Plumbing 101

Like old plumbing, so my writing goes. My ideas, like water water from a pipe, don’t always flow as quickly or clearly as I would like. When I stand in front of my vanity and turn on the faucet, I’m trusting that water is on its way. In the summer it doesn’t take as long for the water to get hot. Yet, other days, gallons spill down the drain, cold, wasted, while waiting for a hint of warmth. It seems to take forever for the warm water to come forth, and on some of those days when I’m too hurried to wait, I just settle for a cool, quick fingertip dip.

To extend the metaphor further, when dealing with dated pipes, when the water does begin to flow, there’s a lot of pipe rattling, spurts of air in the line, and sometimes a rusty brown precursor shoots through, reminding me that it’s been too long since I’ve opened the valve. On those occasions, there’s nothing to do besides let the water run until it clears up. You have to be patient. If you close the valve your water will be even murkier the next time you turn it on. It’s always a good idea to turn on your faucet on a regular basis, even if it’s just a slow dribble, to keep the sediment from settling into your pipes, creating sludge.

When it comes to old plumbing, patience is the key. Instead of expecting my writing flow to be on a strict time schedule, I’ve learned to be patient and wait. Forcing myself to sit down and write a certain number of minutes every day, out of sheer obligation, leads me to frustration and its corresponding decline in my self-confidence as a writer. In the spaces between inspiration, instead of feeling guilty that I haven’t sat down to write, I spend time reading and observing, absorbing inspiration and experiences. In no time, I find the ideas flow warm and clean, rushing from the tap and filling the basin.

I’ve also discovered that changing up style, like switching between fiction, poetry, or a short story, is just the thing to coax the water from the pipe. And when I need a bit of professional know-how, there are resources out there to help me clear a clogged drain.

So, whenever you find yourself with a plumbing problem, know that you’re not alone. Be patient with yourself and whatever you do, don’t start hammering away at your pipes with a crescent wrench!