The Tao of Writing: ‘The Book That Can Be Spoken of Is Not the Book’ (Reprised, Sort-Of)
Recently, when addressing (the great!) Margaret Atwood’s “a word after a word after a word is power” I also quoted Lao Tzu’s “The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step”, relating it to how a book begins and ends with a single word.
(But oh my, it’s the betwixt and in-between of that first and last word, dear friends, as we – that’s me and thee, not the royal we 😉 – know all too well!)
All of which, together with another recent refeature on Writing As Vocation, put me in mind of a post from 2014, which also focuses on a Lao Tzu quote:
“The Way that can be spoken of is not the Way.”
As noted then, “one interpretation of this is that the Tao or Way that can be spoken of or described is not the true Tao, which by implication can only be directly experienced.”
The reason I titled the original post, and today’s refeature, “The Tao Of Writing: The Book That Can Be Spoken Of Is Not the Book” is because I felt then that the spirit of the Tao Te Ching quote is directly applicable to writing—that until the book is done and can be directly experienced by readers, then there is little of merit to talk about. And because books that are still being written are by their very nature fluid and elusive, I also felt that trying to talk about them in any meaningful way is counterproductive—and may actually do harm to that fluid, elusive, but also fragile process of creativity.
All of which is why I’m always reluctant to talk about or post on the book and writing progress while it still is a work-in-progress. In short, I fear jinxing the process. And sometimes it does feel like that’s exactly what happens, i.e. I post that I’m in such-and-such a stage, then get bogged down in it for weeks afterward! (Which is, to be honest, just the writing process, but I’m aware that from the outside that must feel like writing time bears a close correlation to its geological and astronomical counterparts!)
Anyway, although I’ve striven to overcome my fear of jinxing the process in order to provide more regular updates for WALL #4, as well as posting the occasional snippet from “inside the writing life”, part of me will always be attuned to Lao Tzu’s wisdom regarding the Way (not quite the same as the Mandalorian “way” 😉 ) and the parallel caution regarding speaking too much of books while they’re still works-in-progress.
On which note… No, not going there, since I did a mini update recently, which is still an accurate enough summation of the current trajectory.
Besides, it being Monday and officially the start of a new working week, I’d best eschew (great word!) further posting and hie me to the writing desk! Otherwise, stay as well and safe as you can everyone, wherever you are and whatever you’re currently doing.