The Writing Well

Many writers and authors (Is there a difference between the two?) advise others to feed their writing, or "fill the well" so to speak. In other words, we need to read other great writers in order to know what and how to write our own work. I've mulled these words over many times. One of my writing buddies refers to filling the well often, usually when she's taking a short break from writing in order to do some reading. I'm realizing lately, as I've tried to force myself to feel creative, and attempted to will myself to feel inspired, I have been going about it all wrong. Filling the well is about reading, but it's also about living, and experiencing.

Writing is cyclical, in many ways. For example, creating a great piece of writing often yields feelings of productivity and accomplishment. It can be cathartic as in letting out something that has been brewing and growing on its own inside us. When it finally finds its way out in the perfect combination of words with just the right tone and an authentic voice, it is gratifying and at the same time emptying. As writers, we live with our work all the time, everyday until it feels complete. Sometimes it's like the comfort of a close family member, other times it feels like a pesky roommate.  When the piece is complete and published, whether informally on a blog or for a personal audience, or officially as in a book or publication, it's gone. As with the pesky roommate, it may be a relief. As with the close family member to whom you've had to say goodbye, it can leave you feeling empty. Sometimes being left with your feelings, bad or good, can inspire a piece of its own. But many times, it will leave the well dry.

Though I write semi-regularly for an otherwise full-time employed person, I had been experiencing dry well for several weeks. Yes, I was producing pieces- a few short poems, a couple of ponderances (apparently that's not really a word) and regular journal writing. But I really stumped myself this past month with a writing prompt I provided to my regular writing circle. You can read some of our work on our new blog, as long as you cut us some slack as we try to get into a groove. I volunteered to get the group going with our first prompt, and I think I may have had the toughest time writing a response. A brief summary: we were challenged to create something with our hands and see what it inspired us to write. There were no rules, just create something with your hands and then write. Wow, I was stumped. You would think, since I was the one to provide it, that I would be chomping at the bit to write. Our survey says:

Can you imagine? I came up with this creative prompt, and it should have been fun but it stressed me out! Now I know why. My well had run dry. I was depleted. I finally produced the piece I needed for the blog. We all made a commitment and I knew it might be tough to get started, but we know we need to write if we want to be writers. I plowed through and turned a struggle I had creating with my hands, into a poem (and another fun piece) about of all things, words. I created experiences rather than things, and it started to fill my well back up a bit. I started to consider how I can continue to refill. I finished a book, started another, and went to a teaching conference. I came back with some new inspiration and a couple of new resources, all which have generated new ideas in the workplace. I started working on the syllabus for a course I'm teaching at the local university this fall, and I started to feel the level in the well begin to rise. 

Fast forward to yesterday, when I was riding in a car and reading an article on a mobile app, and I found the inspiration for something I have been waiting to materialize in a meaningful iteration for months. A seed that blew through with a breeze months before was starting to germinate. This morning, Sunday, often the only day if any at all I can sleep in and leisurely get out of bed when I'm ready, I was awoken by a proverbial flood of thoughts. The well is filling up. Why? Because instead of sitting around waiting for inspiration, instead of expecting that because I scheduled time to write, the writing would come, I was out living! Filling the well is reading, and living, and loving, and experiencing. If we're not out creating meaningful experiences in our lives and observing the lives of others, how can we expect to have anything to draw from when it's time to write?

My epiphany is this. If there's nothing coming to the pen, the pencil, the keyboard, go out and read something, or do something. Take in some nature or spend time with friends. Go on a trip or experience something new. Read a book you once loved as though you never read it before. The level of the well will once again rise, and the ideas will come. And when they do, a new piece of writing will come. Then the well will drain once again, and it will be time to get out there once more.

I feel better than I have in months about my writing and I'm looking forward to a productive couple of months. Look out world, here I come!