A Reach that Exceeds my Grasp
In the poem “Andrea del Sarto,” Robert Browning wrote
Ah, but a man's reach should exceed his grasp,
Or what's a heaven for?
(Men and Women, 1855)
This line sums up my pursuit of a life-long reach to craft poetry, short stories, a play, and more recently, a novel.
First posted circa 2020
As a fiction writer, I must reach beyond my grasp, always, to make the words and images come to life in readers' imaginations so you experience the high highs and the low lows of emotions. As you know, without such peaks and valleys, a story falls flat. Reaching beyond my grasp requires truly letting go. I must dig deeper and fly higher. I must push myself, take chances, and go big to inspire my readers.
One of my greatest sources of inspiration about writing came from watching singers.
Great singers put everything they've got into it. They pour every ounce of energy and all their emotions into projecting their voices. They open their mouths wide and tilt their heads up to open their throats. They use their arms to leverage every part of their being and express whatever emotions their songs intend.
Like a singer, I need to truly let go when I write, and I must remember that what I write is not about me. I am the medium. What I write is all about how I feel.
As I mentioned, my pursuit of writing has been a life-long reach. But this is not entirely true. I have not always placed priority on publishing my work. With so many talented, prolific writers in the world, how could anything that I write have value? Such a lack of reach has sidelined me a lifetime.
All in good time, I felt. And now it is time.
Over eight years, I worked extensively on Breath of the Adamastor. I hung out in Lisbon for a month to gain a better feel for the place. I am working on a second novel, this one set in Brazil, and I revised my play, A Bill To Pay.
In 2019, I scouted the locations I hope to use in another novel set in Paraguay. In Rio de Janeiro, my friend exposed me to the country’s rich history, enough for me to outline a novel set in Brazil. Also while in Rio, I completed The Tale of Indigo and submitted it to the CBC poetry contest.
On returning, I moved house and home to Barrie, Ontario. Then I spent my Covid time hunkered down, focused on my writing projects.
Which brings me to now.
During a Second Wave forecast by the pandemic experts for this fall and into next year, I will be cloistered at home once again. I am looking forward to completing these stories. That’s as far into the future as I am planning for now.
I love what I’m doing, and I’m content to continue with my pursuits because things are good.