Writing
Strike While the Iron is Hot
The key to successful writing
Have you ever seen a blacksmith at work?
It’s easily one of the more entertaining things to see.
There’s a popular vacation spot in Michigan called Mackinaw City. Here, there are historical recreations of life in the fort built there years ago. It dates back to the fur trade and when northern Michigan belonged to Great Britain.
By far my favorite thing to see was the blacksmith. He would have a piece of metal in the forge, letting it heat up till it was glowing red or yellow. Then he’d take it from the heat and pound on it with a hammer.
Sparks flew everywhere, and it was a delight for my small eyes to watch such a display.
He’d work quickly, working in rhythm to shape the metal, because he only had a short while to work before the metal cooled to the point where it would no longer move under his blows.
And so the pattern would begin again.
But it’s that short few minutes.
Sometimes seconds.
All of your work has to be done in that short window.
I’ve always felt a similar way about writing.
