To write or not to write, seems to be the question. Or rather, how to write, maybe a better question. Very often one is moved to put something down on paper. The need of the hour is to present it in a captivating and readable manner for others to enjoy. What happens very often is that even before you key in the first few words, you are already cutting and pruning and searching for a more appropriate word which should catch the eye of the reader or impress him/her with your wit and skill with words.
You, however, push on a bit more, sticking it out bravely with a few more attempts. Possibly it is much easier to scrap the whole thing and relax in front of the TV. Nagging thoughts still haunt you. How do all these writers manage to put down ideas so beautifully and precisely? Try as hard as you may; nothing seems to emerge or bloom.Screwing up page after page of one-liners for the waste bin is a thing of the past. The computer does it for you now without wasting any paper—delete and try again!
After long hours of true dedication, you eventually somehow create a masterpiece you think will be immediately snaffled up by a publisher. An immense feeling of accomplishment and well-being suddenly descends on you. All those hours or days and sleepless nights suddenly seem to have paid off. However, the fruit has not ripened yet.
The days of waiting eagerly to see your name in print have only just started. The wait is long. How long? With a sense of great expectation, you daily turn the pages of the newspaper to see if it’s there—have they decided to put yours in today? Your heart races as you approach that crucial page. Is it going to be a ‘yes’ or a ‘no’?
If it’s a ‘no’, you eventually resign yourself to the fact that you are not worthy of it. Self-esteem and capability suddenly take a nosedive. You decide to scrap the whole business of word games. It’s just not your cup of tea!On the other hand, if it is a ‘yes’, the feeling of elation and accomplishment knows no bounds. You are now floating on a cloud of happiness, sharing the same exciting feelings as William Wordsworth did when he chanced upon a host of golden daffodils. As the great Romantic poet puts it “And then my heart with pleasure fills, And dances with the daffodils.”