Actually, the whole store just excited me so much. It was almost anything you could want for the outdoors. And books on so many subjects! On different countries, types of outdoors sports (hiking, biking, canoeing, etc.). How wonderful! The store was crowded with people who want to see the world. Discover the world upon which they live. Upon which they were born. Understand it. Experience it. Feel it. Feel it in as natural a state as possible.

Oh, to understand. I suppose the best way to understand is through experience. We must experience this world!

Well, no one is forcing us to experience. We can just work, eat and sleep. Hang out with friends once in a while. Have some sex (whatever that means). Blah blah blah…

But no. If you care about Truth, you must try to experience. Each person experiences in a different way. I think the rule is to do things that are new to you. For one person, it might be trying a new restaurant. For another, it might be climbing a different mountain. For someone it could be learning tennis at the age of 40.

When I watched my sister’s tennis class last week, I was crying. It just made me feel so alive to see adults trying something new. Running around, trying to hit a tennis ball! Listening closely as the teacher (who was much younger than most of them!) explained how to do different swings. Running after the balls while dodging the flying ones. And for the last 20 minutes of class, they played a game, I think called the King of the Court. And there they were, 20 to 40 or 50-year-olds playing a game where someone becomes king! It was so wonderful. And it made me cry.

OK, so I think that rule #1 is trying new things. I think that rule #2 is attitude. Someone can try something new and the newness and the Godliness and meaning of the experience could pass them right by. I think it’s very important to work on perspective. On really trying to experience things to their fullest.

Really, truly feel.