I completely understand where you're coming from, Meg. Productive mindfulness is tough because we all have to find our own ways and timing to take what's in our head and put it down into writing. If it's any consolation, you're on the right track! I find that I have to get out and live free and let experiences push on me from the outside in, and then try to make sense of it later. It's almost like I have to give up or forget about the writing for a time and live in the moment.
Have fun camping! Hope you have a chance to relax and just enjoy the vacation with family.
I know where you’re coming from, Meg. I’ve been there plenty of times, too, and I have to say, I think forgetting about writing for a period of time (as difficult as it may be!) is the route to go when trying to put fuel back in the tank. Going camping sounds like the perfect remedy! When I’m in a rut I retreat to the woods or go do something active.
We are similar (in many ways) in that I often run through various scenarios in my head regarding almost anything I’m thinking about in that moment. I have to force myself to turn it off. It happen a lot on my drives to and from work. Glass time. I then have to rewind the 10 seconds on my dateline podcast... 😏
The joke in our family is when one of them goes on a meandering story rant, I stop and say "TLDR! TLDR!" Too long, didn't read. That way it gets shortened, and I don't have to rewind. 🤣
"It's called camping and it's supposed to be great." (hahahaha -Who you kidding? This line hit home "For the past two years, I’ve been digging in my brain’s backyard. Mining a dormant decade’s worth of story coal from an untapped vein." It is shocking the amount of story we have stuffed away in our brains just begging to be set free. I am so glad you are getting it unscrambled and out on "paper" now. Imagine if you waited thirty more years to do it. Frightening. Great post!
Thank you, Sharron. I should definitely view this sticking point as a sign that there's plenty more story fuel behind that top layer that came away so easily. The next layer just lies a little deeper and for that reason it will be more challenging to uncover, but no less rewarding to polish and send into the world. 💜
Thank you, Claudine. I actually asked my husband for help on that analogy, because as a SAHM I'm not super educated on mining practices and terminology. 😂
Cross-post away! I finally listened to the podcast, btw. It was a riot. 🥂
I try not to call myself names (since I have a nemesis already doing that for me) but I have been known to slap myself in the face if I get too pouty and self-loathing. It has the added benefit of increasing circulation and making me look younger temporarily. 😜
Meg, even in your description of how you are in a "writing rut" is amazing writing!!!!! You are so creative and have a beautiful way with words. This hit home for me and will be one I print out and keep going back to! Happy grounding!
Apparently, you and I bought our brains at the same store. Ugh! I feel your pain. Luckily I tapped into mindfulness (long before it become the McMindfulness industry). It has really, really helped calm and focus my hyper-active, hyper-creative brain (but ironically somehow allowing me to up my creative output). For decades, I was not "watching" my thoughts/feelings which seems to be the key in managing unconscious behaviors. Sort of like "interrupting" an unruly teenaged dog in the face with a squirt gun. I started Headspace 11 years ago, lately leaning into Sam Harris's Waking Up. You may already be doing your own type of work in this area. "Matter Over Mind" is the shit though, you're on the right track!
Thank you, Mark. They really should close down that brain store. So many creatives suffering buyer's remorse out here.
Hyperactive is a perfect way to describe my brain activity. I'm still a work in progress RE: mindfulness. I understand the importance of the practice, but it's very hard to stick with when your teenage dog brain is so resistant to being trained. I have Headspace on my phone and occasionally use it for grounding when my anxiety gets less-than-manageable. I'll give Sam Harris a go. Thanks for the recommendation! And for reading!
Agreed. What I find sometimes: I will choose a photo and just write one sentence. An hour later a couple more, no idea AT ALL where it is going. Then, two pages later I read it and say, Oh! So THAT is what this is about!" It is all packed away in those little grey cells and some times it is a little slow to unpack. It has to worm its way out. No less satisfying.
Total relate to this. Not is the sense of writing but just life in general. I always have been an over thinker replaying what has gone and what is to come.
I'm only now reading these pieces you've written over the summer, and lo and behold, I felt the *exact same way* about being in a rut over the past few months. Synchronicity abounds. One of the dictums I've stuck to through the year's is one of Henry Miller's 10 writing commandments: when you can't create, you can work.
I completely understand where you're coming from, Meg. Productive mindfulness is tough because we all have to find our own ways and timing to take what's in our head and put it down into writing. If it's any consolation, you're on the right track! I find that I have to get out and live free and let experiences push on me from the outside in, and then try to make sense of it later. It's almost like I have to give up or forget about the writing for a time and live in the moment.
Have fun camping! Hope you have a chance to relax and just enjoy the vacation with family.
I know where you’re coming from, Meg. I’ve been there plenty of times, too, and I have to say, I think forgetting about writing for a period of time (as difficult as it may be!) is the route to go when trying to put fuel back in the tank. Going camping sounds like the perfect remedy! When I’m in a rut I retreat to the woods or go do something active.
Enjoy the time with your family! 🏕️
We are similar (in many ways) in that I often run through various scenarios in my head regarding almost anything I’m thinking about in that moment. I have to force myself to turn it off. It happen a lot on my drives to and from work. Glass time. I then have to rewind the 10 seconds on my dateline podcast... 😏
For me I have to ask my husband or child to rewind and repeat what they've been saying to me for the last 10 minutes. 😂
The joke in our family is when one of them goes on a meandering story rant, I stop and say "TLDR! TLDR!" Too long, didn't read. That way it gets shortened, and I don't have to rewind. 🤣
😂
Enjoy the woods!
This stuff keeps getting better and better..... EITRD,
Anyone out there care to play DAA (decipher Anonymom's acronyms) ?
Every idiot tries recreational dodgeball.
Endings indicate that reason dominates.
Experience is the red dog.
You have made me so happy.....
But no.....
"It's called camping and it's supposed to be great." (hahahaha -Who you kidding? This line hit home "For the past two years, I’ve been digging in my brain’s backyard. Mining a dormant decade’s worth of story coal from an untapped vein." It is shocking the amount of story we have stuffed away in our brains just begging to be set free. I am so glad you are getting it unscrambled and out on "paper" now. Imagine if you waited thirty more years to do it. Frightening. Great post!
Thank you, Sharron. I should definitely view this sticking point as a sign that there's plenty more story fuel behind that top layer that came away so easily. The next layer just lies a little deeper and for that reason it will be more challenging to uncover, but no less rewarding to polish and send into the world. 💜
Meg, “Mining a dormant decade’s worth of story coal from an untapped vein” OMG what a phrase! I insist you use it in a future novel - excellent!
I’m going to cross post this post and it’s not just because you mentioned our interview, which you did rock btw.
Finally, when I feel myself hesitating to take action, I say to myself, “Stop being a PUxxY!” That usually gets me into action.
Thank you, Claudine. I actually asked my husband for help on that analogy, because as a SAHM I'm not super educated on mining practices and terminology. 😂
Cross-post away! I finally listened to the podcast, btw. It was a riot. 🥂
I try not to call myself names (since I have a nemesis already doing that for me) but I have been known to slap myself in the face if I get too pouty and self-loathing. It has the added benefit of increasing circulation and making me look younger temporarily. 😜
Lolololololol
Meg, even in your description of how you are in a "writing rut" is amazing writing!!!!! You are so creative and have a beautiful way with words. This hit home for me and will be one I print out and keep going back to! Happy grounding!
💜💜💜💜💜
Apparently, you and I bought our brains at the same store. Ugh! I feel your pain. Luckily I tapped into mindfulness (long before it become the McMindfulness industry). It has really, really helped calm and focus my hyper-active, hyper-creative brain (but ironically somehow allowing me to up my creative output). For decades, I was not "watching" my thoughts/feelings which seems to be the key in managing unconscious behaviors. Sort of like "interrupting" an unruly teenaged dog in the face with a squirt gun. I started Headspace 11 years ago, lately leaning into Sam Harris's Waking Up. You may already be doing your own type of work in this area. "Matter Over Mind" is the shit though, you're on the right track!
Thank you, Mark. They really should close down that brain store. So many creatives suffering buyer's remorse out here.
Hyperactive is a perfect way to describe my brain activity. I'm still a work in progress RE: mindfulness. I understand the importance of the practice, but it's very hard to stick with when your teenage dog brain is so resistant to being trained. I have Headspace on my phone and occasionally use it for grounding when my anxiety gets less-than-manageable. I'll give Sam Harris a go. Thanks for the recommendation! And for reading!
I've been there too. You are definitely onto the right solution. You have to live away from the desk. I once wrote myself a haiku about this:
leave your desk and chair
a poet's work is outdoors
ocean, mountain, woods
Here's a link to the haiku comic:
https://weirdopoetry.substack.com/p/time-to-leave-the-house
Love that one, Jason. Thank you for sharing!
Agreed. What I find sometimes: I will choose a photo and just write one sentence. An hour later a couple more, no idea AT ALL where it is going. Then, two pages later I read it and say, Oh! So THAT is what this is about!" It is all packed away in those little grey cells and some times it is a little slow to unpack. It has to worm its way out. No less satisfying.
Total relate to this. Not is the sense of writing but just life in general. I always have been an over thinker replaying what has gone and what is to come.
I'm only now reading these pieces you've written over the summer, and lo and behold, I felt the *exact same way* about being in a rut over the past few months. Synchronicity abounds. One of the dictums I've stuck to through the year's is one of Henry Miller's 10 writing commandments: when you can't create, you can work.
https://www.writingclasses.com/toolbox/tips-masters/henry-miller-10-writing-tips
it was a lovely self-therapy to read 🙌🏻
I'm so glad, Jana! Thank you for reading. 💜