pen ink river

Back at the desk, daily, working on assorted things. Playful poetry, mining prose about the Valley to turn into anthracite prose poems, and re-immersing myself in the project about G. I spent one morning last week looking back over seven years of insights culled from working with the creativity coach, from getting up and coming to this desk mostly day in and out. I wrote in 1998 or 1999: "A good day for me is about feeling heard and understood. It's about stimulation and connection." Interesting: so many themes surface again and again. Does that mean I'm dense, that it's taking me forever to make changes, or does it mean I'm incapable of change? Does it mean I knew a while back a better recipe for success for my writing life and I've been stubborn about embracing it? All I know is that the review was useful -- I feel like I've got a list of directives I should now tattoo on the inside of my left arm.

So for what it's worth, here's my new, improved writing wisdom list: what I've figured out, what I know works for me and also what trips me up. Over and over and over and over again. What I need, what would help me work better:

21st Century Nora O'Floinn Writing Wisdom List

-- Read poetry in the morning, start of my writing day.

-- Need audience. Write to someone, real or imagined.

-- Dare to write and complete first, messy drafts.

-- Assign prompts and homework. Perhaps a daily page number or word count?

-- Go deeply into fewer things.

-- Stop trying to force.

-- Limit travel and disruptions; expect transition time after they occur.

-- Don't discount my story: outsider, observing, often other.

-- So often desperate to be good at something, to be recognized, and seen as worthy.

-- I keep losing the laughter. Why?

Ancient Insights, from those longago 90s

-- My best work? Focused on the specific and the concrete.

-- Turn to writing exercises when my will, drive, and enthusiasm fail me.

-- Gossip and detective work often two keys to generating writing.

-- Stream of consciousness for prodding memories.

-- When I travel, my journal details are livelier, more interesting.

-- Still caring too much about outcomes.

-- Patience rather than forcing the words to come.

-- Too much fretting about getting the words "right."

-- Music heals, jolts free associations.

-- Explore artists who have creativity in multiples areas.

-- When I DO things, the writing is better.

-- Writing from a random poetry line? Generative for me.

-- When rigid about daily schedules, I freeze up.