"I don't like being boxed into a schedule" - check.
I need input, input, and more input. - yup.
"I rebel against myself." Triple check. Totally.
So my new mantra to experiment with in the coming month/year will be "create first, consume after". I tend to think of my "creative time" as an extended period (which means I need to make sure I get some input first to make sure I fit that in, right???), so I will also need to modify the mantra-ed expectations to some window of time that feels "enough for now". Hence, the experimenting.
And yes, of course you need to get input before that extended creative time--not! But it sure sounds like something I'd rationalize to myself as well.
Seriously, I'm constantly amazed at how good I feel if I spend even that "enough for now" amount of time on my creative practices. It really does energize me for all the other things I need to do.
I believe the conjunction of NaNoWriMo and the election has helped me this month. I'm not very good about getting my writing in every day, except when I'm trying to get to 50K in 30 days, so having a deadline has helped me not doom scroll as much as I usually would. Don't get me wrong, I'm still paying too much attention to the national craziness, but NaNo has helped mitigate some of it. I love the idea of creating more than I am consuming. It will help me in so many ways. And, oh I was successful in posting a comment on Substack today. I think I've figured out at least some of my problem. More on that at a later time. Thank you for always making me think in new ways. I appreciate all you do and all you are!
Marna, I saw your name and was so glad you are able to comment! Thank you! And I'm so glad you are making such great progress on your WIP. I appreciate your openness to dig in so much, too!
Oooh!! Thank you for that information from the Gallup poll. Yes, during these past ten days, I’ve read way more news than I usually do and I realized that it was making me cry and feel really worried about the whole world. Literally everything from my new doll to climate crisis seemed really worrying. So, I had to step back. Cleaning my dolls and photographing them helped me relax. Paddington in Peru made me laugh. And I decided to also do what you’ve said here. I heard you in my head saying “sit down and write.” So, I have two posts nearly finished now and I’m very grateful to my fairy godsister of writing — you! Hugs to you!
That is such an interesting way to look at it. I do wake up and write my blog immediately then read other stuff. (Like now) My afternoon ‘real’ writing periods are suffering lately. Fancy your therapist saying so many of her patients have stress pain. Hmm. We do internalize don’t we.
I will also give myself a good talking to and drag my head back into a creative space.
Yes, we do internalize and don't even realize it. At least I don't realize it until my body points it out to me. I do sometimes find it difficult to get my brain back in writing mode in the afternoons because it's so full of other stuff that has accumulated throughout the day. Which is another reason I love my morning sessions!
OMG - so fitting for me!
"I don't like being boxed into a schedule" - check.
I need input, input, and more input. - yup.
"I rebel against myself." Triple check. Totally.
So my new mantra to experiment with in the coming month/year will be "create first, consume after". I tend to think of my "creative time" as an extended period (which means I need to make sure I get some input first to make sure I fit that in, right???), so I will also need to modify the mantra-ed expectations to some window of time that feels "enough for now". Hence, the experimenting.
Love this.
Kindred spirits!
And yes, of course you need to get input before that extended creative time--not! But it sure sounds like something I'd rationalize to myself as well.
Seriously, I'm constantly amazed at how good I feel if I spend even that "enough for now" amount of time on my creative practices. It really does energize me for all the other things I need to do.
Thanks for reading and commenting!
I believe the conjunction of NaNoWriMo and the election has helped me this month. I'm not very good about getting my writing in every day, except when I'm trying to get to 50K in 30 days, so having a deadline has helped me not doom scroll as much as I usually would. Don't get me wrong, I'm still paying too much attention to the national craziness, but NaNo has helped mitigate some of it. I love the idea of creating more than I am consuming. It will help me in so many ways. And, oh I was successful in posting a comment on Substack today. I think I've figured out at least some of my problem. More on that at a later time. Thank you for always making me think in new ways. I appreciate all you do and all you are!
Marna, I saw your name and was so glad you are able to comment! Thank you! And I'm so glad you are making such great progress on your WIP. I appreciate your openness to dig in so much, too!
Oooh!! Thank you for that information from the Gallup poll. Yes, during these past ten days, I’ve read way more news than I usually do and I realized that it was making me cry and feel really worried about the whole world. Literally everything from my new doll to climate crisis seemed really worrying. So, I had to step back. Cleaning my dolls and photographing them helped me relax. Paddington in Peru made me laugh. And I decided to also do what you’ve said here. I heard you in my head saying “sit down and write.” So, I have two posts nearly finished now and I’m very grateful to my fairy godsister of writing — you! Hugs to you!
Oh my, this makes me so happy! And so do your photos of the bears and dolls on Insta. I'm so glad you are sharing your passions with the world!
That is such an interesting way to look at it. I do wake up and write my blog immediately then read other stuff. (Like now) My afternoon ‘real’ writing periods are suffering lately. Fancy your therapist saying so many of her patients have stress pain. Hmm. We do internalize don’t we.
I will also give myself a good talking to and drag my head back into a creative space.
Yes, we do internalize and don't even realize it. At least I don't realize it until my body points it out to me. I do sometimes find it difficult to get my brain back in writing mode in the afternoons because it's so full of other stuff that has accumulated throughout the day. Which is another reason I love my morning sessions!