Comments on: Gone Fishing http://barbarawklaser.mysterynovelist.com/2006/05/10/gone-fishing/ musings, thoughts, and writings of Barbara W. Klaser Fri, 05 Sep 2008 22:11:19 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=1.5.3-beta1 Comment on Gone Fishing by: Bruce Black http://barbarawklaser.mysterynovelist.com/2006/05/10/gone-fishing/#comment-3033 Thu, 25 May 2006 18:35:55 +0000 http://barbarawklaser.mysterynovelist.com/2006/05/10/gone-fishing/#comment-3033 Gestation is part of the natural birthing cycle, and part of the natural writing cycle, too. Yet so many writers--myself included--suffer pangs of guilt if we're not writing every moment, squeezing every last word out of our pens. Why is that, I wonder? What's wrong with taking time off... just to think or experience the world in a non-verbal way? (Didn't Henry James paint as an activity to stimulate a different part of his brain?) There's a kind of fear, I think, that lurks behind this compulsion to keep writing. It's almost as if we're afraid to stop... not knowing if we'll be able to start again. Those moments--when I think of stopping--are a little like standing at the edge of a cliff: I never know what will happen when I step off the edge. But once I leap, I discover a kind of freedom. Writing is hard work, even though it may not seem "hard" while we do it. And while we wouldn't want to go through life without writing, the freedom not to write for a day or a week ... and to enjoy the change in perspective... is liberating. At least that's what I've found over the years. Still, it's never easy to pull back. And I admire your decision which, in the long run, will give your well a chance to refill itself... so that you can return to the page with a pen that flows with words again. Gestation is part of the natural birthing cycle, and part of the natural writing cycle, too. Yet so many writers–myself included–suffer pangs of guilt if we’re not writing every moment, squeezing every last word out of our pens.

Why is that, I wonder? What’s wrong with taking time off… just to think or experience the world in a non-verbal way? (Didn’t Henry James paint as an activity to stimulate a different part of his brain?)

There’s a kind of fear, I think, that lurks behind this compulsion to keep writing. It’s almost as if we’re afraid to stop… not knowing if we’ll be able to start again. Those moments–when I think of stopping–are a little like standing at the edge of a cliff: I never know what will happen when I step off the edge. But once I leap, I discover a kind of freedom.

Writing is hard work, even though it may not seem “hard” while we do it. And while we wouldn’t want to go through life without writing, the freedom not to write for a day or a week … and to enjoy the change in perspective… is liberating. At least that’s what I’ve found over the years.

Still, it’s never easy to pull back. And I admire your decision which, in the long run, will give your well a chance to refill itself… so that you can return to the page with a pen that flows with words again.

]]> Comment on Gone Fishing by: Nancy http://barbarawklaser.mysterynovelist.com/2006/05/10/gone-fishing/#comment-3025 Tue, 23 May 2006 13:25:16 +0000 http://barbarawklaser.mysterynovelist.com/2006/05/10/gone-fishing/#comment-3025 Just getting over that "internalizing" period myself. This past weekend I thought "Maybe I'll go back to blogging!" I'll see if I stick this time. Love your new "neighbor". Here in the northeast, that species is not native, and I get excited at the thought that there are birds out there I have never seen! Just getting over that “internalizing” period myself.
This past weekend I thought “Maybe I’ll go back to blogging!”
I’ll see if I stick this time.
Love your new “neighbor”. Here in the northeast, that species is not native, and I get excited at the thought that there are birds out there I have never seen!

]]> Comment on Gone Fishing by: blogdog http://barbarawklaser.mysterynovelist.com/2006/05/10/gone-fishing/#comment-3020 Mon, 22 May 2006 01:44:45 +0000 http://barbarawklaser.mysterynovelist.com/2006/05/10/gone-fishing/#comment-3020 A little while ago I heard a Slate Magazine podcast by another writer who entitled her piece "Stop Blogging and Start Writing," about how she had to shut down her blog in order to give her energy and attention to her book. It was an interesting viewpoint. Wonder how she's making out with that. A little while ago I heard a Slate Magazine podcast by another writer who entitled her piece “Stop Blogging and Start Writing,” about how she had to shut down her blog in order to give her energy and attention to her book. It was an interesting viewpoint. Wonder how she’s making out with that.

]]> Comment on Gone Fishing by: Tonya http://barbarawklaser.mysterynovelist.com/2006/05/10/gone-fishing/#comment-3013 Thu, 18 May 2006 03:28:58 +0000 http://barbarawklaser.mysterynovelist.com/2006/05/10/gone-fishing/#comment-3013 I wanted to thank you for your kind words and support about my mom -- I very much appreciate that! I'm just constantly amazed at the "wonderful-ness" of my fellow bloggers. I can understand the need to take a pause from blogging, but so far I've had a hard time going beyond a couple of days! Must be an addiction! I wanted to thank you for your kind words and support about my mom — I very much appreciate that! I’m just constantly amazed at the “wonderful-ness” of my fellow bloggers.

I can understand the need to take a pause from blogging, but so far I’ve had a hard time going beyond a couple of days! Must be an addiction!

]]> Comment on Gone Fishing by: susan http://barbarawklaser.mysterynovelist.com/2006/05/10/gone-fishing/#comment-3011 Tue, 16 May 2006 21:16:52 +0000 http://barbarawklaser.mysterynovelist.com/2006/05/10/gone-fishing/#comment-3011 Ah, it is good to realize that there is still so much hiding inside our mind. Take the time to find and pull it out. Then come back and tell us all about it. Ah, it is good to realize that there is still so much hiding inside our mind. Take the time to find and pull it out. Then come back and tell us all about it.

]]> Comment on Gone Fishing by: Sarah http://barbarawklaser.mysterynovelist.com/2006/05/10/gone-fishing/#comment-3010 Tue, 16 May 2006 20:29:07 +0000 http://barbarawklaser.mysterynovelist.com/2006/05/10/gone-fishing/#comment-3010 As I'm sure Eric can tell you, there's no such thing as a quiet cat when it's dinner time. Especially when certain foods are on the menu. For mine, it's chicken. She's been known to try to climb my pant leg while I'm serving. And yelling her head off at the same time. This is hunting behavior?? As I’m sure Eric can tell you, there’s no such thing as a quiet cat when it’s dinner time. Especially when certain foods are on the menu. For mine, it’s chicken. She’s been known to try to climb my pant leg while I’m serving. And yelling her head off at the same time. This is hunting behavior??

]]> Comment on Gone Fishing by: Eric Mayer http://barbarawklaser.mysterynovelist.com/2006/05/10/gone-fishing/#comment-3009 Tue, 16 May 2006 20:16:32 +0000 http://barbarawklaser.mysterynovelist.com/2006/05/10/gone-fishing/#comment-3009 Human beings are real and alive. Countries and borders are just fabrications. If we just took care of people we wouldn't have to worry about the sanctity of the borders. Hope I didn't disturb the fish. Human beings are real and alive. Countries and borders are just fabrications. If we just took care of people we wouldn’t have to worry about the sanctity of the borders. Hope I didn’t disturb the fish.

]]> Comment on Gone Fishing by: Barbara http://barbarawklaser.mysterynovelist.com/2006/05/10/gone-fishing/#comment-3007 Tue, 16 May 2006 18:54:26 +0000 http://barbarawklaser.mysterynovelist.com/2006/05/10/gone-fishing/#comment-3007 Eric, thanks for the changed post title. Thank you, violetismycolor. Cas, Southern California. I'd like to say, in light of yesterday's presidential speech (which frankly ticked me off), we have lots of visitors and imports from south of the border here, human and avian. I don't want to live in the equivalent of Berlin before the wall came down. The phainopeplas, orioles, and hummingbirds who fly north this time of year add to the beauty of the landscape. So do the people. They're part of the richness and variety---the texture---of living here, that I love and always have. Eric, thanks for the changed post title. Thank you, violetismycolor. Cas, Southern California.

I’d like to say, in light of yesterday’s presidential speech (which frankly ticked me off), we have lots of visitors and imports from south of the border here, human and avian. I don’t want to live in the equivalent of Berlin before the wall came down. The phainopeplas, orioles, and hummingbirds who fly north this time of year add to the beauty of the landscape. So do the people. They’re part of the richness and variety—the texture—of living here, that I love and always have.

]]> Comment on Gone Fishing by: cas http://barbarawklaser.mysterynovelist.com/2006/05/10/gone-fishing/#comment-3003 Fri, 12 May 2006 14:11:24 +0000 http://barbarawklaser.mysterynovelist.com/2006/05/10/gone-fishing/#comment-3003 what a beautiful bird. I've never seen one. I wonder what part of the country you call home. Cas And don't forget to feed the cat. If he's anything like my cat, you really can't forget. what a beautiful bird. I’ve never seen one. I wonder what part of the country you call home.

Cas
And don’t forget to feed the cat. If he’s anything like my cat, you really can’t forget.

]]> Comment on Gone Fishing by: violetismycolor http://barbarawklaser.mysterynovelist.com/2006/05/10/gone-fishing/#comment-3002 Thu, 11 May 2006 04:14:27 +0000 http://barbarawklaser.mysterynovelist.com/2006/05/10/gone-fishing/#comment-3002 You have to do what is right for you. Visit, write occasionally, muse...whatever...You'll always be welcomed back. You have to do what is right for you. Visit, write occasionally, muse…whatever…You’ll always be welcomed back.

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