I must tell you of a strange experience I recently had, because as I grow older and wiser ( I hope "wiser"), I have been discovering "older and wiser" things along the way, and these occurrences have dramatically changed my life.

When my husband suddenly died in 2000 there was nothing for me to do but accept his death and open myself up to whatever else was headed my way. There was nothing to do but relinquish control of my life to the unknown, as I suddenly realized that ultimately we have control of nothing --not really; We like to think we do because it makes us feel safe. We try to control and direct our lives, and the outcome, but "lack of control" is often proved when the outcome isn't what we desired.

Relinquishing control did not mean floating aimlessly but accepting what befell me and using it to move farther ahead; it meant not forcing my will but allowing myself to simply "be". Doing so has taken me in wonderful directions and opened up a new world.

After coming to this somewhat startling "knowing", for some reason I found myself compelled to write a story about words having power. Real power. Where in God’s name did that come from? I didn't have a clue, but regardless I began writing the story. Strangely, while writing the screenplay I found much of the dialogue was spoken shortly thereafter in real life.. in real time, during situations I found similar-- if not exact--in the script. I was speaking the words (not deliberately) and the individual(s) responded in kind---exactly as dialogue was written in the screenplay. Am I crazy? No. So what the hell was going on? I decided to use this turn of events in the screenplay itself; so, in effect, I was writing and learning about words having power for the protagonist, as I myself was learning about this... phenomena, and then empowering the protagonist with my “knowledge”. With each step I took so too did the protagonist -- and vice versa. And the narrative seemed to create events (action)--in real time--that were in the screenplay. And each time it happened I was left stunned, yet still accepting of this… strangeness. I even tested it--deliberately quoting dialogue from the script to whom I thought was the appropriate person, and in turn receiving “dialogue” back that had been written in the screenplay.

Was I actually writing my own life script; words written and then spoken, events written and then played out? No. I believe, during that period, I was simply “tuned “ into things… highly tuned, because I had relinquished my hold on control and outcomes. I wasn’t trying to “control” the script… I was simply letting it write itself. And I continue to leave “control” behind. As one of my favorite people often tells me, “Just go with the flow.” And he’s right.

So, what does this have to do with you and writing? Simply, if suddenly you come up with an idea that seems outrageous don’t be afraid of it. Write it. Play it out. Go for it. It may be that through writing you will learn something important for/in your own life, and you may be able to apply that knowledge in your life or the lives of others.

The written word does have power. Don’t ever doubt that. You have a chance, through your writing, to profoundly affect your life and hopefully the lives of others--whether you make them laugh until they cry, or make them cry because of the ache you create in their heart born of happiness or longing, or, better yet, discovery. Every time you write of something beautiful, you bring that beauty into someone else’s life and heart. Your words can actually touch people-- change their physiology. Your words can heal through laughter and even tears, and open other worlds to those who read them, or see your films.

As for me. What happened in that script has not happened again while writing other screenplays. Why it happened I don‘t know, yet neither do I question it. It simply was. And it will remain an astounding part of my life. It also proved to me that there are many things in this life that are truly inexplicable and cannot be dismissed simply because there is no answer or logic to certain events. The world remains a mystery and delightfully so. Get lost in this mystery. Imagine the unimaginable and apply it to your writing. Share the mystery.

-Maggie