or, Exploring How to Explore How to Find Your Writing Groove - Finding out the how you write best will make you more productive, creative, and confident.
Both you and Terry have been my constant go-to Substack reading. I often feel like you've been sitting on my shoulder and your guidance is invaluable. Looking forward to Terry's latest book and both your next Substacks.
Fun versus serious is absolutely a game changer in writing or anything else. Bringing the energy of playfulness rather than life or death makes all the difference. Whether it is in writing, dating, job searching this is the universal truth. I am playing with seeing my projects & my life as performance art. So regardless of the results I at least put together a performance:)
Ha - I've dabbled with that "performance art" thing myself, but my introverted self struggles with the spotlight most of the time.
I do like living the artistic life (which I've discussed in yet another post inspired by Terry). Even though I'm more comfortable with that, it doesn't work when the bills have to be paid and the garbage has to go out and the kids need to be fed. Maybe that's why I feel so much more at home when I'm travelling: I get to live the real me without the stress of day-to-day detritus... lol
But yeah, 100% playful vs. serious is the way to go in writing -- at least for the first draft!
Great post, Graham. Thanks for the kind words. I remember in the very beginning, I asked myself why I couldn’t write, or rather why I was paralyzed when my desire to write was off the charts? I thought hard about this simple question and eventually figured out—as we’ve discussed before—that it was my uncertainty about the story and where it was going that stopped me dead in my tracks. That was first clue—well, really the whole answer—that I was an ardent planner. Everything fell into place for my writing after answering that one question. I hope your post resonates with writers who are struggling.
Yes, it occurred to me that some could be struggling with this question and not even know it. There must be parallels in other arts: learning the best way to paint, learning how to dance, learning how to become a photographer. As writers, we all have individual idiosyncrasies in everything we do. Where do those come from? They come from doing, from forging our own paths and find our own way. We learn that this combination of that and this and that works best for us. And, just as importantly, that this and that and this does not.
All of this and that being said, sometimes it's good to try a bit of this and that again, somewheres down the road a bit. But that's for another post...
BTW, looking forward to Rod Carly coming up for LitFest this year. Just a couple of weeks away!
This is all spot on and a good reminder, thanks Graham. Look after the process and let the writing look after itself
Both you and Terry have been my constant go-to Substack reading. I often feel like you've been sitting on my shoulder and your guidance is invaluable. Looking forward to Terry's latest book and both your next Substacks.
Awww, well isn't that a wonderful compliment! Yours is one of the newsletters I search out, too.
So glad to hear these pages are helping. As you know, you put these things into the world and hope for the best...
I hope all is well in your corner of the Hundred-Acre Wood!
Fun versus serious is absolutely a game changer in writing or anything else. Bringing the energy of playfulness rather than life or death makes all the difference. Whether it is in writing, dating, job searching this is the universal truth. I am playing with seeing my projects & my life as performance art. So regardless of the results I at least put together a performance:)
Ha - I've dabbled with that "performance art" thing myself, but my introverted self struggles with the spotlight most of the time.
I do like living the artistic life (which I've discussed in yet another post inspired by Terry). Even though I'm more comfortable with that, it doesn't work when the bills have to be paid and the garbage has to go out and the kids need to be fed. Maybe that's why I feel so much more at home when I'm travelling: I get to live the real me without the stress of day-to-day detritus... lol
But yeah, 100% playful vs. serious is the way to go in writing -- at least for the first draft!
Play like it means nothing, when it means everything is The Grail. This book “The Alter Ego Effect” has an interesting approach to it.
I'll have to check that book out -- thanks!
Great post, Graham. Thanks for the kind words. I remember in the very beginning, I asked myself why I couldn’t write, or rather why I was paralyzed when my desire to write was off the charts? I thought hard about this simple question and eventually figured out—as we’ve discussed before—that it was my uncertainty about the story and where it was going that stopped me dead in my tracks. That was first clue—well, really the whole answer—that I was an ardent planner. Everything fell into place for my writing after answering that one question. I hope your post resonates with writers who are struggling.
Thanks Terry!
Yes, it occurred to me that some could be struggling with this question and not even know it. There must be parallels in other arts: learning the best way to paint, learning how to dance, learning how to become a photographer. As writers, we all have individual idiosyncrasies in everything we do. Where do those come from? They come from doing, from forging our own paths and find our own way. We learn that this combination of that and this and that works best for us. And, just as importantly, that this and that and this does not.
All of this and that being said, sometimes it's good to try a bit of this and that again, somewheres down the road a bit. But that's for another post...
BTW, looking forward to Rod Carly coming up for LitFest this year. Just a couple of weeks away!
Agreed! Yes, Rod’s a great guy. Have fun.
Thanks!