Today, I drove from Seattle to southwestern Washington to celebrate the holidays with my family.

I write this with an actual point. Driving is one of those activities where all the driver has is the road and their own thoughts. For some people, a drive of several hours is torturous. But for me, I use the time with my story. The story won't be ignored if I am not doing something, and that is the case when I drive.

While driving, I have the opportunity of dreaming again. Leading up to this book's outline, I did a lot of research and dreaming. It was time where I would think my way through story problems or add other subtexts that might create a stronger book. Dreaming is one of the most important things a writer can do; to me, if a person has writer's block, it's because they haven't dreamed enough and their mind is trying to catch up with the craft.

It's been bothering me for two weeks that I can't post my Prologue. I am proud of it and I want people to read it but I can't post it, knowing the similarities people will unavoidably see between it and Terry's work. Critical analysis of my work is pretty important to me, because feedback can only help sharpen my writing skills; oftentimes a person is far too close to their work to see the trees from the forest. I left Seattle today with all of that in my heart, trying to find a way to maintain the Prologue but eliminate a reader's disposition for seeing Terry in my story.

On the drive down from Seattle, I figured it out.

I mulled over the problem for about half the drive. It's a three hour drive, so that's a long time to be within my story with no distractions—no phone, no computer, no television, no books. Just my story with me at the wheel.

Then it hit me like a sledgehammer between the running lights. My problem is no longer a problem. And I'll be able to post the Prologue sometime and not feel worried about it.

Dreaming afforded me this. I think all writers should have that one thing that takes them away from the world and allows them to think clearly about what it is they are writing. It's very positive and constructive and can really make a difference. Driving does this for me, as well as showering (although I hate my water bill every month, I'll tell you that!).

For Terry, it is traveling. Or driving or going to the symphony. For other writers, it is something else. All I know is it is important, almost as important as the writing I think.

So find what it is for you that helps you get into your story, that helps you analyze it and improve it while not sitting at a keyboard. You'll be happy you did, if you are a dreamer.

Labels: Craft