Though I’ve been penning the “Hackie” column for 11 years (Egad), the creative process has never grown rote. If ever it should become automatic, that’s the day I pack it in. It’s actually the precise opposite of rote: every time I sit down to write a story, I feel as if I’m figuring it out for the first time. This is exciting, albeit daunting. I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Some stories turn out better than others. How could it be otherwise? You can’t hit a home run at every at bat. But I try.
Last week I was feeling good because, by my own standards, the story – Elegy For Frenchy – accomplished everything I shoot for in my storytelling. Most importantly, I feel as if I successfully evoked a live human being. This is always a challenge in a thousand words or less.
So for the next couple of weeks, at least until the next story appears, I am happy hackie.
This article appears in Jan 23-29, 2008.
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