Editor's note: This month's nonfiction offers a bit of inspiration and "how-to" from a long-time student at the Indiana Writers Center. It is not intended as a plug for the Center, but rather as testament to the fact that success in writing, as in anything, is only achieved through hard work and persistence once the decision is made to go for it. Enjoy!
From Under the Rubble
By Enid Cokinos
“’X’ never, ever marks
the spot.” —Indiana Jones
Nearly
two decades ago, I found myself in the East-West Bookstore in Mountain View,
California. It wasn’t the New Age shop’s healing crystals, Buddha statues,
fragrant incense, and CDs by chanting monks that called to me, but a single
book: The Artist’s Way by Julia
Cameron. The red and gold cover, with a drawing of a snow-capped mountain and a
flock of Pterodactyls, begged me to pull it off its perch, promising to open my
life to new experiences if I would only give it a chance. I marched to the
register. I was ready to begin the search for my hidden artist.
Two
innovative late-19th-century archeologists, Augustus Pitt-Rivers and Sir William Flinders Petrie, developed a written
methodology that significantly influenced the way to conduct a proper dig. I
was not lucky enough to have instructions on how to conduct my own expedition,
but unearthing that paperback gem was the start of my journey; a personal
archeological exploration in search of the aspiring writer, a truer version of
myself, buried under the rubble of my life.
Before
I knew it, 16 years—a mere blip in geologic time—had flown by. Two major
relocations—California to New Hampshire and New Hampshire to Indiana—derailed
me. The lure of big paychecks and a business career kept me working long hours
with crushing deadlines. My daily journal, when I had time and energy to write,
was filled with anger and frustration. Aspirations
of writing still reverberated deep inside, but I had no defined path or goal. Sadly,
I was no closer to realizing my dream than the day I purchased The Artist’s Way.
Einstein
promised that doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different
result was insanity. That summed up my actions nicely.
I
stepped back to work short-term temp jobs in 2013; not an easy decision, but a
necessary one. I needed to decompress and reconsider what I wanted out of life.
My husband referred to this transition as my “bridge year.”
Everyone
has his or her own litmus test for failure. My sense of failure hit me square
in the face while temping at a local company as I began my bridge year. For
some reason, a woman I had once worked for—a strong, intelligent woman who knew
what she wanted out of life—came to mind. An Internet search revealed she had
become an ambassador to a lush, tropical country. I heard a dull thud as my ego
hit the floor. I emailed my husband: Am I
a loser? He replied immediately: No! Why are you thinking this? Do you need to talk? That evening, he kindly expressed that I was in a
slump and should not compare myself to others. Easier said than done.
Life
did not unfold for me as it did for my friends. I watched from the sidelines as
they were accepted by various universities, their parents guiding them through
those choices. I wanted that too, more than anything, but it was up to me to
make it happen. Determined to earn my bachelor’s degree, I ultimately achieved
this milestone at the age of 32, attending classes at night and on the weekends
while working full-time. But even with my fair share of career accomplishments,
here I was, over the 50-year mark, sitting at a receptionist desk while a
former boss sat in an ambassador’s office. I felt every inch a failure.
The
final Universal nudge came later that year. I awoke from a nightmare within a
nightmare, jolting upright to see a figure cloaked in a dark hooded robe
looming over me—my own ghost of Christmas Future coming to call. The figure
raised its arm and pointed straight ahead. Asleep, I was confused. What did it
want from me? Later awakened, I was terrified. Was I running out of time? I
pondered, considered, and mulled things over for three more months, and the
question that kept coming to mind was: If not now, when? I concluded it was
time to continue the journey I had started so long ago.
Once
again, my inner determination propelled me forward. Inspired by Messrs. Pitt-Rivers and Flinders Petrie, I created my own instructions for
pursuing my dream.
1.
Write down your objective
This
is a prerequisite for accomplishing anything according to every self-help guru
in the world. I put pen to paper: Write
and submit a series of pieces for publication. All well and good, but how
would I make that happen?
2. List tasks to achieve your objective
Sign up for a writing class. A
concrete, attainable task—equally important to the gurus. After years of
attempting creative writing on my own, I needed a classroom environment to
encourage levels of writing I might not achieve on my own, and to gather
inspiration from others with similar hopes and fears.
2a.
Actually complete the tasks
An
online search brought up the local writers center. Like an explorer unearthing
a priceless relic, I felt I had hit pay dirt and immediately registered for the
creative nonfiction class. After fumbling around for years feeling lost, this
small first step was like a bright light at the end of a lonely, dark tunnel.
3. Develop a circle of support
Little
did I know when I began the creative nonfiction class that I would meet my current
writing group—a circle of support that allows our stories to come forth without
fear of ridicule. I am also blessed with a supportive husband who encourages me
to continue even when I feel like giving up.
4. Dig, dig, dig!
There
are many ways to get the creative neurons firing, but I recommend maintaining a
daily journal. This can be anything from a leather-bound diary to an
inexpensive spiral notebook. Try to write each day or, at least, most days,
even if it is only for 10 minutes. Some days your thoughts will flow
effortlessly onto the page. Other days you might only write, “I have nothing to say,” 100 times. The
important thing is to show up. Also, carry a small notepad or keep one in your
car. You never know when you’ll see something interesting or hear a snippet of
conversation for later use.
5. Go on playful adventures
Most
of us lost the desire to indulge in child’s play after turning 13. Becoming a
teenager made it uncool. Then adulthood (gulp), work, and family responsibilities
took over. Artists need to be open to new experiences and ideas. Browse through
aisles of craft paper or model airplanes at a hobby store, or spend an hour
taking photographs at a park. Just have fun. It’s liberating and you may be
surprised at what bubbles to the surface.
6. Lose your fear of being wrong
At
some point during our formative years, an adult told us that the picture we
drew was ugly, or the poem we wrote didn’t rhyme properly, or we were singing
off-key. These criticisms are what keep us from pursuing our dream of painting,
writing, or performing. To quote Joseph Chilton Pearce, an American author on
human development, “To live a creative life, we must lose our fear of being
wrong.”
7. Embrace your gift
We
are all blessed with special talents and it is our duty to bring forth those
artistic gifts. Imagine what the world would be like if Picasso, Elizabeth Barrett Browning, or Beethoven let a
disparaging remark stop them from creating their great works. Ignore the naysayers
and keep reminding yourself, “I can do this!”
Writing
is a lonely endeavor that takes patience, practice, and thick skin. It is
painful and dispiriting spending hour upon hour pouring your heart and soul
into a story, then spending many more hours editing and rewriting, only to be
rejected. This is enough to make many would-be writers turn tail and run. It
takes dedication and discipline to come back to a blank page after being
spurned. In fact, I am sure that subconsciously, fear of rejection was part of the
reason I didn’t pursue my dream years ago, but no more. I will not be deterred.
“Take
a small step in the direction of a dream and watch the synchronous doors flying
open.” – Julia Cameron
If
I had not felt like a failure that day at work, or had the horrible nightmare,
I might not have moved on. The desire was there all along but I needed to
embrace the reality that time would continue passing whether I pursued my dream
or not.
By
developing a plan, I was finally able to move forward. Registering for that
writing class in late 2013—a small step in the direction of my dream—was the
start of something amazing. The synchronous doors are opening. My work is
appearing in print and my first short play was produced in 2015. Insecurities often
surface, but that too is part of being a writer.
And
so, like an archeologist using a mason’s trowel, whisk broom, and dustpan, I
will continue to use my pen, paper, and keyboard to unearth my true self from
under the rubble.
Enid Cokinos was born and raised in southwest Michigan, but considers the Indianapolis area home. She currently resides in Carmel, Indiana with her husband, Todd. Enid's debut play, Sweet Virginia, was part of the first-annual IndyFringe/IWC Short Play Festival in 2015. Her work appears in Story Circle Network’s 2014 and 2015 Anthologies. She can be reached at enidcokinos@indy.rr.com.