Checking out Niel Gaiman's writing course
I've told myself it's — finally — time to go through Niel Gaiman teaches writing masterclass (which a friend shared with me many moons ago). I've had it in my list of things to watch for a looooong time now, but I always shy away from it, subconsciously avoiding it. I don't know why. I think I've always wanted to write stories which is something I used to do a lot of when I was a kid, but now I'm kind of afraid of trying and finding out I suck. I wouldn't even know where to start from, but I guess I'm just making problems for myself. In the past what has worked is I just pick an idea and start writing. I sometimes used to get this wonderful thing where I felt that I wasn't really writing, I wasn't doing anything, the story was just flowing from my hand, through my pen, to the paper, sort of like a metal rod conducting lighting.
I still feel unsure, but maybe going through the course will help in some way. At the very least hearing one of my favorite authors talk about his process and his problems is sure to keep me inspired and hopeful! I have a feeling that continuing with my morning pages is also an excellent way to help lift up the dam I've built around my mind.
For example, at night when I'm falling asleep — or even at random moments during the day when I'm not doing any intellectual work — I have so many ideas of things to write. It's like a spring of freshwater moving from my subconscious to my conscious awareness. But when I try to actually write the ideas falter, they stutter. I try to grasp the tail of one as it quickly hides under a rock, and come back only with smoke in my hands. I say it's the idea that hides, but more likely it's me, hiding the idea away from myself, for some reason. This is what I meant when I say "lift up the dam"!