Blank silence

Confronted with the silence of the blank page.  That, and the silence.  Makes for a quiet emptiness or something.  Whatever it is, I guess it didn't last forever because I can hear typing.  I really need to head of to bed - I've been staying up way to late for no good reason.  Plus tomorrow is hockey and I had to pay for a goalie.  I'm hopeful that we'll get more than 6 or 7 skaters 'cause that's not enough to spread the costs nicely.  I also need to look into getting a new stick or something - the two I have now are still in one piece, but the toe is looking rather misshapen on both.  I just don't know when the sales will start - soon I guess.  Some places get the ice out before the end of March, which means most leagues will be done by then.  Not me - I like the fact the two games I play are every week.  Or almost every week.  Keeps things interesting all year long.

Took a small break to look at Kimota94's page and found his reference to 6 word stories.  I put some there as comments, but here are some more (because I'm really tired and it makes things like this more amusing):

• Don't go! She cried. So lonely...
  
• This sentence is short but complete.
  
• Don't decry what you haven't written.
  
• Contractions make writing small stories easier.
  
• Marshmallows are mellifluous; muffins less so.
  
• From the Simpson's: "Brevity is... wit"
  
• March madness revealed in small sentences.
  
• This sentence is not about itself.
  
• "Long enough, it is" quoth Yoda.
  
• Curb the garbage, keep wife happy.
  
• Deep hole jarred vehicle - potholes suck.
  

On Writing

Kimota94's post (jeez, count how many times I've started with that) on Neil Gaiman's post stuck a chord with me. Kinda obvious because I'm taking the time to generate a post. I love that description too. From what I can recall off-hand, I think that many good writers create in the way described. Which is to start with an idea and see where the writing takes them. I hope to reinforce that it is not unusual and that Kimota should feel a kinship with those excellent writers.

The more I think about writing in that way, the more I realize where research fits in. Something sparks and idea, a curiosity, a twinge which leads to exploration. That may involve notes and years and books and conversations, but really it builds an internal understanding. After that's festered long enough, characters can than play on that skein, emerging then sliding to the background - inhabiting it. Then, as a writer, you just follow those characters around and record what they say.

I wish I had an idea to follow around... I'm sure there'll be one, but not yet. I'll have to practice with smaller stuff. Create some characters and maybe revive some old ones. Like the guy with white t-shirt, stained with gumbo and scorched from his chicken flambe. Never said much, but boy did he like chicken flambe. Every day he made it. Grades 7 and 8 were good times. But I feel that belongs to past-me, and future-me should come up with his own darn characters!

A poignant post and excellent discussion.