Take a Bite

I've been thinking about the words temptation and resistance. I work in time blocks. I have my day divided into sections: Home, Admin, Exercise, Write. They shouldn’t go in that order but typically they do. I resist. Feeling I have to get all the “things” done before I can let myself write. The Writer’s block (no pun intended) contains varying items. Write. Submit. Post. Research. And sometimes research means watching a movie. Not bad work if you can get it.

Working on prompts this July, trying to stir up the creative juices, I was faced with writing about a movie with a theme park. I turned to The Lost Boys. What a great flick! That opening scene, flying over the park in the fictional Santa Clara. Man, you felt like you were flying! But the theme park isn’t the main character in this film; although it’s a great metaphor for Neverland. The vampire is front and center. The vampire, as a monster, is different. There is the lure, the temptation all mixed up with the desire to live forever, to belong, and honestly with just plain old desire for what it is-sexual attraction.

Temptation vs Resistance. Resistance can be luring depending on how you look at it. In the War of Art by Steven Pressfield, he has this to say about “Resistance.”

Someone once asked Somserset Maugham if he wrote on a schedule or only when struck with inspiration. “I write only when inspiration strikes,” he replied. “Fortunately, it strikes every morning at nine o’clock sharp.” That’s a pro. In terms of Resistance, Maugham was saying, “I despise Resistance; I will not let it faze me. I will sit down and do my work.” Maugham reckoned another, deeper truth: that by performing the mundane physical act of sitting down and starting to work, he set in motion a mysterious but infallible sequence of events that would produce inspiration, as surely as if the goddess had synchronized her watch with his. He knew if he built it, she would come.”

If we allow resistance to win, aren’t we giving into temptation? Interesting. In the case of vampires, resistance by the victim is a show of strength, will power. Like in the story of The Garden of Eden. Adam cannot resist Eve and her luscious orb(s). His willpower is naught. He gives in, surrenders. They ate from the tree that was forbidden. They tasted the fruit. They learned a lesson. Life is full of choices and consequences. Just like if you give into a vampire, yeah you get eternal life, you can fly, etc. but that kind of life can be long and you have to hunt for your food, its messy, disposing of the leftover bodies. It’s a lot of work. I highly recommend hiring a familiar.

Lessons. Structure. Doing the “things.” The days are full of this stuff. Most of the “things” you think you need to do today will be there tomorrow. So, sit down. Write. Fight the resistance. Give yourself over to the muse. Accept the offering. Taste. The fruit is delicious.

Book recommendation

the War of Art by Steven Pressfield

My guilty pleasure

Summertime. The nectarines are in season. My favorite. When it’s perfect, ripe, tart, sweet, the right texture…it’s…an experience. I close my eyes, take a bite. I make noises. Truthfully, I should probably be alone with my fruit and let the juice run down my chin.

Batty forever,

Greta