By Mazzy Adams
As a child,
I loved working my way through fun activity books, ones with colour-by-numbers
or dot-to-dots.
If I followed the instructions, a completed picture would emerge.
Seeing my efforts come to fruition was such a thrill.
My all-time favourites
were the MAZES! Helping Fido find his bone, or helping the lost bunny find his way
home was more than fun; it was satisfying. I confess I rigorously planned the
route in my head before my pencil touched the page, so I wouldn’t end up drawing
messy detours.
Those fun activities
reinforced important life lessons, like the wisdom of following directions, the
blessing of assisting others, and the value of planning. All of these
principles have helped me negotiate life with satisfaction and some success. They
inform my efforts and habits as a writer, as, no doubt, they do yours.
Writing,
like many of life’s activities, can be fun, but it
is not always child’s play. At times, connecting the dots is complicated and messy.
Putting the ‘right’ colours in the ‘right’ places doesn’t always work out, especially
when numbers are missing, or your green felt-pen runs dry halfway through
the leaves. Fido bites your finger on the way to his bone. Or, like Alice in Wonderland, you chase the bunny and fall down a rabbit
hole into a whole world of confusing encounters and unexpected challenges.
When it comes to life’s
mazes, some walls are so high, planning the route is impossible. Dead ends
leave you backtracking, or stuck in a corner, puzzled, stunned, confused and exhausted.
Where’s the fun in that?
Over the
last year, I’ve had plenty to hinder my writing progress. Just two weeks after I
had major surgery, I broke my wrist and spent the following four or five months
stuck in a corner, healing slowly. I struggled to link the simplest of thoughts
together and the big picture eluded me completely.
I found myself thinking
thoughts like … I don’t have to write. No-one’s making me. I could just … stop.
Then again, where’s the fun in that?
Writing may
not be child’s play, but it does bring joy and satisfaction. Writing creates images with words. It orders our thinking and colours our world. It helps us connect the dots when it comes to
important issues of life, faith, purpose and destiny. Writing helps us make
sense of the journey, keeps us on track and moves us forward. When we write right, we help our readers enjoy these
things too.
I’m grateful
that my body is healing and ideas are flowing again. I've been able to review my novel with fresh eyes and a fresh perspective. I've actually enjoyed giving it an
overhaul. Although the messiness of life hindered my progress and satisfaction for a time,
it also gave me breathing space, and permission to go easy on myself for a
while. Most importantly, it reminded me that writing truly is worthwhile. And ... it’s
fun!
Mazzy Adams is a published author of poetry, fiction and creative non-fiction. She has a passion for words, pictures and the positive potential in people.
Website: www.mazzyadams.com
Email: maz@mazzyadams.com
