Why do we avoid sitting down and writing?
It’s so strange isn’t it.
There is a lot written about how fear is the enemy.
It’s more than fear.
Writing is difficult.
It is not easy to build a well made stage play–or a work of fiction.
It takes work and courage and a thick skin.
It also takes knowledge of craft–
which is something that we acquire by committing to a rigorous practice.
To write requires a deep understanding of ourselves and the world around us–
along with a willingness to admit that we don’t actually know all that much about either.
and therefore must continually keep learning about both.
Right now I am working on a character that I am worried I can’t write.
Because he is a man and has lived in ways that I have never lived and
I don’t know much about him. Not from the inside anyway.
I don’t know that I can authentically speak in his voice.
This is difficult. But I need to write this character.
My recent response to the difficulty is to do nothing and distract myself
and fiddle about with other things more instantly gratifying.
Oh well. I suppose I am not alone in this.
But I am determined to break this particular slump and enliven my character
somehow.
How to begin I ask myself?
Begin at the beginning or begin anywhere I answer.
Anywhere?
Just begin?
Ok.
Louis enters. He stands in a pool of light. Stage Right.
He is wearing jeans and a peacoat with the collar up.
He carries a guitar case.
He wears a wooly cap.
He is about fifty.
He sets down the guitar case and opens it–
Straps on his guitar–
Throws a loonie and a five dollar bill in the open case
He begins to sing
Ok it’s a start
