Three years ago, I read a book on writing. I can’t remember the title or author but I remember one thing in particular that really helped me. She mentioned starting to write first thing in the morning. She called it “morning ramblings.” I took her advice. I just started one day—writing just to write. No particular thought, theme, organization, or whatever.

Morning ramblings go great with coffee or tea. Just grab a cup. Nice and hot. Then sit down with your laptop or desktop, open and password-save a document, then start writing. Or if it’s a beautiful day, just head out to your favorite spot with a pad and pencil. But don’t plan and think it all through. That defeats the spontaneity of the activity. How do you start? Just DO IT! 

It’s OK to begin the way I did when I first started morning ramblings. Here’s my first paragraph:

The idea of morning ramblings is to write with no direction other than to express what is pent-up or to put down whatever needs to be there. Not that I have a plan, I just want to let writing express whatever is there. Later I can play the editor. Right now, this is just to write and flow.

 

I really want to finish my manuscript and get on with life. I’m not sure why I’m dragging my feet. Is it merely poor planning, lack of interest, or something else? I don’t feel disinterested. I still have a passion for the ministry that this book can have in people’s lives. But every time I think I’m approaching the end of it, there’s something else to do–a footnote, a resource I forgot to list, a quote I want to add.

 

The writing is completed (I think). But references need placing; syntax needs cleaning up and polishing. And if I had the time, I’d use my thesaurus over word choices.

 

I’m also unhappy with changes in perceived audience. One minute I’m talking to folks in my congregation, the next I’m talking to other pastors or seminary
professors. Yet in my intro, I make it clear that this is not an academic work. I wish I’d get it straight. I also am plagued by curiosity as to whether this is all unique to me or whether other writers experience the same thing, and have learned what they’re dealing with and how to push through it.

 

I suppose I could be closer to the end of my work on the manuscript if I were working on it instead of this morning rambling, but then again, everyone needs to vent from time to time. What better place to do that than here? Well in my memoir, but that is on the shelf for a couple of years more too.

 

There you have it. Now . . . back to completing what I started. Hopefully I can submit it to the waiting editors by next week?

                          [I was referring in this rambling to my first book, We’re the ‘sons of God’ . . .So What? (Featured on the right; available at Amazon.com)]

That’s what it’s all about . . . whatever you want it to be. Some of them might even turn into a post for your blog, and actually help someone. [By the way, this was a morning rambling that turned into a blog. So you never know.] But don’t write with that in mind. Just write!