TheWritersBag.com

Over two millennia ago a Hindu sage named Patanjali wrote something in his Yoga Sutras that all writers should memorize:

“When you are inspired by some great purpose, some extraordinary project, all your thoughts break their bonds. Your mind transcends limitations. Your consciousness expands in every direction, and you find yourself in a new, great and wonderful world. Dormant forces, faculties and talents become alive, and you discover yourself to be a greater person by far than what you ever dreamed yourself to be.”

I find that passage to be inspiring in and of itself. Think of it: If you can find a “great purpose” or an “extraordinary project,” incredible things will happen:

• Your thoughts (your mind, your mental capabilities) will break their bonds and soar, transcending into new realms of potential.
• Your consciousness will expand outward in all directions, transporting you into a new and wonderful world.
• Forces inside you and around you, as well as abilities within you, will become activated.
• You will recognize your true greatness as a human being, and it will surprise you.

Last night I sat in bed with a notebook open on my lap, two virgin pages screaming a challenge at me. I wanted to write something good – the start of a novel, perhaps. But I was bone-tired and a novel is a monumental undertaking. I closed the notebook. It would have to wait.

This morning I have been thinking about last night’s cop-out. I was tired, to be sure. But I could have written something … at least the start of something. Why didn’t I?

I can’t say I didn’t have the energy. If a fire had broken out in the house right then, I would have been zipping around like a kid putting it out. I didn’t have much energy, but I had enough energy. It was the inspiration I lacked. That “great purpose” Patanjali spoke of – that “extraordinary project” – was not a sufficiently real presence in my mind to activate all the miracles inspiration makes possible.

Writers are more likely to suffer from a lack of inspiration than from a shortage of energy, talent or resources. The key to building a bonfire of inspiration within you is to identify your great purpose or extraordinary project, define it in detail, and then make it real – real enough to vividly see, feel, smell and taste it.

What could be a more extraordinary project than, say, writing a book, screenplay or other work that will affect thousands – maybe millions – of people? To what greater purpose could you devote your time and energies? Think about it. Live with it. Let it grow inside you. And importantly, believe in it. Let yourself fall into the transforming grip of inspiration.

Patanjali’s promises await you.

All but one of the following sentences are flawed. Which sentence is correct?

1. Louie nailed a part in the movie as a prisoner of war, but had to lose around 30 pounds.
2. Since he was given a promotion, he earns around $75,000 per year.
3. The factory produces about 35,000 widgets in a typical year.
4. They say the average person has around 40 dreams every night.

Which sentence would you say does not have a technical error?

The third sentence? Right.

Do you know what’s wrong with the others? It’s the use of the word “around” to mean “approximately.” Now, that’s not strictly forbidden, like, say, burping loudly in the middle of a wedding ceremony, but it’s not quite kosher.

If you want to write or say “approximately,” but that word seems too formal for the sentence (as it often is), use the word “about” instead.

I don’t know if you’ve had a chance to read the entries for last week’s Word Shot, but they are worth reading. Thank you all for participating, and I hope you take another crack at today’s Word Shot. (Those of you who didn’t participate, come on! Let’s get writing.)

Here’s the new Word Shot photo for this week….

This is a fairly gritty photo that can take you any number of directions. Look at it. Think about it. Which direction will you go with it? Remember, you can submit a phrase, a paragraph, an entire story or just a word. It’s up to you.

When you’re ready to participate in this Word Shot, simply submit your commentary on the photo in the comment area below the post (go to “Leave a Reply” below). And don’t forget to check out others’ submissions for this Word Shot in the coming week. Please remember, this exercise is for all of us, and the purpose is to help up hone our writing skills.

Also, remember that if you participate in 10 Word Shots, I’ll e-mail you all three of my e-manuals. Once you’ve submitted comments for 10, just let me know via e-mail.

Good luck and have fun!