Wallow

emily (U.s.a.)

[writing experiment]

Writing about my writer's block and distractions came out in metaphor.

The Oasis

Distractions scratch and moan from her shallow breaths. Their distressing requests demand attention, time, energy, and fret. They never tire, even now, in the arenaceous bleakness known as the blank page.

Frazzled, she walks hand in hoof with the creative camel. His humps are filled with ideas - solid and robust. Her anxiety trusts the camel, knowing he will always thrive in the most desolate places without water, shade, or shelter. Steadfast, the camel pushes her on toward Creation.

Mirages of respite shimmer on the horizon, beckoning the weary writer to endure a little more agitation. She sighs. Her journey seems endless. She fears the barren landscape of writer's block will always be around the next dune, but the mirage…

The camel knows the way to verdant creative pastures, where she'll drink in the words gifted from the record halls of the Akashic. She trusts but grimaces as the hot sand scorches her feet; if only she could jump on the camel and let it carry her to the waterfall of plots and dialogue. But that's not the journey.

She and the camel together must endure the eye-straining blue light desert, the one-two count of the angry curser, and the bottomless rabbit hole of research to reach the oasis.

With each painful step toward salvation, the camel's humps grow fatter, heightening her excited anxiety. Butterflies in her stomach sense the scent of a crystalline aquifer bubbling with lyrics, shaded underneath a canopy without clocks.

The camel guides her into the oasis, where she slumps over, weeping exhaustion from her empty mind. Procrastination heaves from her chest as she draws in the fresh, unedited air.

"Kneel", the camel instructs. "Cup your hands and drink from the source. Rest your mind in the space between my humps and embrace inspiration as its wavelengths quench your dehydrated imagination. Let creativity wash away the sands choking your genius.

Suckle at the sweet blossoms that grow from the outline tree; their nectar fertile with artistry.

Sleep in the shadows of curiosity, for when you awake, a forest of words will clear away blocked paths.

Choose your paths as they present themselves, for new paths are an opportunity to discover and explore Creative's ideas and stories - they will never lead you astray."