Writing and Insanity

Sometimes, that's what it's like. Hearing voices. Seeing images. Getting totally absorbed in a world that's completely real, but only in my head.



Don't get me wrong--I'm not saying that writing isn't hard work. It's 98% butt-in-chair, and detailed research, and contemplating plot arcs and character arcs and lots of other boring stuff. But there's the insanity part, too.



Some days I can barely squeak out a few hundred words. Some days I can't stop writing, and 3k or 5k or 7k, or once (on a truly crazy, crazy day) 10k, fly right out.



I think the bottom line for me is, writing is a lot like love. Sometimes it's all hot and bothered, sometimes it's cold and distant and all about the messy details, and sometimes, maybe most of the time, it's a blissfully steady stream of warmth and support.

Do you write? What's writing like for you? Do you read? What's reading like for you?