The suggestion to blog was made by my book doula, Bethany Beams, after Blood Draw was published. She entitled it Behind the Scenes. I realized I have not written about behind my writing scene for awhile. Pen to Paper expands on my own creative process.
Today’s insight began as I was attempting my Morning Pages (Julia Cameron – The Artist’s Way) After I read Cameron many years ago, I combined her process of writing three pages every morning with the writing process of Natalie Goldberg (Writing Down the Bones) of setting a time and not letting my pen leave the paper. It doesn’t matter what I write, just keep my pen moving on the paper. However, I forgot Natalie in the recent past.
Lately, I have been drawing a blank after one or two sentences, like a deer in headlights. Then I remember: O yes, set a time and don’t let my pen leave the page. I can do anything for ten minutes, so I choose ten minutes. Curious insights (for me) emerge. Today, after several desultory attempts to write my Morning Pages, I remembered Natalie. I wrote that I felt like a deer in headlights. I kept writing and experienced an olfactory memory of the smell of my blue ink pen in high school, prompted by the scent of the new pen I was using. (Thank you JetPens.com!)
This morning I also finally understood that between awakening, exercising, eating, reading, and finally the Morning Pages, I cannot look at my phone. Even several minutes will interrupt my mental creative process to write the three pages.
My conscious writing mind must have direct access to my unconscious creative mind spirit. Or, my writing will simply not work. I can read (on paper) which also connects to my unconscious. I cannot read online or the connection is broken and lost. Online reading takes me out of myself. Reading on paper keeps me within myself.
Several people I know who were once great readers can no longer read books. Most of them have stated that their phone is the book thief. I realize my phone is my distraction, my writing thief. I can write my Morning Pages much easier by not checking my phone for several hours upon awakening.
When the thief is lurking, I remember Natalie Goldberg, begin to keep the pen on the paper and know it is my warm-up. As runners stretch before their practice, I keep pen to paper for my warm-ups. I watch a more purposeful writing emerge. I may start with the grocery list, appointments to be made or kept, and even writing down what I did yesterday. So I can check it off. (!) As I keep pen to paper, deeper thoughts rise to the top, to the paper. I have an entry. Or a chapter. I smile.
If you are one of the bygone book readers who have forgotten how to read and are chagrined by it, modify Goldberg’s suggestion for writers. Set a time. Tell yourself you will read for ten minutes. Without lifting your eyes, getting up, or checking your phone. Which is, of course, turned off. It’s your warm-up, your stretch to retrain your reading muscles. I think you will be delighted to rediscover the art and joy of reading.
If you are a deer-in-the-headlights writer, use the ten minute method. Put your pen to paper and trust the process. Here’s to forgotten readers and stymied writers!
Peace
Gabrielle
November 9, 2018