From the Fiction Desk

Often a writer can feel the muse or the creative spirit in us slowly fading or burning out. We are so focused on getting our poems, short stories, novels, articles, or whatever project we are working on out the door because our inbox has more piling up or because our editor and/or agent are ringing the phone as they grow nervous about their deadlines. Either way, this is the business we work in. Writer’s block and burn out can occur, but they are a major stumbling block at the best of times and an insurmountable barrier at the worst of times. What can be done to keep this obstacle away?

Over the past few blog entries, I have talked about the importance of physical fitness to the writer and the importance of socialization. A third important prospect to have to keep ourselves going is a lesson from the great sword master (Kensai) Miamato Mushashi. For those who are unfamiliar with whom he was, Musahasi was the greatest of swordsmen in feudal Japan, creator of a two sword style fighting method, a legend of many samurai tales, the author of The Book of the Five Rings and . . . an artist.

During Musashi’s lifetime, the samurai were being encouraged to study other things than martial arts. Musashi found that by studying brush drawing and dedicating himself to the art that he improved himself as a swordsman. To many a reader it may come to mind to question what swordsmanship or martial arts has to do with writing. As a swordsman, a martial artist and a writer, I find that the arts compliment each other. The martial arts, while an art, requires a different creativity and a different focus of thought than writing. As a result, my study of the martial arts gives the creativity needed for writing a break to recover and relax.

A writer does not need to take up martial arts, but rather should have a second art form. This art form should not include the creative juices needed to write your work. Think of another example for a moment—one of fiction, but I cannot help but wonder if the author did not do this himself—think of Sherlock Holmes. When Holmes was stuck on a case or idling time away, he would play his violin. His violin did not require this deductive powers that he needed for his case, so it allowed that part of his mind to relax or to work on the problem without being forced to. What would happen? Suddenly, in mid-draw of the bow, the solution would come to him. Once again, this is fiction. Yet, look at the process.

If you do not already have a secondary art, try one. Maybe it is painting, music, carpentry, or maybe the activity is nothing artsy in appearance. Find something that you can lose yourself in for the moment so that you can keep your creativity alive. You will find that the muse will be happier for the rest and provide you with better stories, poems, and so on because of it.

Thank you for reading and please visit www.davidalanlucas.com for information on blogs, poems and stories I write.