Everyday Canvas

The Fire of Writing

Prompt: “The blazing fire makes flames and brightness out of everything thrown into it.”
Marcus Aurelius, Meditations
What do you think about this quote? Do you keep a blazing fire when it comes to your writing?

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A fire starts from a spark. Then it spreads and envelops everything on its journey.

The same process applies to most anything. For example, even if you took just one step to become a pioneer, chances are you’ll take many more steps to eventually blaze your own trail.

In Sanskrit, The Gita says: “Do your duty to the best of your ability without worrying about the results.” A farmer may think he has control over how he works his land, but he has no control over the harvest. Yet, he cannot expect a harvest if he does not work his land. He has to keep his fire to farm going.

In writerly terms, the spark corresponds to the desire to write. Then like a fire, once a writer gets going from a single sentence or a line--similar to one part of a log--, she reaches for all that is there. Then, soon enough what she started becomes a blazing fire, ready to tackle anything and everything in her way.

I love to write, and I’ll write about all that shows up on my path. I may not be successful in any or most of the things, but I’ll write anyhow. It is the fire hidden in the wish that propels me.

A writing life is a daring life. I dare despite any criticism, and even advice. What I do is more important than the generalized plans for it. Or the outcome.

I have to go with what works to keep the fire going. If my fire is hot enough, it will devour anything and everything thrown at it.