“I do not have writer’s block.”
“Then why are you sitting there, struggling, looking like you’re trying to bleed on paper through the pores in your forehead?”
“Use your imagination,” I snarled, nearly knocking the chair over as I pushed away from the desk to refill my coffee mug. “Maybe I’m just singularly lacking in creativity.” I sighed, deflating my lungs to match my spirit.
“I think you need an adventure. Come on, change your clothes and let’s go for a nature walk.”
A little voice in my head whined, “Don’t wanna. You can’t make me.” Instead of giving it a voice, I downed the coffee – it was lukewarm, anyway, as the coffeemaker had shut off automatically an hour earlier. “Fine.” I put the mug on the counter and went to pull on some clean clothes.
“Don’t forget water. It’s hot out there.”
Hot enough to cook my brain. I filled the CamelBak with ice and water and slung the straps over my shoulders. “Okay, let’s get this over with.”
As I trudged the well-worn path into the woods, the only sounds were birdsong and the sound of tiny twigs snapping under my hiking boots. I didn’t think. I’d been thinking all morning. Might as well give my dysfunctional brain a rest instead of trying to beat it into submission. My legs and back muscles cried, “Freedom!”
A mile in, a sense of contentment washed over me. I was curious: did I have the resourcefulness to survive in the quiet wilderness, alone? I daydreamed about a rustic log cabin, nestled into a clearing in the woods. Would Amazon drop firewood and food in the front yard? I wondered. Maybe Amazon drone deliveries would prove useful, after all.
My restless energy, given an outlet, finally, gave way to myriad story ideas. As the sunlight’s rays grew golden and faint, I walked back home, contented. Calm. Ready to write. I could hear the sound of laughter from my annoyingly persistent Muse.
“Hush, you,” I whispered to the wind.
This story brought to you with inspiration from Creative Copy Challenge #674 | Writing Prompts – Creative Copy Challenge (wordpress.com) and the words Struggle, Adventure, Nature, Curiosity, Creativity, Freedom, Resourcefulness, Imagination, Outlet, Contentment.
Holly ~
I love, “…trying to bleed on paper through the pores in your forehead?”
… deflating my lungs to match my spirit…. Now there’s some imagery I nearly felt.
And then… that comment about Amazon drones! You had me chuckling by then.
Write On, Please.
Kathleen
Hi Kathleen! I was just telling someone about your keeping the fires burning at CCC. How have you been?
Cheers,
Mitch
You know me – I can’t be “funny on command,” but I can slip humor into the otherwise tragic. I’m fun at funerals.
Actually, I’m not. I try to duck out early. I don’t even stay for the free food.
This was a great read, Holly. Your imagination is marvelous. As such the Amazon prime vehicles are rushing through our front yard, I wonder how the drone delivery is going to be! 🙂
Hahaha! The only reason I can imagine for not grabbing my slingshot is this fantasy.
Thank you, Vinita. I wonder why this just showed up in spam? You posted your comment on the 10th! But I checked comments more recently and it wasn’t there. Gremlins in the machine? There’s a prompt for you!
Still at it, huh? I like this. More people should let their minds wander. It’s fun!
That bit about the lukewarm coffee, though…gaaah!
Cheers,
Mitch
Better than burning my throat on it!
Thanks, Mitch. You know that CCC is usually a quick kick in the tush when I need it. And Kathleen’s promised more unrelated words to add more challenge.
My dad can drink scalding coffee. I can’t abide the oily dregs of lukewarm coffee. Actually, I no longer consume it, as its dehydrating effects devastated my poor kidney.
Anywho, unrelated words are the best! That’s how they often were, back in the day.
Oh, really? I didn’t know it was so hard on the kidneys.
Yep. I was drinking three or four cups a day, plus eating a lot of salty snacks and processed foods. Combined with not drinking enough water, I wound up with a kidney stone.
Mitchell Allen recently posted…Shuffling Down Memory Lane
Now why did THIS comment go into moderation? The others didn’t. Ah. OK – I’m bad about salt and I have cut back, but not cut OUT coffee. No kidney stones (and do NOT want them!) but I do try to stay very well hydrated.
Heh. Perhaps my edit triggered something. I’m still bad about salty snacks, but I use almost no salt in my dishes. I just took a sip of water, thanks to the comment. I have a big ol’ flask sitting here, but I get so involved in stuff that I forget it’s there.
Cheers,
Mitch