Spark Joy

A story should entertain the writer, too.” -Stephen King

This is true for both writing and real life! From what I’ve learned over the past 10 years, it’s that whether you have tons of money or no money at all, it’s your job to find the fun in life. Don’t wait for this or that. Find ways to spark your joy. And I personally think the best joy is the kind you find inside yourself first and then share with others. Don’t try to share it with others before you find it inside first yourself; it doesn’t work that way.

Do you find joy in your writing? You don’t have to share the details, but also I love the details.

Summer Writing Passion

“There are things in life that come over you sudden as a flash flood, total as an eclipse — the great loves, the great creative passions, the great urges to conquer a mountain or a theorem.” -Maria Popova

This is how Ms. Popava started her blog. Wow! Along with a good writing session (which I wrote about yesterday), this is one of the greatest feelings as an artist: finding the passion in our work. Popova goes in depth about the way our minds work during these different phases of transformation through creation, and since she does such a fantastic job describing this complex topic, I’m going to go ahead and leave it to her. I wanted to share this quote because it inspires me to find my passion for writing again.

How about you? Are you feeling the passion this summer? Looking for it?

A Good Writing Day.

“Tomorrow may be hell, but today was a good writing day, and on the good writing days nothing else matters.”  -Neil Gaiman

Ah, the way a good writing day makes everything better. I don’t rely on having good writing days, but I welcome them with open arms when they arrive. The thing is, good writing days can only find you when you’re writing. So, did you sit by your computer and write a few decent sentences today? Here are some things that help me prep for my evening writing when I need the motivation.

  • I make myself a warm drink.
  • I grab something for my shoulders. I’m not sure why, but this helps me focus. Usually, it’s a small blanket.
  • I catch up on the backend of my blogs.
  • and journaling!

When was your last good writing day? What do you think made it so such a good session?

I feel like decent energy, a clear mind, and having something to say, are the perfect trio to a good writing session.

Intuition and Writing

“Your intuition knows what to write, so get out of the way.” -Ray Bradbury

Writing can be like a faucet; turn the knobs of your imagination and let the words flow. Those are on good nights. Like most writers, I love those nights. There are times when our intuition is clearer and times when we are in complete silence. I think it’s good, the waxing and waning. On the nights that I have no idea what to write, I look inside myself or toward one of the greats. Whatever comes first.

Another interesting thing to keep in mind is that when you are constantly in touch with your intuition, you forget it’s there, and it just feels like disconnection.

How do you feel about intuition? Do you think you need it as a writer?

I don’t think we need it but I think it really helps.

Jung says,

“The creative aspect of life, which finds its clearest expression in art, baffles all attempts at rational formation.”

Carl Jung on Creativity

Uninterrupted

“Writing is a way of talking without being interrupted.” – Jules Renard 

I’m very slowly getting back into my writing. I think things are going to slow down, and then bam! Both my girls have big days all in one day and within just a few short hours.

I try my best to have hope that I’ll have more time, and I’m always reminded that now is a better time than ever. I’m swamped, and it doesn’t make sense because it’s summer. lol It feels like I always have a million things to do. That why I chose this quote because, with all that’s going on, I still make time to jot down my thoughts every night before bed. It works for me to have these few hours where writing is my only responsibility.

Do you set intentional time aside to write without distractions?

Understanding Through Writing

“We do not write in order to be understood; we write in order to understand.” -C. S. Lewis

I like to read and understand new things, but it doesn’t end there. I agree with Lewis; writing brings my understanding to a much deeper level. I just don’t think it ends there.

There’s always layers to this thing called life; reading and writing just unravel it all. But part of the writing process is giving and receiving feedback so that you can take your understanding to new levels. A lot of being a writer is putting words on a page, but we can’t forget the most important part of the process: our readers.

How do you connect with your readers?

Go Big for Your Joy

Learn to be happy where you are.

Learn to kiss the kids and clean the house how you want to because I promise you that those things are going to pay off. Let it go. Take this summer to let go of the things that keep you from living your best life. I really want you to go hard this summer. Concerts, fairs, beach days, and summer reading lists. I want you to relish in it all. Don’t forget the soft-serve ice cream cones with sprinkles on those hot days.

This is your life. I want you to live this summer like you never lived before. Do you know how to do that? You do that by letting go. Let go of the what ifs, the comparisons, the fears that shrink you into too small. If you know in your heart of hearts that something will bring you joy, I want you to do it.

For you, I know this is going to be challenging because you have gotten where you are by shrinking, by listening and obeying the voices that don’t think you’re capable of living the life of your dreams. Do you know why they think you can’t live the life of your dreams? It’s because they shrank and they shrank and they shrank, and now they think you must shrink too. But you must be bigger than that. You must be stronger than that. Here’s what’s important to know, they aren’t any happier keeping you small. So go big. Go big for your values. Go big for your dreams and this summer I want you to go especially big for your joy.

And please share every single joyful moment so we can find our joy too.

Cheat Codes for Writing

“I write to give myself strength. I write to be the characters that I am not. I write to explore all the things I’m afraid of.” —Joss Whedon

I spent all day carving away at my novel. It feels weird where I am. It’s so familiar, but it’s all so different. Same writer. Same novel. And yet it feels like I’m living in a completely new world compared to when I started. I’m more consistent, more experienced, and in some ways more confident than the girl who dove headfirst into writing over a decade ago. Even on bad days, I write. I mean, you may find me with chicken wings and fries next to my computer (kidding, I don’t know how that would even work), but this writer is still writing regardless of her mood.

The big secret to all this is that sometimes you just gotta do the work. Don’t fight it, that just sends you down the spiral and that’s no fun at all.

Here’s a few cheat codes for writing:

  • Journaling
  • Take note of your thoughts, conversations, and internal dialogue
  • Stay present
  • And I’m a big believer in writing something everyday. (It changed me)

What cheat codes did I leave out?

The Poetry Process

“Poetry is the one place where people can speak their original human mind. It is the outlet for people to say in public what is known in private.” -Allen Ginsberg

I find that poetry comes to me in a rebellious way. If I force it out of me, it’s not as good, but if I wait until it comes to me and I take my time letting it unfold, it becomes less like words and more like a beacon.

I haven’t written any poetry in quite some time, but I enjoy it and I do kinda miss it.

How bout you, do you chase down your poetry or do you let it come to you?