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"You can't say, I won't write today because that excuse will extend into several days, then several months, then...you are not a writer anymore, just someone who dreams about being a writer." - Dorothy C. Fontana
Earlier this week, co-WOW woman Robin did a post on handling life's
challenges and staying on course with your writing. I loved her description of being in a “ bus-runneth-over state” at the time of writing. I am so there right now and got the tire tracks on me to prove it!
While I’ve continued writing assignments and projects---I’m participating in Script Frenzy this month---the above quote applied to my journal writing. In fact, I hadn’t journalled in a little over six months. While there are some who have lengthy periods of time between journal entries, I’m not one of them. Days, weeks, a couple of months at the most. Journalling serves as a catharsis for me, but seemed like ‘the bus kept running over’ me. My “I won’t write today,” stretched days, weeks, months and I saw some of my writing suffer.
Then one day last month, I spotted my journal near my bed, still new, waiting to be opened. That day I wrote, releasing months of pent-up crap. Ideas started to flow. It was lovely.
By the way, Fontana has some serious street cred. Better known as D.C. Fontana, she’s written numerous episodes for various Star Trek shows including the original series, The Next Generation, Deep Space Nine and so on. She’s also written for The Waltons, children’s shows such as Land of the Lost and He-Man and the Masters of the Universe; Six Million Dollar Man and Dallas. Imagine if she decided not write!
Ever said “I won’t write today?” Share how that turned out for you.
By Jill Earl
Photo credit: Microsoft Clip Art
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The things I learn on WOW...I didn't know that Dorothy Fontana was the same as DC Fontana! She wrote some of my favorite Star Trek and Walton's episodes.
I have said, "I won't write today." But, it never happens. I can't help but write, whether it is a quick email to one of my girls or a poem that comes to me in the middle of gardening or an article for one of the freelance positions I have, I always write.
Like Jill, writing is cathartic as well as illuminating. It is what has kept me in balance during some of the crazy days in my life.
The Waltons are classic! By the time I saw them, they were re-runs, but even re-runs can shape our lives. My family still references characters from the Waltons. How cool to be a part of television history. And especially Star Trek!
I think just about everyone references something from The Waltons and especially Star Trek. I personally think it's past time for D.C. Fontana to get her props!
Talk about influence!
Thanks for the comments, ladies! Write on!