The Spoken Word

Last week a friend and I went to hear Anne Lamott -- one of our favorite writers -- speak. I left with a lot to think about. But one of the things that really struck me was not something that she said. What struck me was the power of the spoken word.

I love Anne Lamott's writing. She is a careful writer, and she is also hilarious and insightful. But to hear her speak was another matter entirely. Years ago, I read much of Bird by Bird, her book on writing, and I have read many other books (or portions thereof) about the writing process... But hearing her talk about the process of writing got through to me in a whole new way. Maybe it's just the season in my life. Not that I'm in a season where I think it will be easier to write, because I most definitely am not. I'm thinking more of my age, the passage of time, and the understanding that the things we want are rarely easy.

She shared how she is never inspired to write, but still she sits down every day and does it. She tackles it, as her father once told her brother, bird by bird.

And though it is so hard for me to do anything beyond what must be done to ensure the day-to-day survival of my children, why do I think it should be easy or convenient to sit down and write? The reality is that I find it hard to get dinner on the table each night. I fail to make the time to exercise. I feel like I'm always one step behind. Why would writing be any different?

Life always moves in and takes up space. I am going to have to shove it aside for a bit each day if I am ever to make room to write. Because even when Son4 is old enough to be in school full day, five days a week, then I'll just be working more than I already am right now. Will I really feel like I have more time then? Probably not. Not if I don't start now. And that is the power of the spoken word, that it could knock something into me that no words on a page ever have.