It was time for the school bus. Following Benji, I stepped into a beautiful Autumn morning. As though someone spoke to me, this line popped into my head.

A day bright, and full of promise

I stopped in my tracks, my brain beginning to answer the question I no longer had to consciously put into words: “What happens next?” Even after so many years of writing, I continue to be surprised by the amount of creativity sparked by that simple question. Most notably, What if I paused my writing about the lost prince and started a female-centric story about his sister?

It’s a tip I use not only for writing, but in my office job, as well. “OK, we have an issue. What happens next? And then what?” And so on.

The following is about 2 minutes’ work. It’s a minor piece of writing, but I wanted to capture it because it helped inspire me. It’s about having days ahead of you that you want to spend writing. It’s the promise that you’ll create something worthwhile. It’s the power of positive thinking, if you will.

It’s Hope.

A day bright, and full of promise

Like a blank page

Like new love

Sitting, welcoming, waiting

Patient

Promising that anything is possible

When you give yourself to it

While the first step requires courage,

It is the second where freedom lies.

The first couple lines feel familiar, as though they’re inspired by something I once read. More likely, however, is that I feel that way because the lines work. They feel effortless to read and they make sense. They’re not just random bits of words I’ve strung together, which kinda describes the middle portion. The last two lines are from my book, The Starfall Omen, Chapter Six – Going, Going, Gone. The witch is encouraging Tildy as they begin their journey into the wilds of Empyrelia.

Tildy lifted a foot to follow and all the hairs on her neck rose in alarm. She suddenly felt the weight and danger of the witch’s warnings. A ripple of fear flowed beneath her skin.

“While the first step requires more courage,” the witch called over her shoulder, “it is the second where freedom lies.”

Tildy swallowed, nodded, and stepped forward. She followed the witch into the wilds.

I share this portion of verse as an example of how easily the writing can come. But also, to illustrate that I’ve tapped back into my creative side, a part that’s lain more dormant than awake for much of the last 2 years, if I’m being honest. Always will there be struggles to find inspiration; always will writer’s block be a thing to overcome. These challenges aren’t the only experiences a writer will have, and it’s important to remind yourself of the positives, too.

Perhaps said more simply, the more you write, the more you write. Good luck with your own writing!

Mike

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(C) Michael Wallevand, September 2024

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