I am a creative writer. I cannot crank out a quality piece on demand (although how many times I’ve wished I could for those special occasions and dear people). I write when the poem comes. When I am moved, so shall I type.
Sound familiar?
Learning to be a disciplined creative writer can be an extremely challenging endeavor. When I begin a new session of ITWOW workshops and inform the womyn that we will begin each group with a quiet writing time, I’m often met with deer-in-the-headlights kind of looks of panic.
It’s definitely not the easiest thing to learn to make intentional space for writing. There’s always a question of, “Where to fit it in my busy schedule?” Or the pressure to perform, “What if I set aside this sacred hour to write and NOTHING HAPPENS?!” More often than not, the time and space for creativity is the very first thing to get nixed from our overloaded calendars. But I promise you this: when you make a commitment to show up at your journal, your notebook, your keyboard to write, the words will come. Slowly at first probably; but they will come.
Homework: pencil in 30-45 minutes of sacred, uninterruptable, quiet time for writing this week; try to do this every week this month. Get out of your home, away from the call of laundry, dishes, bills, and settle in a place that exudes creative vibes. Try a coffee shop or bookstore (preferably an indie one); park it at an art gallery space; spread out a blanket in a park; sit by the seaside; hike into the woods and pull up a rock; whatever moves you, go there and write!
Thank you for your advice and the homework assignment….I am on it!!!
)) I will post my challenges/developments soon…. xoxo