Right Now is Important

For the Conscious Writer

Image for post — Photo by Larm Rmah on Unsplash

“The ability to be in the present moment is a major component of mental wellness.” — Abraham Maslow

We get wrapped up. At least I do. The story eats away at me. I forget what it feels like to just be in reality for a few hours. I obsess my characters and the words and the genre. I could spend hours editing my book and not even notice I’m still editing when I put my computer away.

They say stay drunk on writing, and that’s a fabulous idea when you have the lifestyle to do so. So I have to make time when I’m present in my house in all aspects, not just in body. I need to have my mind right here next to me, in the present.

“Always hold fast to the present. Every situation, indeed every moment, is of infinite value, for it is the representative of a whole eternity.” — Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

I am overwhelmed from editing. I am frustrated with my lack of solitude, right now. So I spent a couple hours today being present. Not being focused on my book. Not planning things to do for it or my writing. I just floated around the house laughing with my family, playing on my phone, and thinking about Hannibal. I even took one of those long showers. Yup, my skin’s silky smooth right now. (Stay at home mama’s you know what I’m talking about).

So, as Conscious writers I think it’s important to be intentional about being present outside of your writing. It’s great to jot down ideas when they come but enjoy your life. I read something saying that we write to live not the other way around. Your writing should accentuate your life, not drag it down. Enjoy your family. Enjoy other creative’s works. It’s ok

We get the guilt. Like, if we’re not writing or thinking about writing, we’re not working hard enough. I think the “you should be writing” memes are funny. I laugh and I share them because we do get haunted by our work. We do get overwhelmed by our need to finish. A little anxiety to get a job done is important, but it shouldn’t deprive you from being fully present when you’re not writing. At least not to the point of guilt and shame.

If you are writing and/or editing everyday you are investing. If you’re writing when the house is asleep, that’s huge. Seriously. Allow yourself the freedom to be fully immersed in your day so you can come back to your writing with fresh eyes and a full heart.

“Be happy in the moment, that’s enough. Each moment is all we need, not more.” — Mother Teresa

Get Out Into the Storm

For the Conscious Writer

You know those snow storms when it’s freezing cold and there’s so much snow it’s literally coming out of your ears. Yes, those. Ok so now let’s say you’re finally dry and warm again all snuggied up in your car. Then you pull into your driveway, and all you’ve wanted is to be inside your home. But then you realize stepping out of the car means stepping into the freezing cold snow storm. That’s what you have to do with your writing.

You’ve got to brave the storm. It’s not so much about being fearless. It’s more about accepting a temporary amount of discomfort to get you to your goal destination.

We’ve all had those days where we curl up on the couch and zone out for as long as humanly possible. Those are nice days. Some of us can sit longer than others, either way the point still stands, it’s comfortable. It’s nice to be unbothered by things. But this isn’t the garden of Eden. You’ve got to get out there and work the ground and pop out some book babies.

Learning to embrace the storm is learning to embrace the life handed to you.

I’m not sure what makes you uncomfortable and truth is you haven’t experienced all the things that make you uncomfortable yet. You may find that you’re more comfortable in a certain scenario than you thought would be. You may find you are extremely uncomfortable but the consequence for enduring that discomfort is a positive one.

So let’s just say you’re writing right now, ask yourself are you in your warm and comfortable car? Are you staying too safe? Too comfy, cozy, and dry? Just think, what’s on the other side of the discomfort you feel right now? Pajamas and fuzzy bunny slippers? Your favorite Tyler Durden inspired robe? Don’t delay the inevitable. Step outside your comfort zone and freeze your tush off.

“To reach only for that which pleasantly enchants you is the least of imagination, if even imagination at all, by the obvious reality of remaining within your means. The greater of imagination is parallel to risk. It extends beyond your comfort zone or haven, or sense of beauty, or what you personally believe suits you in exploration of what may not.”
― Criss Jami, Killosophy

Check Out For the Conscious Writer Here

Overwhelmed

For the Conscious Writer

When writing a novel, there’s going to be many days where your work feels much bigger than you. It will loom over you the way any large thing does. You feel like little David from the biblical story of David and Goliath. It’s about a little shepherd boy who other’s believed didn’t qualify for the task. A Cinderella story, if I may. Spoiler Alert, he managed to kill his giant with a talent he acquired while watching over his flock of sheep. A sling shot. So the moral here is, you are just as qualified as any other writer. Use the skills you’ve acquired to make it this far and face the giant.

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What’s the Next Lesson?

For the Conscious Writer

Intentional learning is part of the writing process. The best way to learn intentionally is to set learning goals. The great thing is that anything you learn can be incorporated into your writing. So think about what you’d be interested in learning. What would spark your curiosity? Then follow the rabbit. Creating your own learning goals gives you a sense of control, which in turn makes a more interested learner, which in turn makes an intentional learner. It all works out.

A good teacher appreciates a student that’s interested in learning. So why not be your own teacher proud of your own interests? This is a great way to get to know yourself. It builds confidence, trust, and knowledge within yourself.

Intentional learning is one way you can show up for yourself in ways no one else can. There’s an interesting stream of thought that happens when you take an interest in something. Our thoughts begin to bubble and flow only adding more and more questions. Sometimes our curiosity can take us places we didn’t originally plan. I think it’s marvelous. And I think it’s even more fascinating that we can almost see the train of thought through our search history. But that’s another topic for another day.

Education is the kindling of a flame, not the filling of a vessel. –Socrates

Check out my last piece, “How to Let Go While Feeling Everything“

How to Let Go While Feeling Everything

For the Conscious Writer

“Attachment constrains our vision so that we are not able to see things from a wider perspective.” Dalai Lama

As a conscious writer, it’s important to be able to let a story go. It starts during creation, even though you shouldn’t think too much about what to get rid of while in the creation process. Sometimes we really want something in a story that doesn’t fit no matter how much we want it there. Then, there’s editing that’s basically deleting everything you just wrote or a good portion of it anyways. And then, there’s editing from other’s perspectives. And last but not least the final product is bringing it out of hiding and letting it go free into the world.

“You only lose what you cling to.” Buddha

This is why learning to let go is important. Writing isn’t a selfish thing no matter how much of a passion of yours it is. If you hang on to things that are no longer useful for your story it’s going to detract from the meaning and power behind your words, behind your life’s work. Same with hanging on to anything else.

The best way to let go while feeling everything is learning to have healthy attachments. A good reminder is that none of this is truly our own. Not the people in our lives and not our art. They don’t belong to us. They are meant for their own purposes and their own lives. That is the best start to developing healthy attachments. (Another way of saying it is non attachment.)

“It is a sign of great character and strength to be able to lose your attachment to anyone or anything that isn’t good for.” Anonymous

On Infidelity and Monsters

When would he realize that it wasn’t his infidelity I couldn’t bear, but his cowardice?
― Tatiana de Rosnay, Sarah’s Key

Infidelity is something I’m exploring right now. Since there’s different types, I’m referring to the type that involves an entire secret relationship. What hurts about it? The inability to face the betrayed partner? The sucker punch to the ego? The false persona being portrayed to keep up with all the lies? I often explore the judgement I have for individuals who go this route. Coincidently, I’m not the only one who explores the idea of betrayal, it’s been written about since the beginning of time. I think we’ve all experienced the sting of betrayal at some point in our lives. I mean, God provided Adam and Eve with everything they could ever imagine and He still got betrayed.

Now, this bias clearly isn’t deep in my unconscious, but it would be if I didn’t take time to explore the issue. I’ve been taught since childhood that cheating on your spouse is very wrong and hurtful. And I do agree, but they were taught to me in a way that made cheaters seem almost inhuman or monstrous. The truth is it’s so human to lie and cheat. It’s very human to betray others and even more so to betray ourselves. But does that make you monster? I don’t think cheating spouses are monsters. No matter how much respect I lose for them, they are not monsters.

The only people that can’t handle the truth are those that suffer so much anxiety that they will live in denial, in order to prevent their illusion from being destroyed and feeling more anxiety.
― Shannon L. Alder

To put it simply, they have internal issues that need to be worked out before they enter into or continue any type of relationship. Their only option to move forward is to face the reasons why they are seeking something outside themselves for fulfilment. The issue won’t disappear when you make one woman (or man) disappear, there will always be more. The issue will never disappear, it will only fall into the background when it’s resolved, as a sort of reminder.

So as an adult, if people are doing things that are in my opinion, wrong, like infidelity, I do not peg them as monsters. They are simply creatures who are still learning to grow and evolve. Don’t get me wrong, I get angry and protective when someone attempts to take away the peace in my household, but to be clear, I don’t think cheaters are monsters, I think they’re human.

Feelings are much like waves, we can’t stop them from coming, but we can choose which ones to surf.
~Jonatan Mårtensson~

So to wrap things up here, I’d like to share a fictional letter written to a character in one of my stories who was going through a similar experience. I wrote it for encouragement in the midst of my own heartbreak. I was devastated and letters like these where I was supporting “others” really got me through the experience. An experience I really really don’t want to endure again, not even in any other lifetimes. (If that’s a thing)

This is my soul work.

Dear Broken Hearted Woman,

Have a Go To Beverage

For the Conscious Writer

Rituals, anthropologists will tell us, are about transformation. The rituals we use for marriage, baptism or inaugurating a president are as elaborate as they are because we associate the ritual with a major life passage, the crossing of a critical threshold, or in other words, with transformation.

Abraham Verghese

As a conscious writer, you’ve dedicated yourself to the art of writing. You’re going to be doing this writing thing everyday for a long time, might as well make it into an enjoyable ritual. Have a drink you can enjoy every writing session. I have a cup of tea and a treat for my writing sessions. (The ones I’m mostly awake for anyway.)

For me, having a simple routine makes the transition into intentional writing run more smoothly. As a mom, I’m usually juggling 5 things at once, even when I’m sitting on my phone. My book, my social media, what I’m going to feed myself, and have I cleaned enough all alert me on top of meeting my kids needs. To turn the multi tasking off, I drink a cup of tea and enjoy something sweet.

On another note, your mouth doesn’t move while you write words, so you should have a beverage close by so you can get a break from clenching your jaw. (Ah, here’s a reminder, you can unclench your jaw now).

Make it your thing. Have a thing that’s simple and that’s yours. It doesn’t have to be different from other humans. Most writers hail a strong cup of coffee. If that’s your thing, let it be your thing. Embrace your thing. -Saschia Johnson

Then write your heart out because we’re waiting to hear from you.

Click Here to Read My Piece titled “A Conscious Writer, Is a Valuable Writer.”

Find Your Quiet Place

For the Conscious Writer

I am not saying that meditation is the only element necessary to turn you into a master writer, but if this practice is absent from your writing and creative process, you are simply leaving too much potential on the table. –Farnoosh Brock

Meditation is important for the imagination. It gives us the space to accept all thoughts and ideas and allows them to flow through us. When you write don’t you want ideas to come to you. It’s no fun chasing ideas. Meditation coaxs them toward you. Sometimes we have to chase, that’s just the way it is but if we can be handed our ideas most of the time, that would make our writers life more enjoyable.

Meditation can be done in so many different ways. There’s stream of thought, walking, bathing, and a million other ways. Even guided meditations are acceptable. There’s no need to stick to just one style, switch it up. Plan to change the way you meditation throughout the year because seasons change. Which leads right into my next thought.

Different seasons call for different types of meditations. Our lives are always changing. Some seasons we don’t need to meditate as much, other seasons we’ll be doing it every day or more. I’m not saying just let it happen when it happens. Routine is excellent if that works for you, but make sure you’re trying new ways to meditate within that routine.

As a conscious writer, being aware of what you need is important, but it doesn’t always mean you’ll knowhow to get what you need. Finding the time to meditate can be tricky. You may need to stay up later or get up before the rest of the house. You may need to go out of your way like find a babysitter or take a day off of work. Being intentional about making time to meditate can be the trickiest part, but remind yourself that this is part of your work, then make it happen.

It’s important to look at mediation as part of your work, as part of the process. Meditation most times can be the fuel to get you through a writing session.

When do you meditate? How do you meditate? Why do you meditate is it just for writing or is it for your entire well being? Does it help you write? I’d love to hear about you.

Quote Cred

Meditation and The Art of Writing

View at Medium.com

Know when to “fuck what they say”

For the Conscious Writer

Know when to “fuck what they say”

With my first novel being experimental fiction, I’m all for bending the rules. I love movies that don’t follow standards. I love writers that don’t either. But there’s an art to it. Some things are worth a good listen, especially if they are in line with your values, other things are pure bias, culture, or ignorance. It’s important to experiment, to try new things, listen sometimes, tell them to fuck off other times. There’s no real balance, we’re all learning here.

It’s ok to start with the basics

Some people dive right in without learning the basics, but at some point, they end up having to retrace their steps. Be ok with learning the basics, whether on your own or from a teacher. Either way works. Any pace works. Don’t forget to enjoy the learning process. Once you know, the thrill of learning isn’t there anymore. Enjoy yourself.

Allow yourself to learn

We all learn differently, but at the end of the day, it’s about getting your hands dirty. Writing consciously works best when you’re actually writing. Learning means that you’re going to mess up. Mess up in private and then mess up in public. This is how you learn. This is how you learn the way you learn best. Some people learn best from reading tons of books on grammar, some by watching how to videos, some by reading actual literature, and some by letting others do the editing. No shame in needing more than one way. No shame at all because if you’ve made it to the point where you realize you need to learn, you’ve made much further then some people ever will. Appreciate your efforts.

Balance the pleasure and thoughts

This. This is how you write works that bend the rules but keep the reader interested. I’m still learning this myself. You see, a certain level of pleasure is required for art but when we sprinkle a little intellect in there, a little thought, and strategy, it comes together like a living breathing human being. That’s a secret I’m sharing. Use it to your heart’s content.

Be bold

Defend your thoughts and ideas. It’s not a war, so gently is always best. But stand up for your art. Sometimes that’s what needs to be done. Sometimes you’ve got to fuck what say. At the end of the day this is your work. This is what you’re leaving behind and it will be here after you’ve gone, as long as a meteor doesn’t wipe us out. Which leads to the short period of time we have left on this planet.

Another thing that comes with defending your art, is defending the time and energy that you have to spend on it. If you must nix phone calls, do it. If you must write through the night while the rest of the world sleeps, do it. This is absolutely a time when there’s no need for negotiation. List your priorities. Respect them and expect no less of anyone else. If they get mad at you for it, fuck what they say. Finish your art first. Have people in your corner who know how to respect that. Regardless, you’re going to have to choose reality over writing regularly, choose wisely and respectfully.

If you did not write every day, the poisons would accumulate and you would begin to die, or act crazy or both–you must stay drunk on writing so reality cannot destroy you.

RAY BRADBURY

The thing about learning when to fuck what they say means, you might get it wrong. You may miss out on things you will regret later. You may accept advice you wish you never accepted. We live and we learn, that’s what makes us conscious writers. The only way to try to make sure you’re making a confident decision is knowing your priorities which requires you to self reflect. Once you get to know yourself and your values, goals, and priorities are as in line as they can be in this life, you’re fuck what they say radar becomes golden.

Keep digging, keep being aware, and keep moving forward.

You got this.

Self Reflection and Writing

For the Conscious Writer

”It is always our own self that we find at the end of the journey. The sooner we face that self, the better.” — Ella Maillart

Self Reflection

This is the cardinal rule. “Know thyself.” Self reflection is the direct link to knowing yourself. As conscious writers, we need to know ourselves in order to grow and learn. If we aren’t growing and learning we’re stagnant. Stagnancy in life, that’s not so bad, but in our minds, that’s a black hole already full of many losses. Moving forward, requires self reflection and self reflection leads to conscious writing and conscious writing leads to deep and universal stories.

The best way to stay in a constant state of self reflection is learning to become an observer. When you’re an observer in our own life experiences you’re, watching your reactions, questioning them with the intention of resolving them, especially if the reactions are pure instinct and mindless. The mindless ones are the juicy ones you add to a great story. Those reactions show us where we need to focus. They are valuable to our growth. Learning this type of observation helps us find deep and universal meanings in our selves for our stories and it gives us insight on how to create honest and relatable characters.

Being conscious doesn’t mean you’ll become a best seller. It also doesn’t mean you won’t. People who lack the discipline of self reflection can sell great art because art sales is a business. Consciously creating art, that’s not just business, it is managing entire universes, creating, with business on top of it all. It’s so much more than just sales. Creating something timeless requires an understanding of our internal workings.

Know yourself, know your art. They go hand in hand.

”The promises of this world are, for the most part, vain phantoms; and to confide in one’s self, and become something of worth and value is the best and safest course.” — Michel Angelo

Quote Cred Everydaypower.com

Check Out More Writing tips on my medium account

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Jayne.press

Right Now is Important

Get Out Into the Storm

Overwhelmed

What’s the Next Lesson?

How to Let Go While Feeling Everything

Read more About The Conscious Writer

On Infidelity and Monsters

Dear Broken Hearted Woman,

Read More on Medium

Have a Go To Beverage

Click Here to Read My Piece titled “A Conscious Writer, Is a Valuable Writer.”

Find Your Quiet Place

Know when to “fuck what they say”

Know when to “fuck what they say”

It’s ok to start with the basics

Allow yourself to learn

Balance the pleasure and thoughts

Be bold

Self Reflection and Writing

Self Reflection