Blogflux directoryInfrequent blogging, and first-draft territory
I haven't been a frequent blogger these past months, as anyone knows who subscribes to this blog (or either of my other blogs). I'm sorry to anyone for whom that's a problem. I've read that bloggers are supposed to post something every day, if they can.
If you've read Practically Shameless, you can probably guess the reason I don't force myself to post something every day whether or not I feel like it. I just don't think it's very healthy to force myself, though life does sometimes require it.
It's been a challenging summer for me, with some really difficult personal issues surfacing. Some were issues that I knew were lurking in the background, and which I wasn't ready to face yet. Others hit me by surprise. At times it has felt as if Life has picked me up by the feet, turned me upside-down, and given me a good shaking. There are still some things I haven't digested yet about all that has changed.
At the same time, I've begun working on the next book, which is about how our shadows show up during the holiday season. It's been a long time since I was in what I call "first-draft territory." It took me 8 years to write Practically Shameless, and I did write several portions of it for the first time last year, but it seems a very long time ago.
Sometimes first-draft territory is like being in labor: I get an idea that pulls me toward the computer, and it's a little like having a contraction. When I lie down for a nap, it's important that I have a pad of paper next to me because chances are I'll jolt upright with an idea I need to write down immediately.
One of the most important things about first-draft territory is to write down every idea that comes, even if it seems not very worthwhile. The point is to let your unconscious mind know that you want to hear from it. The more you write down ideas, the more ideas will come. I've never kept a dream journal but have heard from those who do that keeping a dream journal is based on the same idea. The more dreams you write down, the more dreams you will remember.
I enjoy being in labor with a book. It's easier than the kind of experience I'm having today, which is like trying to run through glue. I've got ideas to expand on, I just can't seem to find the words, or rather, I can't seem to find the flow. Which is why I'm blogging. It feels good to be able to write something even if I couldn't write much on the book today.
I know that later this week, more of my creative juices will be flowing, and that's a comforting thought. A friend who has studied astrology told me some years ago that in each moon cycle, there's a 48-hour period when we are at our most creative. That 48-hour period is the time of the moon's cycle when we were born. I've found this to be very true, so true that for years I marked it on my calendar so that I would remember to leave my schedule open for writing.
I was born roughly 24 hours prior to the new moon, and the new moon is this Saturday the 30th, at 1:58 pm Colorado time. So starting on Friday at around midday, I'll get more juice running through me, which will be great.
If you've read Practically Shameless, you can probably guess the reason I don't force myself to post something every day whether or not I feel like it. I just don't think it's very healthy to force myself, though life does sometimes require it.
It's been a challenging summer for me, with some really difficult personal issues surfacing. Some were issues that I knew were lurking in the background, and which I wasn't ready to face yet. Others hit me by surprise. At times it has felt as if Life has picked me up by the feet, turned me upside-down, and given me a good shaking. There are still some things I haven't digested yet about all that has changed.
At the same time, I've begun working on the next book, which is about how our shadows show up during the holiday season. It's been a long time since I was in what I call "first-draft territory." It took me 8 years to write Practically Shameless, and I did write several portions of it for the first time last year, but it seems a very long time ago.
Sometimes first-draft territory is like being in labor: I get an idea that pulls me toward the computer, and it's a little like having a contraction. When I lie down for a nap, it's important that I have a pad of paper next to me because chances are I'll jolt upright with an idea I need to write down immediately.
One of the most important things about first-draft territory is to write down every idea that comes, even if it seems not very worthwhile. The point is to let your unconscious mind know that you want to hear from it. The more you write down ideas, the more ideas will come. I've never kept a dream journal but have heard from those who do that keeping a dream journal is based on the same idea. The more dreams you write down, the more dreams you will remember.
I enjoy being in labor with a book. It's easier than the kind of experience I'm having today, which is like trying to run through glue. I've got ideas to expand on, I just can't seem to find the words, or rather, I can't seem to find the flow. Which is why I'm blogging. It feels good to be able to write something even if I couldn't write much on the book today.
I know that later this week, more of my creative juices will be flowing, and that's a comforting thought. A friend who has studied astrology told me some years ago that in each moon cycle, there's a 48-hour period when we are at our most creative. That 48-hour period is the time of the moon's cycle when we were born. I've found this to be very true, so true that for years I marked it on my calendar so that I would remember to leave my schedule open for writing.
I was born roughly 24 hours prior to the new moon, and the new moon is this Saturday the 30th, at 1:58 pm Colorado time. So starting on Friday at around midday, I'll get more juice running through me, which will be great.
Alyce,
I've been in first-draft territory, myself, and you put it very well. It is a good reminder to just allow the ideas to flow. What can appear to be chaos eventually sorts itself out.
I have noticed, too, that when I am open to the first-draft process, useful ideas and information just seems to show up in my life. Perhaps the openness makes me hyper-sensitive. It always feels to me, though, that it is some combination of my subconscious nudging me and the universe supporting me.
Melanie
Reply to this
I'm no where near first-draft territory for a book but I am an infrequent blogger. I'm not at all convinced that forcing myself to write something everyday, whether I want to write or not, will produce a blog that even I would want to read, let alone anyone else.
Like so many other things in my life, I find it's about having balance. I definitely need to create blog entries more often than at my current sporadic rate, but just writing to write wouldn't be the answer for me.
I've been trying to write first drafts of blog entries so I don't lose the thread and can come back and weave the full idea together later. I just recently started this so we'll see if it helps.
Reply to this
Good for you for not letting blogging get in the way of your other creative projects! As a new blogger, I find that I get a little obsessed with it, and spend a lot of time, but sometimes that's not the greatest use of my energy.
Reply to this