People have different experiences of writing and different metaphors (or similes) for describing the writing process. This may sound funny, but I actually don't like writing. I believe it is one of God's great ironies that I would end up in a profession where I do scholarship.
I DO enjoy the interaction that written scholarship creates, but it still seems to me to be a large amount of work for a conversation that is slow, full of jargon, and, at times, out of touch with what I do in my day-to-day life.
Don't get me wrong, I love being a scholar, and it is still a rush to see my name in print. But when I am really honest with myself, I realize that writing is not something that I enjoy.
So, back to metaphors, or in this case a simile...Writing for me is like...
Running and training for a long distance race.
Why?
1) There may be others that aid you along the way, but ultimately writing is a solo sport
2) It takes endurance -- just when you think you can't keep going, you keep going, and keep going...
3) You usually get a second wind, and a third wind, and a fourth...
4) There is a finish line at which point you bathe in the sunlight of accomplishment
5) It leaves you sore (at least the way that I write); you're body aches, your mind is tired from concentration; and all you want to do is fall into a heap on the couch and watch TV for...a few days.
That at least is my experience of writing.
P.S., I will finish my article today. Thanks be to God!
Posted by Frank Yamada at January 15, 2005 03:23 PM