In the ten days since my last post I have been a diligent and productive writer and editor at my 9 to 5, read the Curious Case of Benjamin Button and thoroughly enjoyed every word, contemplated how much longer I should keep my aging but still-running vehicle, and spent some time exploring Chicago just for the heck of it (note: yes, I'm an editor who enjoys reading, so I should clarify that I explored the city of Chicago, not the style manual). I have done a lot of musing during this time, with thoughts ranging from the possible consequences of ignoring an obvious conflict of interest to calculating how much I should be saving to fulfill my goal of home ownership.
My brain is responsible for managing an exponential amount of data, mostly the products of my imagination, and I often wish I knew how to manually go into the "hard drive" and delete bothersome programs and add beneficial ones.
I'd add a program called Automatic Bridger that would bridge the gaps in the stories I'm having trouble completing. My inability to organize the middle (or meat of the story sandwich) has always plagued me. I know the beginning, the ending, and some of the conflicts that comprise the middle...but that's it...for just about all of them. Automatic Bridger could show me the links between my scenes, and sort through the piles of disconnected pieces to pull together a believable and engaging sequence of events. I wouldn't abuse this program, I'd only call on it during draining bouts of writer's block.
I'd also add a program called Eraser, similar to antivirus protection, that searches the hard drive for people and scenarios I've spent too much time imagining, and after quarantining them, asks these questions:
"Is it possible that this person or people are imagining you in a similar way?"
Me: No, I'm sure they are not. Positive in fact.
"Have these thoughts contributed to your well-being or helped you advance any of your goals?"
Me: My answer is a resounding no.
"Can this space be used for other, more productive purposes?"
Me: Why yes, I'm quite sure it could.
"Thank you. Erase of subjects completed. Space now free for something more important and reciprocal."
I'd delete the program that generates self-doubt of my abilities; the program that instructs the system to procrastinate; the program that supplies the excitement I need to sign-up for projects and activities, only to cut it off a short time later; and finally, I'd delete the program that craves Jelly Belly® jelly beans and other sweets.
But of all of these, I wish I had Automatic Bridger right now. I suppose I could call upon my brain, but it's so busy I hate to task it with more. Oh why not, that's what it's there for. Perhaps I should knock first to see if it has any time today to help me out. Wish me luck.
The weird thing about the clutter in our brain is that we don’t need all of it, at least we don’t see the need for it all. And it's a good thing maybe that we can't delete files at will. Because aren’t you amazed sometimes at how even the smallest and most foolish clutter in our brain can suddenly give rise to some amazing thoughts that make you reach for your pen.
ReplyDeleteI suppose you're right, much of my inspiration has come from old files that the Eraser would have destroyed had it existed. There's just so much to process though; but this is probably what makes me so special. Thank you for showing my blog some love, it looks forward to your visits and thoughtful replies.
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