Writing Techniques Articles

Thankful

Be Thankful and write it down.
In talking with quite a few writers, it's become clear that many have a love/hate relationship with their writing. Many would say that they flat out hate writing. Now this is a somewhat foreign idea to me - but I have experienced it in the past!

Clearly, some writers can still produce even though and while they are hating writing. Some authors find that hating writing makes their writing painful, slow and just a hard, hard thing to do. I would suggest respectfully that anything that is enjoyed is easier to approach and be productive doing.

What about artistic angst? Isn't that where all that creativity wells forth from -- that inherent "pain of the human condition"? Is it not the expressing that pain is the only valued output that an artist has, to ease that pain? How does an artist produce if they no longer have their pain, doubt, sadness, depression?

Humans have thousands of ways to experience changing their emotional states. You've got more types and kinds of ways to explored and express the pain, feel better and cheer up than there are years in the calendar.

Here's a way that has worked well for my writing process... Practice random appreciation.

Look around you and be appreciative of all the obvious things that are to your advantage and enjoyment...the roof over your head, whatever writing tool you are using, the warmth or the coolness of the space and how that helps, your friends and family, your pet, your favorite food and drink, etc...

Frame as many things as you can, for a few minutes or until you feel complete in a positive, uplifting way. Write a quick list of these things you appreciate.

Then from that feeling place, begin to work on your subject.

If you are having trouble with changing your feeling tone and contacting your own raw appreciation, here are some techniques on how to more fully access this an appreciative state of mind.

Making a list

Write down everything that you can be thankful for in a list. Start with the obvious things - like the important people who you care deeply about; the spouse, the children and grandchildren, parents and other relatives, the friends and pets... and purposefully indulge in all the good memories and reason that you love and appreciate them.

Write those reasons out and intentionally let yourself feel all the reasons that you care about them.

Write from that feeling state.

Appreciate the little things

Look around you. Allow yourself to notice all the little things that you normally take for granted... the lights, the water, the food, where you live, the transportation that you have, the climate of where you live, the air you breathe, the health you have, the ability to feel, your spiritual beliefs, etc.

Whatever you have now, express your appreciation for what it provides you. Say it out loud. Keep it going for 10 - 20 minutes! In my experience, you will be feeling significantly better after this exercise. If you wander off into griping or saying x or y is not quite what you wish it was, notice that and stop.

Focus on what's good and you will feel good!

Then write from there.