This follows on from my post yesterday about my women’s writing group, or what Lisa calls The Writer-Girl Group Jam. We have been given homework, and we have to do it every day! It’s not hard though, and it’s designed to help us to get in the flow of writing from the heart, and to enjoy writing.
Now, I know I don’t have any problem putting pen to paper, or getting my thoughts through the keyboard and onto the screen, but I do need this exercise. The reason is this. I’m writing a lot, and it’s purposeful and organised. I have notes, plans and a goal. I’m expecting people to read my words, and I want it to be “right”. The same goes, really, for blogging. Although it feels much more casual, it is for putting out there, and I am expecting all sorts of people to read it. I have to think about what I am writing and I generally make sure I write in proper sentences. Except when I don’t feel like it.
So this is all quite serious and, to some extent, formal. But I need to remember that I write because I love it, and because I can’t not write, just the same as an artist can’t help sketching. If I’m not careful, writing could become a chore every time I do it, and I could forget just how much I enjoy the process of thinking thoughts and then seeing them, like magic, appear on the screen in front of me. It’s such fun!
It’s really good for me, therefore, to have this homework, which is to write a bit every day, not worrying about proper sentences, correcting or editing. Just “riffing”, to use Lisa’s word. The suggestion is to get really comfy and feeling good, make our space nice and write whatever we feel like. And to do it every single day.
I’ve started a little routine, lighting my oil burner and getting a nice hot drink, getting myself in the right frame of mind by reading the inspirational notices around my desk. And just writing whatever comes into my head, which is very different from the rest of my writing which is something like “right, today I am going to tackle…”. Today was much harder than yesterday, however, because we’d had all sorts of upheaval with the boiler being mended, the house freezing and me having to go out to work this evening. I did it though; I’m good at following instructions. As the days go by, I’ll be able to see what sort of time of day suits me best and I’ll also be able to think about making my tiny office a bit more ordered and pleasant. If, no when, I do that, I might even be persuaded to post a photo!
I’d love to know, is your work also something you love to do, and if it is, how do you preserve that enjoyment, make sure you still enjoy being creative or productive when it’s also your job? Do you set aside time just to “play”? Do leave a comment below; thanks!
