Bottling Up the Ink
As much as writers are fond of making up excuses not to write, they're equally adept at finding ways to write and things to write about. Heck, they can even write something about nothingness. One can even say, Never underestimate the output of an inspired writer hurtling down the Creativity Autobahn.
But sometimes, they have to let their pens lie fallow, to leave the ink that is their lifeblood unused in the bottles of their own make-believe worlds. They have to let the emotions well inside, not allowing anything to leak out to a world alien to their own. They must allow the wounds to sting a little bit more, the stress to become a little bit more stressful, the troubles a little bit more troublesome. Don't write! is the mantra to follow.
They thus (un)willingly defeat, for a moment, the purpose of writing -- to express one's self, to provide an outlet for sick dreams and magnificent nightmares.
But in the end, when these writers decide to pick up their pens and start writing again, you'll know one of two things has happened: (1) They have survived the pain, the stress, and everything between heaven and hell (well, not everything) bereft of their most powerful weapon -- the pen -- and pulled through relying only on their own naked selves; or (2) they couldn't handle the pressure of the overflowing ink, and have let it all spill out.
Item one or item two, it doesn't matter. One only needs to know that Don't write! is synonymous with another mantra.
Know thyself.
[Now you know why the Corsarius' pen was inkless for two weeks.]
But sometimes, they have to let their pens lie fallow, to leave the ink that is their lifeblood unused in the bottles of their own make-believe worlds. They have to let the emotions well inside, not allowing anything to leak out to a world alien to their own. They must allow the wounds to sting a little bit more, the stress to become a little bit more stressful, the troubles a little bit more troublesome. Don't write! is the mantra to follow.
They thus (un)willingly defeat, for a moment, the purpose of writing -- to express one's self, to provide an outlet for sick dreams and magnificent nightmares.
But in the end, when these writers decide to pick up their pens and start writing again, you'll know one of two things has happened: (1) They have survived the pain, the stress, and everything between heaven and hell (well, not everything) bereft of their most powerful weapon -- the pen -- and pulled through relying only on their own naked selves; or (2) they couldn't handle the pressure of the overflowing ink, and have let it all spill out.
Item one or item two, it doesn't matter. One only needs to know that Don't write! is synonymous with another mantra.
Know thyself.
[Now you know why the Corsarius' pen was inkless for two weeks.]
slipped from the pen of Corsarius at 1:05 AM
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20 Comments:
Now I know why I write bad. I want to say so many things and expound on them all at once.I write even though I know I won't be able to fully express what I want to say. Basta gusto kong sabihin lahat and minsan, you type and type and you just give up. Bwahaha, bahala na. :)
I miss you kimps! Sino umaway sayo? Bubuntalan ko! :P Labas tayo minsan! Kahit isaw lang sa UP. KK? I miss you!
from the looks of it, you know yourself quite well, little trooper. =)
to kai: Sure. Basta libre mo! Just kiddin ;) I don't eat isaw. Fishball na lang. Miss you too!
to transience: Do I? ;) Let's see in the future if my unpredictable self makes the Corsarius and this entry a big joke, haha.
writing for me is edible. and sometimes, i get choked up on the words. bleh.
to sunset_eyes: i never thought of that analogy :D haha, you seem to be hurtling down the Creativity Autobahn, sunset.
Now, you're writing. Welcome back. I suppose your pen is filled with fresh ink this time. Keep those thoughts flowing...
Kung ang una o ang ikalawa ay nangyari na sa 'kin, siguro nakailang nobela na 'ko.
hmm. this is just me growing old, i guess. waaahhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
i found writing as a safety valve.
to abaniko: Will do. And thanks for the encouragement :)
to ia: Siguro nga.
to sunset_eyes: haha, that's alright (pats you on the back). you've got a fellow teen-turned-oldie here ;)
to malingerer: as is evident in your blog. :) but what's with your most recent entry? hang on there, friend.
Indeed, sometimes, writing can goes through a whole painful process before actually translating to pen and paper.
Sakit! Feeling ko minsan I have hemmorrhoids before I write sh*t.
Oops.
That's a good perspective. I must admit that sometimes, it is better to simmer the broth for sometime to create a thicker, better-tasting soup.
Still, these things are a double-edged blade. If you keep on opening the bottle to write, the air would thicken the ink, making it harder to write with. If you keep the bottle closed, however, the ink will stick to the lid; the bottle will be harder to open. I guess it's all in the timing and I have no problems with that.
The only trouble is that not all people use the same type of ink. Some may be thick and especially sticky while some use thin and almost invisible ink types. Thus, some may fare well with their emotions while some just curl up and die.
I also think that the surface being written on plays a big factor. Would writers keep on writing if every surface is receptive to their ink? Would writers shy away if their ink simply slide off over-smooth surfaces?
What are we in the first place? Ink bottles? Pens? Writing surfaces? Or even ink-filled surfaces that can write? Just a thought.
Some things, be it pain or happiness just have to be felt or lived for the moment that even writing about it seems some form of a desecration of the experience.
I think one should write only when he wants to or when he's ready to share with others so that the joy (or its purpose?)of writing always remain.
to abster: Me too. Basta. Sometimes it's a no-brainer of a process, sometimes it's an excruciating experience.
to elizabeth: That first paragraph is eerily true for my case. Whatever other writers may say, some things just can't be scribbled down so casually. :)
to mavi: Your elegant analogy got me thinking there. I mean, it's so damn good that you should write your own essay about it. :)
I'd prefer to be a pen. It sounds more 'literary', haha. Though an ink bottle may be closer to the truth, with the ink itself being the amalgam of all emotions, thoughts, and memories.
glad you're back to the old self - mind free flowing with ideas and even nightmares and even stressful moments and even nothingness (",)
to bing: haha, thanks. ;) i wish i'd be more consistent, actually.
How true! The fear and doubt of a choked pen is always relieved when the ink is vomited across the page in moments of utter creative bliss. love your writing. easy
to kojo: You said it in the best possible way. Thank you for the compliment, my friend.
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