Setting the table

I recently had the opportunity to to attend a lecture by Dennis Lehane.   I was anxious to hear about the dark world of a man who can send shivers down our spine several times in the course of 300 pages.  Surely, he must have a dark outlook on life to enable him to create such works as Shutter Island and Mystic River. Boy, was I wrong.

Dennis Lehane was funnier than any stand-up comedian I had ever seen.  He spoke of his childhood as a Southie in Boston, living with his large extended Irish family.  As a member of this community, he quickly learned the value of a story.  He recounted his Saturday nights spent with family members and telling stories.  He soon figured out that the same stories cycled through the rotation every couple of months.  As he grew up, he realized that the stories changed a little each time they were told.  His point was that no one who tries to be a "writer" should be doing anything more than just telling a story.  That's all writing is, story-telling.  The story needs one basic truth - one premise, but the details can change to emphasize a particular point, add interest or suspense, and to make the story one to remember.  Just tell the story.

He spoke for an hour about his experiences in story-telling and in life.  He was, as my mother would say, "earthy."  The audience was truly engaged in his tips for life, his tips for writing, and his ability to tell the story.  He spoke of his time coaching college kids in writing with his main advice to them being "STOP SETTING THE TABLE."  There you have it.  That works for writing, but most importantly we should remember that in our daily dealings.

How many times do we procrastinate in the form of making something perfect?  Sure, you can always improve on the table setting, add good china, add some flowers, nice linens.  Once the dinner is served, none of it matters.  It doesn't really even matter if the table was set to begin with.  If we wait for things to be just right, then we may never have to execute.  Why are we so afraid to just give it a shot?  Serve the meal, already.  If not perfect - so what?  Take a chance.  Make a mistake.  Go for broke.  As chance may have it - everyone may love the dinner.  You, yourself, may feel satisfied and be able to move onto something else.   

Stop setting the table and tell the story.  Your story.