#TellHisStory Featured Writer: L.L. Barkat
During 2013, dozens of talented writers are joining me to cheer you on in your storytelling. These guest-writers will share a few helpful words with you right here every Tuesday night, to encourage you as you #TellHisStory. (Come back after midnight to link up your story by clicking here.) And now, I’m delighted to introduce you to award-winning author and friend L.L. Barkat.
Rumors of Water
I am trying to have a conversation about writing. About how I can’t write anymore. Or at least how I can’t seem to write anything sustained. My older daughter Sara is trying to listen in, as is her way these days.
“Can you find me some water?” I ask. I’ve been sitting at this picnic for hours and really could use a cup of something simple to drink. I could also use a few minutes alone with my friend Anne, to work out this question of writing and creativity and what seems to be standing in my way.
Before I can form another thought, Sara is back. “There are rumors of water,” she says. “But I couldn’t find any.”
“Rumors of water,” I answer. “Now that’s a good book title.”
“It could be about you and your daughters,” says Anne. “How you’re raising them to be so creative.”
I turn this thought around in my mind. “I don’t feel like I’ve finished living that enough,” I say, knowing this is both true and not true at all.
I have been trying to write while raising my girls. I have been struggling. There are days I feel wildly creative; there are weeks when I feel ground down and completely spent. I am trying to show my girls that creativity is theirs for the taking. Sometimes it seems to be. Sometimes I feel the road is so long they will never get where they’re trying to go.
There are so many things standing in my way this morning, I can hardly begin. Yet I’ve heard there are rumors of water. Maybe that is enough.
L.L. Barkat is Managing Editor of Tweetspeak Poetry, a site committed to helping people experience a whole life through the power of writing, reading, and just plain living. She is the author of six books, including the award-winning Rumors of Water: Thoughts on Creativity & Writing.
(This post is an excerpt from Rumors of Water.)
Writing Workshop: L.L. Barkat’s Tweetspeak Poetry is hosting a Writing Life workshop, led by two extraordinary writers/editors: Ann Kroeker and Charity Singleton. “Are you waiting for your writing life to begin? Have you wondered when you’ll discover the magic formula for getting inspired, improving your skills, getting published, and being part of a real writing community? The Writing Life workshop is for you. Sign up by clicking here. Begins Sept 4.
I love this. I understand this:
There are so many things standing in my way this morning, I can hardly begin. Yet I’ve heard there are rumors of water. Maybe that is enough.
So true, Patty. Yet, in the writing of the barriers, we suddenly find… we are writing.
Now I know where the title came from. Bruce Cockburn, a singer/songwriter from Canada has an album, “Rumors of Glory” . The imagery is good. We know enough about these things — just enough to pike our curiosity and keep us thirsty