Write when the mood takes you or, if not, when?

If I waited until I was in the mood to write, then little would ever be written. I can only dream of disappearing off to an idyllic writing retreat, where I can while away the days mulling over ideas in the shade of a tree, overlooking the sea.

In practice, I have to write in small fractures that open up in the continuum of time. 

I write in cafes, before swimming, while swimming, over lunch, after hours, before sunrise, on planes, buses and trains, and at bus stops, stations and airports.

I even write on the notepad in my mind, when I’m in the twilight zone as I drift off to sleep or during lap swimming in the pool. And of course, I write in the countdown to writing group and although I don’t like to admit it, I often write when I’m supposed to be doing something else. 

I don’t really need to be in the mood to write, because writing is just the realisation of an idea, and a good idea will take hold, whether or not I’m in the mood to receive it.

Rob Carrick

Copyright: text: Rob Carrick; photos: Wix.

Posts on this SSOA blog are published to showcase the work of emerging writers who meet weekly to workshop stories. The posts comprise some of the responses written in just 10 minutes as a warm up to the meetings.

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