Finding the right rhythm to write. It’s like finding the
right rhythm to exercise, meditate, or feed yourself. It’s elusive and imperative, a pain to nail down. But once you
find it, and it could take some time, it should be blissful. You should find
yourself skipping towards it as if you were having a gorgeous lunch with your
most treasured person on the planet.
Yes, it should be that good.
If you’re reading this, you either know me through social
media, are related to me, or found this through a search. If you are the
former, “Hey there! How are you?” If you are the latter, you are seeking, as I
have done, ways to get your head into the framework of writing (so as to
nourish your soul) on a regular basis...
This was written for you, seeker.
First of all, let me admonish you for wasting time doing
searches on writing tips, writing rituals, and/or ways to write more. You
should just be writing--says the girl sitting in a coffee shop writing this
blog post when she should be editing and working on her own half-finished
novel.
But it’s true.
You should write and write and write and write.
But I
understand why you are here. Let me ask you this, what stops you from writing?
- You can’t find the time?
- You procrastinate too much? Skirt the task like a tired dog circles his bed?
- Find yourself uncomfortable once you’ve set yourself to the task?
I understand. It’s going to be okay. (Feel
better? Not yet? Keep reading.)
Can’t find the time solutions:
When I was a working mom, my life felt like a conveyor belt
of endless tasks. From the moment I opened my eyes until the moment I shut them
I was in ‘go-mode.’ It sucked. But I still snuck in time to write. No, I’m not
Jessica Alba, Bethany Skinny Girl Whatever, or any of those other powerhouse
moms who can look gorgeous, skin and dress a deer, make a wreath out of the
antlers, do the laundry, all while
driving their perfectly behaved children to equestrian ninja classes.
That’s
not me.
I looked like crap, I felt like crap. I did not feel that I was
enjoying the ride of life. I was beneath the ride, somewhere in the sewer with
my head barely above the filth. I digress. I found time to write in the
strangest places--on breaks, at lunch, and during endless, faculty meetings I found
time in the car waiting for my parents to make the hand-off with my little
darling. If I was rested, I found time after dinner, or in the morning before
work. I found time when my daughter napped on weekends (if I wasn’t napping
too.) There was no ritual at that time. Finding the time was the ritual. But I
did what I could. A paragraph here, a sentence there. Every word counts.
If you are on the conveyor belt of life, I’m sorry and hope that you are finding peace wherever you can get it, but I also hope you will try to sneak in your passion for writing wherever and whenever you can.
If you are on the conveyor belt of life, I’m sorry and hope that you are finding peace wherever you can get it, but I also hope you will try to sneak in your passion for writing wherever and whenever you can.
This
mermaid is also sending you a hug—sounds like you need it.
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| This print is courtesy of Robin and Helen. You, too, could own this...Go on over and tell them Heather sent you, then buy it for $20! http://www.etsy.com/listing/102149836/retro-typewriter-illustration-8x10-print?ref=pr_shop |
Procrastinate
too much/Skirt the task like a tired dog circles his bed solutions:
Do
you really want to write? I’m serious. Ask yourself this question. Listen to
the answer. Think out loud with someone who you trust. Tell them, I need you to
ask me this question: Do you want to write? For real life? Then start dishing.
I give you full permission to NOT want to write. Maybe you thought you did.
Maybe you’re still on the journey to finding your creative passion. I just
found out that I don’t want to concentrate on my artwork as a career. I don’t
want to teach art anymore. I would only do those things to make money. That’s
not a good reason to feed your soul. Is there something else you would rather be
doing? Then go do it. This may be why you’re procrastinating.
OR it could be
you have issues with allowing yourself to be happy. Do you prolong happiness? I
do. I store it up and wait until I am too exhausted to do anything and then I
don’t appreciate it at all because I am soooo not in the moment. I’m a mom. I’m
good at putting myself last. This is not okay. No, really it’s not. No, I don’t
mean get all selfish and such. You don’t need to be getting a pedicure everyday
or reading magazines constantly and ignoring your children. That’s not cool.
Julia Child said, “Everything in moderation…including moderation.” That
includes allowing yourself to be happy. Do it. Schedule it. Don’t put it off
until you reach the point of exhaustion. Life is not a marathon, you don’t need
to be clambering up the hill of life, clawing your way to “you time.” Btw, I’m
not good at this either—but I’m working on it! This could be why you clean the
whole house before you write, or finish that one last thing, before you write,
or make a quilt for your daughter because you said you would, before you write.
Maybe I’m talking about myself here… Anyway, take a cue from any 12 step
program—step one is admitting that you have a problem. Recognize, acknowledge,
ignore the truly unnecessary junk that is preventing you from writing, and go
write!
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| A girl, her Americano, buttered olive bread, and her laptop. Unstoppable. |
Find
yourself uncomfortable once you’ve set yourself to the task solutions:
Everyone
is different. Everyone has their own ritual. Some writers have their writing
cave. They go there at the same time every day and don’t come out until they
achieve their daily word count. I applaud them and their enviable word count.
I
cannot write in our 700 sq ft apartment. That’s way too much temptation for me
to procrastinate (see above). I need to be in a public place, a noisy one. Maybe
it’s the knowledge that others can watch me. My drive to perform and please
others comes into play here. I am fully aware that these are strangers who are,
most likely, not aware of my presence…yes, I have some issues. I recognize and
acknowledge. But it works, so I’m not going to question the crazy bubbling just
below the surface. My daughter is in pre-school every Tuesday and Thursday from
9 a.m. until 4 p.m. Last school year and for some of this new school year, I
have gone all over, around, and outside Providence, RI in search of the perfect
place to write. I will post my findings and notes of various writing venues at
another time.
I
have discovered that my favorite place to write is Seven Stars Bakery on
Broadway (SSOB). Here’s why. They have the perfect writing beverage and
snack—an Americano with a slice of freshly-made, olive bread slathered in
butter. The tables are small but square. I cannot write at a round table. It throws off my chi. The height of
the table is imperative too. Often, I find the Starbuck’s tables to be of an
unworkable height and my writing sessions (when SSOB is closed) at
Starbucks are often short. SSOB also offers the most
wonderful array of hipsters exceptionally eccentrically dressed comingled with
impeccably manicured, three-piece-suit types mixed with Providence fire and
police personnel in their uniforms and turnout gear. It’s a constant parade of
clothing that nourishes my vision the way the olive bread and perfectly brewed
coffee nourishes my taste buds and caffeine addiction. But my favorite thing about
SSOB is the lack of internet access. That’s heavenly. It
means I cannot goof off on the internet. If I need to check a fact or
something, I have to use my phone.
I
did not realize how important this ritual of SSOB time was until it was taken away from me. My
daughter’s pre-school needed a substitute teacher for two months while one of
the teachers was on maternity leave. I did it willingly, to see my daughter in
her own environment, to have the opportunity to teach my own daughter, to see
if I liked teaching pre-school, and to teach alongside one of the most amazing
teachers (really, she is a force of nature and one of the most dedicated,
creative, brilliant, caring individuals I have ever met in the teaching
profession. It was an honor to be by her side.) BUT it took me away from my
Tuesday/Thursday writing ritual. I have been cranky beyond belief.
Today,
I am back. I dropped off the peanut and was surprised when the lovely woman who
had returned from her maternity leave handed me a bag of Holiday presents. I
can count on one hand the number of memorable Holiday gifts I received from the
twelve years of teaching eighth grade. This was stunning. As I pulled into my
parking spot on Broadway, I reached into the bag and pulled out an envelope.
I’m still not sure why I did it, but I did. Inside was a lovely card from one
of the cherubs I taught, and from her mom, bless her, bless her, bless her…was
a gift card for Seven Stars.
At
that moment, I knew I was where I was supposed to be and hopefully, with a
little luck and searching you will find your place as well. Keep searching.
Good
luck to you, writer…
Your
favorite mermaid
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