The Next Crescendo

[Cita]

... the words do not come gushing forth though I am heavy, weighted down with them.

... the contractions are strong and I can hear the beep beep beep, feel the building tension until I must, I must, I must...

... no, not time yet.  Just a few more words spilled up on the page, but they are just waters, not child.

... over and over again, because the words must come out and the idea must be born, and yes, it is worthy, but more than that, there is no stopping it.

... should I print and work in black and white is the check-up question?  But not yet!  A cheerful ripping off of gloves, a smiling face, a pat on the leg as the logical one of me walks out, leaves the Creator spent and dreading the next crescendo.

I have now been in labor for five days.  

[Cita]

I want to add a little balance here.  Yes, our creations are like babies... but my sister pointed out that there is a difference.  If I give birth to a lovely baby boy (my actual boy just left my office and he is 20 and loud and huge and so much his own person).... sorry.... If I give birth to a lovely baby boy and you say, "He has big ears," then I say, "Oh.  Well.  I love him anyway."  But if I write something, and IT has big ears or structural problems or it rambles or it is trite, then I get a do-over, I get to edit, shift, change, reach toward excellence.  In this way we have a little bit of perspective about our WORK being different than something we've given birth to, even if the process feels the same.

[Mike Handley]

The urge to push is always a glorious metaphor, usually lost on those who have not experienced or witnessed it. Our creations are indeed our babies. 

[Jadie Jones]

maybe because my daughter is only 17 months old... but this made me squirm in my seat. of course writing only makes me uncomfortable when it's well done :)

[Gita]

I am laughing too hard at Kristine to think.

I have no experience with labor and delivery (thank the goddess) so the metaphor really doesn't work for me.  Maybe it's more like trying to land a really big fish that's fighting the line and you have to pull it into the boat?

[Cita]

"A planet moving through your pelvis?"  I have never ever blessed my c-section scar as much as I am RIGHT NOW.  That, my friend, will go down in my classic quotes notebook.

[Kristine_ES]

"clean up in aisle two"... kristine is cramping up with all this talk of laborious writing pains!

[Teresa]

I watched a reality show about teenage moms last night, how they labor in fear, the clueless "baby-daddy" nearby trying to be conscious of his facial expressions.  Only a seasoned vessel can grimace and cuss with confidence, push with unabashed vigor.  And she knows when to ask for that epidural or whether to just tough it out.  In the end, the product justifies the pain.  Keep your eye on the focal point, and pant -- Hee-hee-hee-hee-hee....  You'll know when it's time to push.  Remember, it feels like a planet moving through your pelvis.

[bolton carley]

i never really think of giving birth to writing but you present it so logically here.  it's amazing how we have stuff inside us that we want out, but then we have to find the time to let it happen. writing time has been at a premium in my world lately so i understand that feeling all too well.

[Bill Floyd]

But this is how life gets shoved into the world.  Breathe, and PUSH.