"Books surprise me. They don't do what I expect. They know more than I do, and my job is to listen. Not to control or dominate or manipulate, but to listen: listen to the story in the same way that when I pray I try to listen to God--to get out of the way and to listen."
Madeleine L'Engle
Do you write a story or discover it? Are you the one in charge of the characters or are they in charge of you?
Believing as Madeleine L'Engle does that it's not about control and more about trust, I think makes you bolder, braver, more able to take risks--and makes writing more like faith. You step out not knowing where the path leads but seeing enough of the path to take the next step and the next one and the one after that. Terrifying. Thrilling. Mysterious. And most of all magical.
And liberating. It's no longer about you and what you can do. You become servant to the story. And it's cleverer and bigger than you. Your job is to get out of the way and let it through.
What a relief.
Posted via email from s@lly l-j
is indeed VERY nice
is indeed VERY nice
