Vain Imaginings

Many years ago I was introduced to the works of Florence Scovel Shinn. The first book I read was, "The Game of Life and How to Play it”.

She uses the phrase “vain imaginings” quite often to describe the blocks and barriers to achieving what you want. These are the self-imposed barriers we humans often attribute to others.

Published in 1925 it was the “Secret” before “The Secret”.

There was something about the phrase that always stuck with me and I have thought about it at different times trying to get to its true meaning.

A completely different meaning came to me while watching a movie yesterday.

Earnest Hemmingway - Why He Is One Of My Favorite Authors

One of my favorite authors is Earnest Hemmingway.

I enjoy his style of writing and have traveled the world reading his books he allowed me to paint the pictures as I read his books. I became friends with the characters in his books.

It was like reading about someone you know.

Earnest Hemmingway in one of his books talks about when he was writing he would leave some of the story unwritten. When he came back to write the next time he would start writing the part that he saved from the time before.

This helped him get in the grove he was not starting from scratch each day. I have been using this technique and find it to be a very helpful.

I stop writing when I feel good with what I have written that day. It maybe three pages or twenty pages completed. I find that way I am making progress and not stressing myself about how many words I did.

I hope this helps you and your writing.