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One of the most challenging aspects of writing, for me, is the nonphysicalness of it.
I sit and think. I sit and write. I sit and brainstorm. I sit and read. My inner gears are smokin’ but the outer parts are pokin’. A day of scribbling – literally, I’m a paper-and-pen girl – means moving my fingers. Period. So while the digits get a nice workout, the rest of me doesn’t. Sure, exercise and walking counter that lack of movement, but I’m frequently left wanting more.
.
And one of my favorite ‘mores‘ is getting a Reiki treatment. Reiki originated in Japan and is a technique based on facilitating a person’s life force energy for healing and stress reduction. Lousy explanation, I know, but I’m really not trying to explain it. If you’re not familiar with Reiki and you’re interested, you’ll look it up.
I’m just saying I like it. A lot. It makes me feel balanced. Recharged. Life is too short to scribble unhappily. Find what recharges you and do more of it.
If I had an altar laden with items to honor and appease the creative gods, Steven Pressfield’s book THE WAR OF ART would be on it. I’ve read it a dozen times and with each new pass something different jabs my brain.
Here’s the back cover blurb:
“In this powerful, straight-from-the-hip examination of the internal obstacles to success, bestselling author Steven Pressfield shows readers how to identify, defeat, and unlock the inner barriers to creativity. THE WAR OF ART is an inspirational, funny, well-aimed kick in the pants guaranteed to galvanize every would-be artist, visionary, or entrepreneur.”
In part one, Resistance – Defining the Enemy, Pressfield defines the many disguises resistance /procrastination wears. If you’ve ever put something off, you’ll start squirming as you read.
Part two, Combating Resistance – Turning Pro, defines the writer’s objective, which is to be a professional as opposed to an amateur. This section lists the qualities that define pros. Here’s the first two:
1) We show up every day
2) We show up no matter what
Finally, in part three, Beyond Resistance – Higher Realm, we get a glimpse of the sacred mountains as Pressfield examines why we write and encourages us to forge ahead. The final paragraph sums it up:
“Creative work is not a selfish act or a bid for attention on the part of the actor. It’s a gift to the world and every being in it. Don’t cheat us of your contribution. Give us what you’ve got.”
You heard the man.
Go. Create.
I have a ritual that helps me transition my mindset from mundane mode to writer mode.
On the floor, right beside my magic writing chair, is a book on the craft of writing. Before turning to the day’s work, I take five minutes and read a chapter. The book can be about any aspect of writing: genre specifics, grammar, plotting, etc. My only prerequisite is that the book has to be inspiring. It has to make me yearn to start. Again.
I’m currently reading THE LIE THAT TELLS A TRUTH: A GUIDE TO WRITING FICTION by John Dufresne. It doesn’t matter that I’ve read it before. The really good stuff is always motivating. It always shines new light.
In the introduction Dufresne states, “What this book aims to do is get you back into the fun of making things up.” He does that. And more. Each time I set this book aside to begin my own work, I do so with a shake of my head. In awe. Dufresne’s writing is brilliant. Reading it makes me long to write better.
And that fits my yearn-to-begin criteria perfectly.
As part of my quest to grow/learn/expand, I recently added Life Strategies Coach to the evolving list of Who I Am. Marrying that title to another on my list – Romantic Suspense Author – means the emphasis of this blog will be inspiration and creativity in novel writing.
Translation: some days the topic will be How I Feel. Other days it’s How I Do It. But always it will pertain to writing.
Today it’s HIF about blogging. Confession: I’ve never blogged in my life. The very format – short and informal – scares me. Most things I write are long and involved. My finished manuscripts weigh in around 425 pages, but there’s a trail of scribbled paper and discarded printer cartridges – all recycled – ten miles long leading up to it.
I’m a messy writer. (Come to think of it, I’m a messy speaker.) Words don’t spring neatly onto paper. They’re brainstormed, revised, killed, resuscitated, stewed over. Slowly. Writing a short blog goes against my grain. Which is good. Going against the norm is a necessary component in any quest to grow/learn/expand.
Ultimately, I hope blogging will help me to learn to write novels faster, faster, faster. And yes, I do believe speed is an acquirable skill. It will mean practice, practice, practice. It will mean getting to my point more quickly and succinctly. It means thinking faster and letting go sooner. And there’s the big ouch. Letting go is hard enough. Letting go sooner is weird. Exhilarating and terrifying.
So here goes. As with starting anything new, the trick is to just begin. And trust that something good is going to happen.
Check back soon for Cate’s first blog
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