Wednesday, October 2, 2013

Insecure Writers' Support Group: Wisdom from Gandalf

Another lovely Insecure Writers' Support Group Wednesday is here. For more information about this great forum, click HERE.

As I gathered with some friends to watch The Hobbit, a particular exchange between Gandalf and Bilbo stood out to me.

Biblo: Can you promise that I will come back?
Gandalf: No. And if you do... you will not be the same. 
 
What does Bilbo do? He goes to bed. 
 
Yes, he heads to catch some winks with expectations to go on with his life as normal in the morning. He most likely begged the Hobbit gods to make the houseful of impolite dwarves swarming his kitchen to disappear by the time he awoke.
 
Baggins cowers away, tempted more by the comforts of his established and quiet life.  When he wakes and finds himself alone, the itching Took inside him drives him out if his quaint home to join the dwarves and Gandalf on their dangerous adventure. The hobbit didn't know what was ahead of him but he went regardless of possible incineration or countless other gruesome deaths.
 
We as writers take on a similar journey. Although, hopefully minus sleeping on the ground and fighting trolls and dragons (at least not in our minds). 
 
Journeying on an adventure with words does not have any guarantees. There isn't a contract at the beginning saying it is going to work exactly how you want it to.
 
There are ups and downs and depression that hits when you least expect it. 
 
But through the words that often times cramp our fingers from typing, we are not the same as when we began. We are better, far better for it because we tried regardless of the end result. 
 
So keep on writing.
 
What are your thoughts on this subject?
 
Hugs
 
Writing Jewels
 
 

15 comments:

  1. I think that is an awesome analogy! No guarantees other than we won't be the same if we take the journey. But you know what - it's worth it.

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  2. Better to find out then to never find out at all

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    1. What no rhyme? haha Thanks for stopping by as always. :)

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  3. who wants to always be the same anyway? Let's take that adventure.

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  4. I think we all know that we won't be the same and still still choose to write. :) I love this analogy - it speaks to my Lord of the Rings nerd-love! There's no guarantee, but I still want to take that adventure. :)

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  5. Julia, I love this!
    We just never know how different our experiences will make us. At least we always learn something ;)

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    1. Thanks! And yes, we learn a lot--mostly from our mistakes. haha

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  6. Yes, yes, yes! Love you, Jules. <3

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  7. Great post! Side note: My boss made a reference to second breakfast, and I laughed at his comment. Then, our other coworker in the room asked what we're talking about and I said, "Lord of the Rings." She then shook her head. It made me a bit sad.

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    1. Bahahaha! Your coworker just doesn't know what she's missing out on.

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    2. Nice! You had me at Gandalf in the title!
      Bilbo was always my favourite Hobbit. I guess it comes from the fact that he was my first.
      Great analogy!

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