The Thing

Okay. Here’s the thing.

The thing is that I spend a lot of time, I mean an AWFUL lot of time, inside my own head. It’s pleasant there and I know everything because, after all, it’s my own thoughts banging around.

But it does get lonely.

It also gets warped. I’ve learned over the years that I learn a lot from other people, especially when I share my o-so-precious inner thoughts and the other person says, “Hm. I don’t agree.” Or “Where did you get that weird idea?” or “No Sir! You’re just plain crazy!”

Okay. I’m not crazy about the “You’re just plain crazy!” remarks, but they always make me think. Always, darn it!

They shake up my inner dialogue and tilt my world a bit differently.

As I write in this blog, I realize that I really want some discussion. I’m perfectly willing to toss out ideas, even be quite firm about how correct they are. But I am also willing to listen to other ideas, to facilitate discussion, to give and take and give away and take away.

With all this in mind – my mind, of course! – I’m going to shift the focus of this blog.

I want to write about writing. But I also want to compare fiction writing to other creative and interesting endeavors. I’m just as interested in the process for other people as in my own. That’s why, I think, I’ve written here about the lady chess player, the man who wants to invent time travel, Tiger Woods, and the lady who developed a new kind of space suit.

And you, dear reader. I’m interested in your creative and interesting endeavors. Please take a few moments to share your process, the stuff banging around inside your head, the cool lessons you’ve learned from others.

What, pray tell, are your creative and challenging endeavors?