Re clenched fists and gritted teeth...to me this represents forcing something, or closing it off. Would rather write where nothing is blocked or gripped too tightly. Flow experiences can't happen when you're fighting the process.
Interesting poll on reasons behind getting paid to write... many big opportunities don’t pay but the exposure is worth considering. Getting back to payment for writing, it can be motivating to receive payment for something I’ve put a lot of time and effort into - as much as (if not more than) my full-time work. Just to be paid for the output (like an artist selling a painting). Although many lit mags don’t charge people to read their online content, so there’s that too (though they may receive support from advertisers). I suppose that’s where grants can fill a gap, although they are very competitive and never guaranteed.
Oh I like this burrowing thing! I think it could be fun and helpful! As to the clenched fist, when I read that I thought of it more as being frustrated. I don’t think I do my best with a clenched fist, rather what seems to happen is when I get to that point of frustration it’s very often not until I let go of what I think I’m writing and let some thing else emerge and then I end up with something good. That happened with my post for this week. I had pages of what I thought I wanted to write, and it just wasn’t any good. I finally let go of it, and wrote the story that wanted to be written, but that I didn’t want to write, and I think it turned out a whole lot better.
I used to live most of my life with a clenched fist. To me it means pushing, over-efforting, tension. It's not how I do my best work and it's not how I want to live. I have gone from being an ardent striver in most areas of life, to being someone that worships ease and flow. Relaxed effort is much more productive and enjoyable than it's opposite. Thank you!
So: after some feedback (thanks again to everyone who took time, your input was soooooooo helpful!) on my Dizain pieces in the workshop, I realize that writing for me, is like sailing a small boat, solo — a great deal of my youth was spent in a Snark, a super-light boat, fast and easy for one person to manage. I am working on describing that elsewhere, but if you have sailed, you know it runs the gamut: from fist-clenched flying, to becalmed and ‘whistling up the wind’, or at times, sail furled and soaking up the sun - or paddling home, drenched, in a surprise downpour. Fist-clench while sailing, is exhilarating, also a bit scary - I see my life right now as learning to whistle effectively, in order to reach that state…
Happy New Year, Alison, and wow, congrats, Suzanne! That's a great testament to the power of the Unschool. ❤️
Re clenched fists and gritted teeth...to me this represents forcing something, or closing it off. Would rather write where nothing is blocked or gripped too tightly. Flow experiences can't happen when you're fighting the process.
Interesting poll on reasons behind getting paid to write... many big opportunities don’t pay but the exposure is worth considering. Getting back to payment for writing, it can be motivating to receive payment for something I’ve put a lot of time and effort into - as much as (if not more than) my full-time work. Just to be paid for the output (like an artist selling a painting). Although many lit mags don’t charge people to read their online content, so there’s that too (though they may receive support from advertisers). I suppose that’s where grants can fill a gap, although they are very competitive and never guaranteed.
Oh I like this burrowing thing! I think it could be fun and helpful! As to the clenched fist, when I read that I thought of it more as being frustrated. I don’t think I do my best with a clenched fist, rather what seems to happen is when I get to that point of frustration it’s very often not until I let go of what I think I’m writing and let some thing else emerge and then I end up with something good. That happened with my post for this week. I had pages of what I thought I wanted to write, and it just wasn’t any good. I finally let go of it, and wrote the story that wanted to be written, but that I didn’t want to write, and I think it turned out a whole lot better.
I used to live most of my life with a clenched fist. To me it means pushing, over-efforting, tension. It's not how I do my best work and it's not how I want to live. I have gone from being an ardent striver in most areas of life, to being someone that worships ease and flow. Relaxed effort is much more productive and enjoyable than it's opposite. Thank you!
So: after some feedback (thanks again to everyone who took time, your input was soooooooo helpful!) on my Dizain pieces in the workshop, I realize that writing for me, is like sailing a small boat, solo — a great deal of my youth was spent in a Snark, a super-light boat, fast and easy for one person to manage. I am working on describing that elsewhere, but if you have sailed, you know it runs the gamut: from fist-clenched flying, to becalmed and ‘whistling up the wind’, or at times, sail furled and soaking up the sun - or paddling home, drenched, in a surprise downpour. Fist-clench while sailing, is exhilarating, also a bit scary - I see my life right now as learning to whistle effectively, in order to reach that state…
Happy New Year! I feel most inspired to write when I'm pissed off! LOL. These days I'm not as anxious as I used to be. <3