Friday, August 9, 2013

The invisible hand guiding our writing


Someone once told me that writers just don’t write, they often take dictation from a higher source (call it God or something else). I agree with this sentiment, as I too believe that we have an invisible hand guiding our writing from a far off place. Sometimes the stories our dictated to us. At other times key points are whispered into our ears so that we are able to build a story based on that.

Actually if we come down to it, where do we get our ideas and thoughts from? There has to be a larger source of ideas from where we tap our story ideas. The reservoir of ideas I believe is held by the power who controls us.

This super power gives us the patience and dedication and infuses in us the passion to pursue our dream of writing. Have you noticed how from a basic seed (germ of an idea) we are able to weave a tale of  hundreds of pages?

This invisible hand not just guides our writing, but is also there to ease our burden. When we are plumbing the depths of despair, in a strange but surprising way a small good news drops into our laps. It could be a critic partner’s fabulous feedback, a blog award, news about a manuscript or a story we had sent somewhere. This invisible hand is always quick to brush away our tears.

It’s this invisible hand that sweeps away the writer’s block that crops up at frequent intervals in our lives. At those times when we are stuck, he is responsible for the AHA moments that help us in crossing the big hurdles.

Several times when I am stuck big time I have seen that invisible hand coming to my rescue in different ways. Maybe a conversation with a friend helps in untangling the plot, sometimes while watching a movie I find my story unravelling in my mind. Many times story ideas pop into my mind when I least expect it.                        

What about the invisible hand guiding your stories? How have you felt that divine presence? Do you think writers are taking dictation from God? I would love to hear your thoughts on this.

26 comments:

  1. Invisible hands not only guide our writing, but also everything else. It takes a long time (for some) to admit this, though.

    Destination Infinity

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  2. So true, Rachna. And they're there in the rest of our life too.

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  3. I often trust the unconcious and how it works to bring up solutions in my stories, but I hadn't thought of that per se as "the invisibile hand" of God. I have felt the invisible hand of God in my life, however, and at many turning points, where prayer brought a solution I wouldn't have thought of on my own..

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  4. God nudges us along, giving us the right bit of inspiration when we need it the most.

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  5. No, not when I write my novels Rachna, and not when I write sermons, but when I actually preach them, then I feel that it is not me doing the preaching.

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  6. One of my favorite authors, Elizabeth Gilbert, spoke on this topic. She called it by a different name but also spoke of divine intervention when it comes to the brilliant ideas. I refer to her TED talk often as being one of my greatest sources of comfort when I get stuck. If you haven't seen it you should check it out: www.ted.com/talks/elizabeth_gilbert_on_genius.html

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  7. The "invisible hand of God" is so visible in my life. There are times I feel very inspired and the thoughts and words flow. These writings bring me immense satisfaction. I have acknowledged it as inspiration beyond myself.

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  9. There is a very mysterious force that pushes us. It is a guide that pours the thoughts onto the paper/computer. A mysterious connection. Yes, certainly.

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  10. Apt.I have always believed that creativity cannot be taught.You definitely need His blessings to transform your imaginings into a readable piece.
    the moment can be today or could be never,but you just cannot write a piece unless that motivation comes from within.
    the reason why Vikram Seth returned the advance to penguin india.he simply could not submit the manuscript within the required time frame.

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  11. Great post Rachna. All too often we can be afraid of trusting our invisible guide. When we do, it is amazing. I have also found this when doing my textile design and making.

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  12. Thanks, Rachna, he has no balance, has fallen three times this month, now that he has the scooter to get about things might get better for him.

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  13. Wonderful post. I often feel this way.

    Happy Weekend!

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  14. i believe He inspires us! He presents opportunities and gives us choices.

    as for your iwsg post, ease into marketing, one ask at a time! it gets easier with each one and the worst you would hear is a no and move on =) go for it!

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  15. When I am deep in a story I do sometimes feel something guiding me, offering new paths for the story and in the end things always work in the story... I love when that happens.

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  16. Stories often have a life of their own and if I'm not careful I'll get in the way of its growth. And my best stories certainly do seem to come from somewhere other than me.

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  17. It does feel like that when I'm on a roll, but that hand can sometimes feel very absent, too.

    mood

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  18. I definitely believe there is an outside force that helps guide our creative outlets.

    How we harness it, though, it up to us :)

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  19. I feel this way as well :-) Excellent words, and ones to learn from!

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  20. This invisible hand has shaken me a lot lately, but it is all in fair play. Yes I do believe the Great Creator is the source of all master pieces. :)

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  21. I feel this way. I also feel something from my ancestors, since some of them were writers.

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  22. Hi, Rachna,

    What an appealing philosophy...

    Many call this, their muse... ABSOLUTELY... I totally believe some supernatural power or being guides our creativity.

    It always amazes me when my creativity kicks in SO effortlessly. It almost scares me at times. The "what ifs" come into play...

    What if ... I lose it!

    What if ... I can't come up with the perfect design, illustration, or blurb!

    What if ... my clients drop me because I no longer can produce the perfect image or prose...

    Need I say more. But then, my guiding hand, muse, angel, God, spiritual adverser, or TALENT kicks into gear.

    But the presence is always near and watch, waiting, and ready to 'Lend a hand."

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  23. I really do think I had a "download" from God with my trilogy. It just came to me all at once.

    I believe this 100 percent.

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  24. I'm one of those whose first drafts are always dictation.

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  25. I too think there is a great untapped pool of potential ideas, but I think we carry it with us in our sub-conscious or some other difficult-to-tap area of the brain.

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  26. It's a wonderful mystery regarding where all our inspiration and ideas come from...I hope I never fully find out...I like the mystery of it all:)

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