"Forget all the rules. Forget about being published. Write for yourself and celebrate writing." Melinda HaynesI don't tend to start posts with a quote. But if the Twitter #Haikuchallenge word is dry and crispy I have been known to look for inspiration amongst the quotations of the rich and the writerly.
The quote above turned up on Twitter and it made me pause and think. Only minutes earlier I'd been replying to a message from a friend who mentioned he still collected vinyl. My head was full of the rainbow diffracted light of a CD disc, doughnut-like on the end of a finger. I was swamped by the physical memory of holding large, black discs and fingering the sharp edge: a heavy and intense feeling. The memory was in arms that recalled the feeling of cold and smooth and fingers that tingled with the bite of the edge and the fingerprint whorls. My recollection at cerebral memory level lagged way behind.
I don't think I could take Melinda Haynes advice. I could not forget the rules: I worked too hard to learn them. I couldn't forget the goal to be published. Celebrating writing: no problem; writing for myself: I do that too. But, forget about being published? Nah!
Could you forget the driving and enjoy the scenery? Would you want to forget about being published and just celebrate writing?
I love the sign for "forget" - even in wiping away the thought, the fist shows ownership of the action and the desire to hold onto the thought in case it is needed later!
