Flying Rats and the Gift of Life: Joining the Community of Writers
Sometimes you’re the statue, and sometimes you’re the bird.
–Fran Weaver
On a ledge outside the window behind a lace curtain next to where I write is a pigeon hatching two eggs while keeping a wary orange eye on me. She and her mate had built a nest out of twigs they harvested in the yard behind the three-story Edwardian in which we live. She cooed while waiting for her young to arrive a day apart.
Elizabeth says pigeons are flying rats and wanted me to pound on the window and chase them away, but I couldn’t. Elizabeth has legitimate grievances such as noise and droppings, but building a nest and giving birth connect pigeons and writers with life’s fundamental, evolutionary purpose: to be fruitful and multiply.
Writers have to build their nest: a place and way of working that maximizes their creativity and productivity–the best way for them to give their gift for serving their readers. To be as good a writer as you can be requires you to be led by your instincts about what you write and how. It means seeing yourself as a member of the creative community that stretches back to the artists who painted on cave walls and invented the flute 35,000 years ago. They were just like us, minus floss, the Web, and the other perks of modern life. (Now the challenge is to write books about being fruitful instead of multiplying!)
What life gives us is its gift to us. What we do with our gift symoblizes our gratitude for it and will inspire those who follow us. Like your artistic ancestors, “you are unrepeatable. There is a magic about you that is all your own…” Let these words by author D. M. Dellinger spur you on to achieve the destiny that only you can.
The 9th San Francisco Writers Conference / A Celebration of Craft, Commerce & Community / February 16-20, 2012 / Keynoters: bestselling novelist Lolly Winston and editor Alan Rinzler on his fifty years in publishing / www.sfwriters.org / blog: http: //sfwriters.info/blog / To receive free MP3s, visit www.sfwriters.info / Twitter: @SFWC / San Francisco Writers University: Where Writers Meet and You Learn, a project of the SFWC / Join its more than 500 members for free feedback on your work / Laurie McLean, Dean / www.sfwritersu.com
How true that we have to build our “nest” if we want to be productive. When my kids were growing up, my writing “nest” was in my unfinished basement, which was not exactly conducive to creativity. Now I have taken over one of the empty bedrooms and while it isn’t exactly my dream writing space (no fireplace, sigh…) it at least has a view! But sometimes, the “nest” that needs fixing isn’t the external one but the one that is in our head. Too often, our nest materials aren’t any good at all: negative comments, self-doubt, rejection letters. We need to dump the bits that don’t create a strong home for our little fledglings (our works-in-progress) if we are going to create a strong, supportive home to work in. (FYI, April 22 is “Renew Your Nest Day”!)
Michael,
How refreshing! I can just imagine that pigeon’s nest and Elizabeth’s consternation. An excellent image. yes, some books may seem like rat’s nests but some are creative gems. MAHALO for your inspiration.
Glad you enjoyed the piece. The eggs have hatched and parents and chicks are doing well. Aren’t we all looking for the right next for nurture ourselves and our loved ones in?
Right you are! Finding the best time, place, and tools for creating your best work is indeed a challenge, but the easiest part of the job. It’s been said that the best view for a writer is a brick wall! Best of luck with your writing.