Writing and swimming

There is a lot of hard work that goes into a good article or a good blog, for that matter. After all, it takes time to write. More than that, however, it takes quite a bit of concentration and organization for the brain to dictate what to write.

As F. Scott Fitzgerald once said:

“All good writing is swimming under water and holding your breath. “

When you swim under water, you are in a different space. When you write, you take your readers to a different ‘world’ where your ideas reign supreme. And when you hold your breath under water, you are playing with time - for how long can you stay submerged in water? When you labor to excel in your craft, your aim is to be different and to be recognized – essentially, you are taking a risk…and you are holding your breath.

 Funny, I chanced upon this duck in Lake Elizabeth, wandering about in the waters. Then it suddenly disappeared, only to re-emerge, still bearing that same confidence it had before its dive – probably a result of repetitive practice.

For is not writing a habit that sharpens over time? The more adventurous you are, the more risks you take…the better you become at it.