What I Learned From Not Writing About What I Learned From The Law

March 8, 2008 · by Joanna Paterson · in

I am fascinated by the writing process (you might have noticed). And I guess we can learn just as much from what we don’t, won’t or can’t write as what we do.

I had a ‘couldn’t write’ moment this week. I wanted to write something for the Middle Zone project on What I Learned From… The Law. I’ve been a regular contributor since I found out about WILF. It fits at least three of my blogging and writing aims, to:

  • write in different places to get to know new readers and writers
  • share some more personal stories and insights than I write in my standard posts
  • support blogging friends and colleagues

There are times when those aims can come bumping up against other intentions though, like wanting to avoid:

  • writing so much it stops being fun
  • getting too distracted from my blogging purpose and focus
  • ending up with too long a ‘to do’ list

And when it’s on a topic where you can’t immediately spot a way in… well then it gets hard. Your mind keeps turning it over but keeps on coming up blank. No ideas. No words. No inspiration.

Blank.

Writing With All Our Intelligence

But another one of my writing and blogging aims is to keep responding to new challenges. I’d been struck by Robyn McMaster’s recent challenge to use all of our intelligences to stretch our minds and get our words flowing. So I thought I’d give it a go for this What I Learned From project.

Here’s how I got on.

I took a look at this sheriff picture Robert had sent me for inspiration. It made me smile. It helped me relax. It made me want to write something for someone who’d send me a picture to help (not to mention the bag of cookies). But it didn’t help me find the words.

I fired myself up listening to this Clash version of ‘I fought the law’ and it got me jumping and singing (all day). But writing? Nope, not a word.

I went for a walk, soaking up the gorgeous spring sunshine we’ve been enjoying here this week, singing to the Clash as I went. And of course I couldn’t help but be reminded of the laws of nature, the inexorable power and energy of spring.

I thought about writing something clever on what I’d learned about the language of the law, based on the inspiration I get from a legal writing blog I quietly follow. But I knew it would be too much work, and too serious a response to the challenge.

I wondered about constructing a list by numbers.

I tried moving myself out of my stuck state by whizzing around the house and garden, tidying and cleaning as I went (and yes, still singing along to the Clash). It worked – in that the house and garden got a tidy, and I re-learned some well known laws. Like the law of dust, which falls as fast as you wipe. Or weeds, which grow as fast as you pull. Or window cleaning – that the dirt’s always on the other side.

I tried looking ‘inside’ as I worked: reflecting, remembering, asking myself for stories I could share as I sang, danced, walked and weeded

I tried focusing on my writing intention – to share some of my words, to support a friend’s project.

But still: nothing.

Except the words of the song.

And the remembrance of my muse’s Number 1 writing law.

She’ll write when she’s ready. When the frame appears. When the hook pops into her mind. When inspiration strikes.

And not a word before.

So Robert, I did my best. But in the end it was just like you said.

I fought the law, and the law won.

Thanks to Robert for another WILF project and humouring my contributions, however far I might be stretching the connection…I think you also inspired my longest ever headline to date!

And thanks to Robyn for encouraging me to give my intelligences a workout. And yes, they did inspire this piece…If you’re intrigued the intelligences are spatial, musical, naturalistic, verbal-linguistic, logical-mathematical, bodily-kinaesthetic, logical-mathematical, intrapersonal, interpersonal. It’s definitely worth giving them a go if you’re stuck for some inspiration!