Do You Feel Through Writing

“We write to taste life twice, in the moment and in retrospect.” -Anaïs Nin

Feeling through writing is the point. When I first started out as a writer, I wanted to write something that was analyzed in a college classroom. Now that years have passed, I desire less that my writing be analyzed and more that it be felt and inspire. I want my work to be part of someone’s top three books that made them come alive, choose to stay alive, or reach for the stars. Life is meant to be felt, not in a way that we are swayed this way and that, but in a way that we are present in our different environments. Like life, writing requires presence at the bare minimum.

What’s your top three?

A Writing Commitment

“There was a moment when I changed from an amateur to a professional. I assumed the burden of a profession, which is to write even when you don’t want to, don’t much like what you’re writing, and aren’t writing particularly well.” – Agatha Christie

Writing, like any other craft, takes commitment. Everyone has their own idea of what commitment and hard work look like. I prefer the idea of flowing like water, gently striking against small pieces consistently. I mean, that can move mountains. The truth is that writing every night turns your craft into something else entirely. It can be a place to experiment with circumstances, relationships, love, and good old-fashioned writing techniques. There’s a lot that can be learned from writing. The most important thing to learn, though, is more about yourself.

Do you think of writing as something you need to be committed to?

Writing as an Anchor

“If I waited for perfection, I would never write a word.” – Margaret Atwood

Writing is the anchor I didn’t know I needed. But now I have it, and I will use it as much as I need. When writing becomes more than just “something to do,” it’s a different lifestyle. I hear you, when you say writing is not better or worse than others who write to write. It’s just different. The need to write is sometimes stronger than the desire, but it’s such a gift when the desire is there. Like anything else, daily habits mean you do them regardless of how you feel. At the same time, I think we can all agree that everything feels better when you want to do it.

Why do you write?

Winter Vibes

“I prefer winter and fall, when you feel the bone structure of the landscape—the loneliness of it, the dead feeling of winter. Something waits beneath it, the whole story doesn’t show.” -Andrew Wyeth

Yesterday, it was 9 degrees. I can’t believe it was 9 degrees and I still love winter. This season has really grown on me. I didn’t learn to appreciate winter until I became a writer. The perfect winter morning has graced me with its warmth, and I have welcomed it back ever since. A warm cup of coffee, two blankets, and a view of my backyard.

What would be the perfect winter morning for you?

Already Worthy

“You may encounter many defeats, but you must not be defeated.” — Maya Angelou

Maya Angelou has been on my mind a lot lately. She is a strong reminder for me that our worth is not defined by external factors. You show up to every factor already worthy. The world can sometimes move in a way that makes you doubt yourself, but it’s all an illusion. You’re cut out for this! All those silly little thoughts don’t define you. You have absolutely nothing to prove, and the only person you’re competing with is your past self. Let them doubt you. Let them scoff and shake their heads at you for taking charge of your life. Do it differently! Do it boldly.

One thing I’m beginning to learn as a writer is that we over-edit our lives. We over-edit our writing. We over-edit our outfits, relationships, and feelings. Stop over-editing! Live your life. ‘Cause I’m telling you, the way you write, the way you live and dress and love, it’s fucking art.

So what are you working on?

Thinking About Writing a Story?

“If a story is in you, it has to come out.”—William Faulkner

Do you have a story to tell?

What’s keeping you from telling it?

One thing that keeps people from telling their stories is sitting down and doing it. You have to think about writing your story the same way you think about developing any other habit. You need to build it up slowly. Take your time. Don’t rush your way through it. Taking your time is good for a few reasons: it builds your habit, it allows you to appreciate the process, and it keeps you connected with the story.

Don’t miss out on the amazing feeling of holding your very own finished manuscript; start your story today. 😉

    I am Jack’s Nervous System

    “The Medium is the message.” -Marshall McLuhan

    I have found Mr. Marshall McLuhan, and I do not regret it. Goodness, there’s so much I want to learn in life. Every time I am introduced to an inspiring mind, it just makes me realize how much more I want to know.

    This man talks about technology as if he’s a part of this world. I don’t think he’d have the least bit of culture shock if he were brought back to life in our times.

    “The medium is the message” because it is the “medium that shapes and controls the scale and form of human association and action.” (Understanding Media, NY, 1964, p. 9) Read more at https://www.marshallmcluhan.com/

    Living

    “Begin to be now what you will be hereafter.” -William James

    First, I love what the James brothers contributed to the world. Henry James as a writer; fantastic and William with his work in psychology, fascinating.

    The thing about beginning now what you will be is that you must have some idea of what that is. I decided I was a writer 10 years ago. Then I dove in. The world expanded more and more as I learned all the different ways writing adds to our lives. I learned very quickly the value of storytelling. But saying I wanted to be a writer was like saying I wanted to be a woman. There are a million types of women in the world. It’s just very vague.

    After experimenting with it all, I eventually decided where I wanted to be as writer. I mean, I don’t like to put myself in a box but writing novels is exactly where I want to be. (I also love writing about art. Maybe someday I’ll write a monograph.) The thing is that it’s not just putting words on a page that I love. It’s the entire process, writing, editing hell, cover art, connecting with other writers, inspiring them, letting them inspire me, the culture, the purpose, the sales, the message, and all the other little annoying things aren’t annoying enough to turn me off completely.

    The wild thing about all this is that I could decide in 5 years that I want to be something else or some other kind of writer.

    That means I’m alive. It means I’m in that state of accepting myself where I am while I continue to be someone that’s becoming. I think it’s something beautiful.

    Who are you now?

    Allowing Yourself an Optional Out

    Well, today felt like a Monday.

    The motivation for me today was “Well, we’ll try, and if it goes sideways, I’ll just head home.” It went fine. I was fine. But knowing that I had options was my motivation today. Every day I don’t need that type of motivation. Every day I don’t even need a reason to go because I love what I do. But some days are a little rougher than others, and that’s okay.

    What was your motivation today?

    Free Inspo for You

    Looking for some inspiration? I have got just the thing for you!

    I was not struggling today for inspiration, thankfully; a fellow lover of the literary world lit my fire. But since I have been inspired, I have to share one of my secret inspo dump platform. If you haven’t guessed it already, it’s Pinterest. I’m laughing because who would have thought over a decade ago that this platform would be included in my writer’s life. Not me. Well, it is, and there are so many fun ways to use it.

    They have journaling prompts, writing prompts, grammar boards. You can make a Pinterest Board just for your character. You can make a board to inspire the cover. You can make a mood board for the novels you’re working on. Writing a period piece? You can gather all the different aspects of culture at the time onto a board for those tiny details that make your research shine. There is unlimited ways to use Pinterest and it’s free.

    Do you have a Pinterest account? If yes, do you use it for your writing?

    In case you’re interested here’s a link.