The struggle continues…
Between client work, this newsletter, and trying to grow a freelance writing business, I am finding that I have less and less time these days. Throw in family obligations, teaching, and household chores, and… well, you get the gist.
I thought I would start off this Tuesday’s digest with a quote from the incredible Zadie Smith.
“The very reason I write is so that I might not sleepwalk through my entire life.”
Which, IMHO, is the perfect quote for what I want to write about first.
Practicing Mindful Writing
Every morning, like many writers, I begin my day with “morning pages.” My morning routine is pretty simple:
Wake Up
Make coffee
Sit down and write for 30 minutes
Sometimes I sit on my living room couch with my phone and type my thoughts out in the notes app, other days I pull out a notebook and my favorite pen (A Pilot Precise V5 Extra Fine Point).
I find that the latter, putting pen to good old-fashioned paper is a much better way of practicing mindful writing than sitting in front of a screen. While, I don’t have an analog desk and a digital desk like Austin Kleon, author of the Steal Like an Artist series, I do have plenty of space for writing away from my computer - my dining room table and my couch tend to be the two I favor.
Ever since the pandemic, I have had multiple workspaces set up in our apartment. Between two adults and a teenager, we have 5 computers and 4 desks, so there are plenty of options for everyone to get their work done. But I digress.
I read Kleon’s books over the pandemic and was immediately intrigued by his workspace set-up, which features an analog desk and a digital desk. So intrigued that my partner and I decided to implement this in our own workspace.
(If you want to learn more about this right now, before reading the books, check out Jocelyn Glei’s podcast, Hurry Slowly - Episode 5: Austin Kleon - Pencil vs. Computer).
There are many benefits to using analog tools in a digital world. For instance, the constraints of using analog tools can help you slow down your creative process and really supercharge your creativity. In doing so, you are practicing mindfulness.
The purpose of morning pages is to write without constraint. For writers, artists, and creators, this method is a powerful habit that can be a real game changer where creativity is concerned. The idea is to get all the stuff that is rattling around in your head out on paper in a sort of stream-of-consciousness manner.
When we carry all our ideas, to-do lists, and worries around in our heads, it can really add to everyday stress and anxiety. The point of morning pages is to clear your head of all the negative thoughts that circulate in your mind. Thoughts like:
I’m not good enough.
My ideas aren’t worth sharing.
Why should anyone care what I have to say?
What you write in your morning pages is for you and you alone. The idea is to avoid censoring yourself and write as if no one will ever see it.
Easier said than done. I’m still traumatized by the time my Dad found and read my diary. Luckily, I have a partner who respects my privacy and would never even think to read one of my notebooks.
As Kleon says in Hurry Slowly podcast:
“The notebook is the place where you figure out what’s going on inside you or what’s rattling around. And then, the keyboard is the place that you go to tell people about it.”
Putting pen to paper helps me to practice mindful writing better than sitting in front of my computer and banging on the keyboard for several reasons:
I am more in the moment, fully present, and aware of the task at hand.
I don’t have the distraction of notifications that might pop up on my phone or my computer.
It’s easier to avoid editing. When I am writing on my computer or my phone, I have Grammarly installed, which instantly lets me know if I’ve made a mistake and increases the impulse to edit my writing immediately. This can shut down the creative process.
Finally, when I sit down in the morning and empty my head, I find it frees up precious space in my brain for the other tasks I need to attend to throughout the day.
Try taking a break from the digital world and engaging in analog activities like taking a walk, drawing, writing in a notebook, or reading a book. Not only will you start to feel better but you will be more aware of your surroundings, boost your creativity, and eventually you will feel less stress and anxiety.
#QOTD
There are so many ways to practice mindfulness in our everyday lives.
Some people swear by yoga and meditation. Others journal. Others like to go for a hike in the woods or just sit in nature, listen, and observe.
Every day brings plenty of opportunities for mindfulness. You can practice it while washing the dishes, or eating your lunch. The key is to be aware of your surroundings and pay attention to what you are feeling inside.
How do you practice mindfulness in your everyday life?
Writing Contest Extension
I may have been a bit too ambitious in putting out my first writing contest when I only had 11 subscribers. Thank you to those who already submitted.
I am extending the deadline through December 16th to collect more entries and upping the ante to $100. Who couldn’t use an extra 100 bucks around the holidays?
If you missed it or you just can’t recall the prompt, here it is again, and here is the post that inspired it.
Missedyounyc.com was created by Alex Lee as an alternative to the “Missed Connections” board on Craigslist. Lee was always fascinated by “Missed Connections”, “finding them entertaining, poignant, and even strange in the best ways.” (Shaye Weaver, Timeout.com)
Visit the site missedyounyc.com and choose one of the posts on the page. Using the post as inspiration, write a 300 - 500 word short story.
Subscribe and submit your short story to frequentstarts@gmail.com by December 16, 2022, along with your name and email address and the subject line: November Short Story Contest.
All stories will be published on Frequent Starts and voting will take place the week prior to Christmas.
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