i like to think the sargasso zone is asking me to trust. to dissolve myself even more into the greater ocean. and when i do, it carries me. not on my timeline, or how i envisioned, but always, always.
Yo, Sargasso looks way nicer than what you describe lol I think that might be a sign, some hope for both of us, no? I know I will be where you are in a few months--low key scared lol. Appreciate the wisdom, always. Sending good vibes as you float through it.
Three months in the Sargasso. I know that water. What I find hardest is distinguishing between 'this draft needs courage' and 'this draft needs a Viking funeral.' You seem to have found the diagnostic — follow what the work is saying about itself, not what it's saying about you.
I relate to this so deeply - thank you for naming the perdido-ness of messy murky middle. I especially loved the nod to focus on the writing and not the writer. Remembering that we are vessels is a helpful way to remove the ego (and editor brain) that gets us lost in the first place. This is the path to finding our way through!
As a writer currently slogging my way step by bloody step through the marshy mire, the arrival of these words in my inbox feels a bit serendipitous. Thank you.
Unrelated: for many years now I've had the quote you use to conclude this essay tacked above my desk. Thanks for that too.
Sometimes I struggle to know what the work is trying to say. I know it wants to say something, but the what of it isn’t always clear. Or I think it’s saying one thing and then it surprises me and says something else entirely 😂
A truism I tell people in my business (software) when trying to solve an intractable problem: when you don't know what to do, do anything. Sometimes the results reveal something that you can seize and continue with.
I know you’ll get there. I have utmost faith. ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
I believe you’ll do it.
Me too! ❤️
thank you shooks and mrs townley!
How it’s been described to me? You’re Mark Twain, arriving at the middle of Huckleberry Finn, and you forget which way the river runs.
I love this description, I'm going to use it when commiserating about my stalled projects, I feel better and more accomplished already! :)
i like to think the sargasso zone is asking me to trust. to dissolve myself even more into the greater ocean. and when i do, it carries me. not on my timeline, or how i envisioned, but always, always.
Yo, Sargasso looks way nicer than what you describe lol I think that might be a sign, some hope for both of us, no? I know I will be where you are in a few months--low key scared lol. Appreciate the wisdom, always. Sending good vibes as you float through it.
Three months in the Sargasso. I know that water. What I find hardest is distinguishing between 'this draft needs courage' and 'this draft needs a Viking funeral.' You seem to have found the diagnostic — follow what the work is saying about itself, not what it's saying about you.
I don't know if my opinion matters much, but your post about writing, finishing, failing is flat-out fabulous. My two writer cents.
This was so inspiring it saved me
I relate to this so deeply - thank you for naming the perdido-ness of messy murky middle. I especially loved the nod to focus on the writing and not the writer. Remembering that we are vessels is a helpful way to remove the ego (and editor brain) that gets us lost in the first place. This is the path to finding our way through!
Keep writing!
Those three points made mi domingo!! Graciassss ♥️🇩🇴
As a writer currently slogging my way step by bloody step through the marshy mire, the arrival of these words in my inbox feels a bit serendipitous. Thank you.
Unrelated: for many years now I've had the quote you use to conclude this essay tacked above my desk. Thanks for that too.
Keep going!
Sometimes I struggle to know what the work is trying to say. I know it wants to say something, but the what of it isn’t always clear. Or I think it’s saying one thing and then it surprises me and says something else entirely 😂
I’m just going to echo what others have said here and wait for something our hero did in the first half to twist in the wind and glitter in the sun.
A truism I tell people in my business (software) when trying to solve an intractable problem: when you don't know what to do, do anything. Sometimes the results reveal something that you can seize and continue with.