There’s a quote from the 19th Century naturalist and essayist John Burroughs that I’ve been giving more credence to: Leap, and the net will appear. In other words, learn to take bold action by accepting a leap of faith. This is something I’ve always had a problem with when I sit down to write. I acknowledge that the action of writing something new has been hampered by my own hesitation. The ideas for new stories and essays never stop coming, they’re always demanding to be expressed, and yet the hesitation persists. The most common excuses that I have for this hesitation come down to some fundamental questions: Am I doing the right thing? Shouldn’t I be more focused on the pursuit of getting and holding down a job? What are the consequences if I fail at my task and can’t get an article or story published?
These are certainly valid concerns, and in the past, I paid much more attention to them then than I do now. What I’ve realized is that because I let myself become boxed in by my own fears, even when I’m working toward the “right” action of becoming employed, I’m not allowing myself to take more risks that would enable me to achieve greater results. The irony is that by not taking those risks and neglecting my gifts as a writer, I’ve probably ignored the very skillsets that would allow me to become more financially solvent. And to use those skills, I need to acknowledge my fear and focus on writing those stories.
Ray Bradbury has a quote that exemplifies this call to action: “Jump off the cliff and build your wings on the way down.” In other words, don’t plan, just do. Don’t wait for the safety net but allow yourself the opportunity to make mistakes and create your own solutions, even and especially if you’re in freefall. This can be a terrifying prospect for most writers, yet the very act of writing is a leap of faith that you’ll create something that will resonate with another person.
So yes, I still feel moments of hesitation when I sit down to write. Or I want to create a perfect first draft, which I know is a horrible way to come at any new writing project. It’s only now in the past few years that I’ve realized how my perfectionism has been a huge impediment to getting any work done. Thus, for the time being, my motto will be, “Leap, and the net will appear.” Maybe I won’t create the exact product or story I want, but it won’t be for a lack of trying. And maybe I’ll create something truly spectacular in the end that I never expected.
Freedman on the Go 