When You’re Stuck for a Story
If you're new around these parts, I just want to say how much I appreciate your dropping by! Oh, and you may want to subscribe to my feed. Thanks, and a tip o' the hat to ya!
Note from the proprietor: Today’s guest writer is Joanna Young of Confident Writing.
It all started when he said “just tell me a story”. That was enough. I knew as soon as he said it that I wouldn’t be able to write because the very words “tell me a story” make my mind go blank and my fingers freeze.
It’s the exact same thing that happens when someone asks me to tell a joke. Nothing. Nada. Except fear and trembling of course. You’d think I’d never been told a joke in my life. Not a single one from the age of 4 upwards that had been stored anywhere within some kind of reach of my frantic, embarrassed neural networks.
But then I went back to thinking about why I wanted to write here in the first place. It had started as a What I Learned From project in my head (I can’t be the only one who’s missing WILF this month?) It was going to be called what I learned from the man with the exploding head.
And seeing as I’m here I’m going to tell you about it anyway.
I used to be a civil servant, working over 10 years for what’s now the Scottish government, before that in a range of public service organisations. Words were part of my stock in trade, words carefully chosen and used – to inform, to explain, to manage, to keep some sense of order around things. Anyway, I digress – kind of, because that’s part of the person I was when I first stumbled across the Middle Zone.
And the first time I came across the man with the exploding head, well it was after I’d written a WILF piece and sent it in. It bounced back to me because he’d published the wrong e-mail address for submissions, so I dug around a bit and found a different one and all was well. Next month: same thing happens. And you know my heart always warms to people who make recurring mistakes because it’s the kind of thing I do too, and the more I try not to, like not getting mixed up with dates and booking tickets on the wrong day, well that’s precisely what I end up doing.
Anyway, third time round and by this point it’s kind of a routine between us. Four writing projects in and yes – we were still playing the game, and that was the point that his head exploded. And I’m glad that it did because it was a bit of a whack on the side of the head for me too. Waking me up to the realisation that these were the things - alongside the self talk in the posts and the funny rejoinders to other Middle Zoners in the comment box – that these were precisely the things that create the possibility of relaxing, of breathing out, of enjoying some banter, of softening the edges of the way that I think, and write, and get to talk to other people. To enter into the spirit of a place that is just so – well I’m still not so sure what the one word is – but it’s like – refreshing, or rejuvenating – the way you feel after a long cool beer after a hot dusty day.
Because small conversations can be bridges to longer and more lasting ones, to new stories and connections and possibilities which have added a wealth of fun and understanding to my blog and to my readers there – and to my own growing confidence in shaking off some of that old public service persona and learning how to hang out with writers whose heads can explode in places like the Middle Zone.
Which is a long way round of getting to the point.
Labels – like “story” – and expectations – like “how can I write something funny enough, thoughtful enough, quality enough for someone else’s site” – well they get in the way of writing – writing the way that we are and writing what we want to say. They get in the way of the bigger purpose - and it’s that bigger purpose which is what I always try and hang on to when I get lost for words. Big doesn’t have to mean grand – in fact it can be something ordinary and everyday – like saying a word of thanks to someone you’ve learned from. Just something that’s big enough, and human enough, and important enough to take you beyond the fear and awkwardness that tangle up your words – and find a way to tell your own version of the story.
You know, it would just be absolutely finer than a frogs hair if you would subscribe to my RSS feed!
10 responses so far
Middle Zone Musings is a comfortable place to stop, have a cup of coffee, swap a few stories and share practical ideas for the real world. I don't ask for much, just a bit of your brain every now and then. Have a seat, take a load off, and relax...
[...] unknown wrote an interesting post today onHere’s a quick excerptWaking me up to the realisation that these were the things - alongside the self talk in the posts and the funny rejoinders to other Middle Zoners in the comment box – that these were precisely the things that create the possibility of … [...]
Joanna, thanks for sharing a bit of your background. Your post makes me realize humor is not a writing technique, it’s a state of mind.
Joanna,
Wow! Out of this world wonderful. I was right there with you every second. I feel rejuvenated, refreshed like I’ve had a cold beer on a dusty, dry day. Thank you so much.
Robert,
You show your brilliance in how you let others shine.
Joanna, I’m honored and pleased to welcome you to the Zone as a writer! (I almost said contributor, but of course you’ve been contributing all along in your comments and our WILF projects.)
Liz, I appreciate your support in helping get me and the Zone into a more “relaxed” mode. When I look back at some of my first posts, I think, “Man, was I uptight!”
But eventually I found out how to be myself (sound of animals and small children running away screaming) and just… well, learned to let it flow. Many thanks!
Hi everyone
First and foremost thanks to the proprietor (doesn’t that sound grand!) for letting me write here - and teaching me what the middle zone’s all about…
@ Liz, I’m glad you enjoyed it. When I read through the story I realised it was a lot about how to say thank you, which is kind of what we were talking about earlier. I love these synchronicities
@ Brad - definitely! In fact, the more I think about it, the more I think everything is down to your state of mind…
Joanna
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