ANDRE BEGIN

I am often surprised whenever I pay a visit to my drafts folder and reconnect with articles I started writing but didn’t quite finish. Even more surprising is when I realize just how close I was to the finish line. But I understand how and why that can happen.

Sometimes I may have a great article, but my gut tells me that the title needs more work.

Sometimes a story sounds great in my head, yet once committed to paper, it seems to lack something.

Then there are the times when I might have a strong title and a great article, but the perfect ending to tie up the story and stick the landing escapes me.

I have also encountered finished products, ready to be released to the world, but I simply haven’t found the right photo to draw attention to them and create a natural lead-in to the story.

Rather than struggle, frustrate myself and metaphorically hit the brick wall of writer’s block, I choose to set it aside for another day and to keep the momentum going with another writing project that is near and dear to my heart. I trust that inspiration will come along later to resolve the situation.
For that reason, as a freelance writer, I have many articles that are started, but never quite finished and I am quite fine with that – in theory.

I know for a fact that with a little time, distance and a fresh pair of eyes, I am often able to return to a written piece later and for inspiration to find me. I can then incorporate the finishing touches and successfully bring the piece across the finish line.

I also know that rarely can I complete an article in one or two sittings. I know I’m a good writer, but not THAT good!

Much like a parent, I enjoy nurturing my work of art and to keep working with it consistently to give the story its proper start in life.

I don’t know if other writers are like me, but some days I am in peak performance for generating new ideas. Other days, I’m better at taking those seedlings of ideas and developing their stories, while others are better suited to editing, finessing and bringing them across the finish line. The trick is to maintain a balance of all three “moods” to ensure a steady waterfall of material through the creative process.

When that balance is maintained, I know that it’s just a matter of time for an idea to come to fruition. But that’s the trick – coming back to it later.

For me, the lesson learned is that on days when I may not feel the inclination to break ground on new ideas, that is a good day to go back to the drafts folder and review those unfinished stories to see if the right words come to me to polish it like the jewel it has the potential of becoming.

Despite our great enthusiasm to start fleshing out new stories, we need to remind ourselves to go back again and again and to finish what we started. As custodians of these ideas, we really need to be mindful to not neglect our responsibility as storytellers who have been entrusted with these seedlings of ideas and to remember to go back and care for our garden.

The bottom line is that if you have several story ideas on the go, remember to keep checking your drafts folder. There may be some real gems there that may be near completion.

P.S. I recognize the irony and the humour of the situation when I drafted this story, forgot about it and drafted a second completely different version a few weeks later. Fortunately, I was able to merge the two into the finished product that you see today. Just the same, it speaks volumes about the importance of returning to our drafts folder periodically.

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Sincere thanks for reading!
Have a great day,
André