Good writing is what happens when the right energies are flowing. Of course, energies are always flowing, and how well they do so is a measure of our true health and happiness. Still, when we endeavor to write, we anticipate a certain outcome: words building up across the screen on our favorite text editor. Even more to the point, we want to be satisfied with what they say.

It's easy to type words into a keyboard. Well, sometimes it's not, but that's the subject of a different post.

I've always found that when writing feels the best, I'm merely an observer. In fact, I'm hardly even there. I've given up awareness of the outside world and the control of my hands. That's why I believe that good writing is simply a by-product, that we must first cultivate the relevant energies. More importantly, we must not let our minds stand in the way. Especially during that raw, initial outpouring, the ego has no place. We must not interfere.

Without that initial outpouring, there can be no story of value. Which is why creative writing is so different than, say, speech writing, or most forms of non-fiction.

Naturally, we may wish to channel the creative energies in a certain direction or be selective about their wellspring. But once the energies are flowing and we are writing, it is best to simply step aside and let them do their work.

It's only afterward when we can pour a glass of wine and settle back to review what we've actually written that we can also step back into ourselves. Kind of like a passing observer to a car crash that happened just before we turned the corner, or someone else's random act of kindness.

Because I believe we can't really take credit for creativity. That comes from somewhere else, and the Story of Me has little - if anything - to do with it.