10 Supportive behaviours to help with writing
Talking about some of the reasons why I previously failed to keep up my blogging habit, got me thinking about what I could do to support myself this time round. Here are some things that might ensure that I stay productive:
1. Safety
“Creativity flourishes when we have a sense of safety and self-acceptance”
- Julia Cameron in The Artist’s Way: A Spiritual Path to Higher Creativity
Finding a place you feel safe and relaxed enough to be fully yourself, is essential. Self-acceptance can be a harder nut to crack and there are no tricks to this. You simply need accept yourself with all your strong points and imperfections. Because, you know, you’re only human.
2. A specific place to write
I tend to write at my desk. Sitting there sends a signal to my brain that we’re about to get down to business.
I’ve set my desk up to cater to my own comfort and preferences. It’s a vast improvement on when I used to have a job where hot desking was the norm. It gives me immense pleasure to be there, which is just as well, as I spend more time at my desk than I do anywhere else, other than in bed. It’s probably one of my favourite places on earth.
3. Active rest
It’s important to do the kind of leisure activities that free your thoughts to rise to the surface. Walking, for example, has worked wonders for many a writer, including this one. It doesn’t matter what you do, as long as it allows you to hear your inner voice.
Other example activities include: gaming, knitting, fishing, whittling and so on. Basically anything that doesn’t involve words or using your brain to think too hard. Let your thoughts roam free.
4. Sleep
Good sleep is essential. It allows both mind and body to rest. Your brain, finally free not to pay attention, can integrate thought and make connections. Personally, I work best on 8 hours minimum.
5. Silence
I find silence congenial. Writing in silence helps me focus deeply.
6. Exercise
It’s important to preserve and strengthen the body that houses the mind.
7. Reading widely
Creativity is about connecting disparate ideas. To connect ideas, you need to have them in the first place, from as many different sources as you can manage. For me that’s reading, listening and watching. A wide range of information sources, within and beyond your areas of interest, will give you fodder for writing.
8. Solitude
Time alone is essential. especially for over-stimulated introverts. It allows one the space to think and recuperate.
9. Support
You need people in your corner. It need not be a crowd. One or two people to cheer you on whenever you’re flagging, will do.
These can be people you know, or part of a virtual community. I find that it encouraging to read people engaged in the same enterprise as me. It makes me feel less alone. If they can keep going, then so can I.
10. Show up
It goes without saying that if you don’t sit down to write, nothing will get written.