When I Get In Flow
by
Michael Walker
13 January 2000
I just came out of the flow; and I can’t remember most of today. I knew that
I had two projects to finish since yesterday; both involved writing and both
were things I "ought" to have completed earlier. But some ill health and the
holidays prevented me from submitting my final class assignment for the last
class I took at Fiction4witers.com. And then, to make matters worse, I could not
be eligible for their "Mentors Award" if I didn’t submit that last assignment
and an "Extra" one.
Two days ago I finished contest entry only to discover that they wouldn’t
accept it if I didn’t submit my final class assignment first. The problem was
that I didn’t have both done. On the way to work yesterday morning I got an idea
and – last night – wrote a 1,200 word story. I submitted that this morning and
then reread the guidelines for the contest entry. There was a slight problem.
The guidelines called for a 1,500 word piece and the one I’d written came in
at just under 3,000 words. So today, while I was juggling meetings at work and a
major doctor’s appointment, I began to shave the piece down. By six forty-five
p.m., just as I left for group therapy, I submitted the same story at exactly
1,500 words. A mere shell of its former self, I did not have much faith in the
results.
However, the accolades had just started coming in for my final class
assignment – along with a note from the instructor congratulating me for
"graduating." The, tonight, a note that my piece had been accepted for entry –
less than three hours before the final deadline. What the hell does this all
have to do with Writing in the Flow? Plenty.
Both pieces, produced under the volcanic pressure of my own self-imposed
deadlines, came out fantastically. I may not feel great about the hows of what I
did here; but I feel wonderful that I was able to produce at all. AND, I might
add, I’ll be able to sleep soundly tonight knowing that I am – like man – a
TOTAL success as a writer. Even if I don’t win the Writopia Mentor’s Award.
Copyright © 2000 by Michael Walker
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Copyright © 2000 by Michael Walker
Michael Walker is a freelance writer in Washington, DC. He is also the founder
and proprietor of
DREAMWalker Group.
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