focusing
I started with modified morning pages again, and actually wrote three and a half pages -- more than I've written in weeks.
The Artist's Way has been simultaneously helpful and annoying to me, as has Writing Down the Bones. I disagree (vehemently at times, book-throwing at times) with some of the sentiments and philosophies, but many of the exercises are sensible. And when you've been in a blocked state for a while, it's a lot easier -- well, for me, at least -- to ignore my disagreements with some of the underlying philosophies, and use the techniques and exercises that work.
Most of the books I have on writing technique are about journal-keeping (funny, that) with a few exceptions. I think the most helpful have been Dorothea Brande's Becoming a Writer, with its calm, dryly witty tone, and advice that is just as practical now as it was sixty-five years ago; and Deena Metzger's Writing for Your Life.
At any rate, here I am, trying to calm my life down enough to get back into writing the way it was when it was a constant joy. I suspect that I now have enough other joys in my life that it will have to compete for time, but it's also competing with the frittering away of hours that I can do so well, neither doing what I should (for certain values of "should") nor what I want to do. A little more focus on what makes me truly happy can only be a good thing.
The Artist's Way has been simultaneously helpful and annoying to me, as has Writing Down the Bones. I disagree (vehemently at times, book-throwing at times) with some of the sentiments and philosophies, but many of the exercises are sensible. And when you've been in a blocked state for a while, it's a lot easier -- well, for me, at least -- to ignore my disagreements with some of the underlying philosophies, and use the techniques and exercises that work.
Most of the books I have on writing technique are about journal-keeping (funny, that) with a few exceptions. I think the most helpful have been Dorothea Brande's Becoming a Writer, with its calm, dryly witty tone, and advice that is just as practical now as it was sixty-five years ago; and Deena Metzger's Writing for Your Life.
At any rate, here I am, trying to calm my life down enough to get back into writing the way it was when it was a constant joy. I suspect that I now have enough other joys in my life that it will have to compete for time, but it's also competing with the frittering away of hours that I can do so well, neither doing what I should (for certain values of "should") nor what I want to do. A little more focus on what makes me truly happy can only be a good thing.