While I was dance-walking home from Salsa lessons tonight, I had a thought. (Ok, I had many thoughts but most of them were not worth blogging about and this one is actually only borderline.) Anyhoo, the thought was this:
Writing is a lot like dancing.
*pregnant pause to allow depth of wisdom to sink in*
Get on the dancefloor, forget all the rules, and go with your instincts
I haven’t danced for a while and I was pretty nervous rocking up there tonight, to twirl amid the talented. But I had fun, and I learned some new steps, and once I got going I wasn’t too bad.
Unfortunately, I haven’t been writing much lately and I’m pretty nervous about rocking up to the page tomorrow. What if I’ve forgotten all the steps and I stumble or, worse, think I have talent and everyone stands around me cheering but it turns out I’m only the writing version of that William Hung guy?
I’m beginning to over-think it again. And that is as dangerous to writing as it is to dancing. So I’m just going to stop now and go read my book and come back with a clear head in the morning.
Good.
PS: In case you don’t know, dance-walking is forward motion with headphones and dance moves.
PPS: While I was dance-walking home through the city tonight two, I repeat two, seperate weirdos stopped to offer me a ride home. I’m not trying to be cynical but I can assure you they were not offering me a ride in a “oh, people can be so sweet” sort of way but more in the “oh my gosh, I narrowly escaped being cut into pieces and hidden in the walls” kind of way. I’m glad I didn’t give in to today’s overwhelming sensation of being in dream rather than waking life and jump in just to see what would happen. I hate to think what sort of nightmare would have ensued and, judging from my real dreams, I would only end up not being able to shout loud enough or run fast enough (damn lead legs) or fly high enough (despite frantic arm flapping)… erm, have I said too much?
PPPS: Do any of you also have the flying by flapping your arms dreams? One of my friends flys just like Superman (point and go) in her dreams and I was always jealous of her coolness. My sweaty flailings look so unco in comparison. It probably says a lot that I’m not even cool in my own dreams!
PPPPS: I’m not being particularly original with the idea that writing is like dancing. I just did a quick net search and, to name but a couple, Kelly Polark says it’s all about practice, in both dancing and writing, and Shannon Philpott thinks writing is like dancing because it’s how we express ourselves.
Love this metaphor! And LOL @ the William Hung comment. We writers are so insecure, aren’t we? I once attended a conference at which the keynote speaker was a Newberry Award-winning author who also worried that no one would care for her writing and was completely shocked when she won the most honored prize in children’s literature.
I agree wholeheartedly that writing is like dancing (Hmmm…is that why I love both?). What also comes to mind is this: to observe a dance that is done well can touch the observer’s soul. To read a book that is written well can have the same effect. The arts, in all their forms, are a powerful thing, both to the observer and to the artist.
P.S. – I adore dance-walking. :)
Ahhh, yes, it is one of the exquisite joys in life to watch great dancers or read great writers. It’s probably why we all feel so insecure. I mean how audacious to hope to touch someone’s soul! But, really, is there any other goal in life worth trying for?
Myhonestmistakes took the words right out of my mouth.
Maybe writing is like stealing honey, too.
And in response to your response, I think finally kicking my sister’s butt in scrabble is a worthy goal, too :).
Great post! (still giggling…) I had a dream the other night where I was up on the crest of a 60 foot wave and I thought to myself (in my dream) wow! You should look around and enjoy yourself up here, because you won’t ever get to do this in real life!
Pretty sweet dream.
That is a TOTALLY sweet dream. I love the self-aware dreams when you can go all lucid and really have a larf.
What a fantastic post! So, I sometimes think both writing and dancing are similar to jazz and improvisation. The technique better be there, but what separates the well-trained from the plain talented is the ability to know when to just chuck the technique out the window and do – or dance or write – what’s inside you. It’s the difference between being a technician and an artist. Anyone can do it, you just gotta trust yourself and let go. And, more importantly, I’m jealous of flying dreams of all kinds, given that I just have falling dreams… Not so fun… Maybe dream-Rachel should just take up dance-walking…
Dream-Rachel should definitely take up dance-walking. Sorry about the falling dreams, that is bum. You’re right on the money about improv too.
Oh, and Kaston, good luck beating your sister in scrabble. If is a worth goal indeed, but is it achievable?
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