I am a creative person. Writing is my primary outlet, but I also like to draw silly cartoons and play the guitar. This creative energy provides meaning and happiness to my life and I consider this energy as central to my existence as eating and breathing.
I’ve recently just completed a new manuscript of free-verse poetry. While I have no plan and I am not ready to share it yet (first drafts tend to suck), having printed it reminded me of why I started writing in the first place. When the last page printed, it was like I filled my gas tank with the premium stuff.
A rush of good juju filled my heart. I wrote and compiled something, which I haven’t done in a really long time. I’ve written short screenplays, dozens of blog posts, and quite a few short stories. But this is the first time that I actually created a longer work in several years.
For me, writing a manuscript-length piece is difficult. In order to complete a longer work takes focus that I sometimes can’t muster. I have always struggled with ADHD and these days, having to hustle as I do means less time to write and edit. Somehow, though, I have tapped into my source of flow and I couldn’t be happier.
What’s more is that I was even able to draw a cartoon with what I think is a funny joke. That alone is symbolic of how liberated I feel. Words and symbols have finally come together into something that is new and different. Whether it goes anywhere or not, it is something of value that took energy to find.
I’ve heard it said that writing is like digging for pearls, over and over again. The pressure to dive into my true nature and pull something out takes a lot out of me. But I did it and when the proper folks have have reviewed and edited it, I hope to get it into the world and find its own place.
For now, though, it will sit and breathe while I step away from it and take my victory lap. I hope and pray that everyone finds their source of flow — I bet they’ll find happiness when they do. I also bet that Jesus will in fact walk all over Aquaman.
