From: My Caravan of Dream
No matter what kind of writer you are, there are going to be times when you struggle with the content of a blog post, a scene in your novel or finding the right words for the opening of your magazine article. It is part of being a writer. Disclaimer: This is not a post about writer’s block.
I’ve got a question for you
Are you a conscious writer? Let me elaborate. When you sit down to write, just what are you aware of? Is it the computer screen and the keyboard in front of you? Are you aware of the view out the window or the blaring dialogue from the Sponge-Bob babysitting box?
Here’s a little secret about me
I meditate. Each day. It makes me a conscious writer. By that I mean that I am focused on the writing that I do each day and I know that I am consciously creating my writing day. I meditated on my intention to do so, and it is this thought that is serving as a background.
I know that the word “meditate” is a great, big “off” switch for a lot of folks. “Hey, George. That’s just a leeettle too metaphysical for me. I’m outta here.” No big deal folks. Everyone comes to things in their own time.
Let me explain a little about the meditation process. First, you need to know that meditating can be done with very little fuss. You don’t need candles, mantras, incense and pyramids. A quiet place, maybe even a private space are all that is needed. With that said you can practice meditation on a crowded city bus and still derive some benefit.
In the next post, I’ll discuss some methods in greater detail that will help you to concentrate and be mindfull. These meditation techniques can help you to move along a little further in your writing journey.
I don’t consciously meditate, but I know I can’t create when that Sponge-Bob babysitting box is on (very funny, George!) or when my hubby is being sucked into BNN or the Weather Network … but when everyone goes away and I can sink into my writing, that is my own form of meditation. My stories take me away from everything, including myself. Now that I’ve found my passion, I’m lost without it.
.-= Genevieve´s last blog ..Ohana Mama offers a break from "There’s NOTHING TO DO" =-.
Genevieve,
I think that some writers do reach a meditative state when they are focused to the point that distractions aren’t distracting. Some folks call this being inspired or “in spirit”.
George
Although I don’t call it meditation, I do have post ideas floating around as I go about other ‘mindless’ activity like riding the subway or sitting under the hair dryer! I jot things down on any scrap of paper I might find. But when I do ‘write’ it has to be in my ‘computer room’ on a particular computer (mine, not my husband’s)— mentally I have all I need within arm’s reach and just start writing.
Maybe if I did meditate it wouldn’t take so long! So I look forward to your next posts on this…
.-= SBA´s last blog ..Why CommentLuv may not be working for you =-.
Hey SBA,
So good to have you stop by! The next few posts will have some ideas to gently guide folks through some techniques that may be helpful. For me, it has quieted my mind and allowed me to focus – oh, and to feel really great!
George
George, your post made me realize something! Since I’ve been doing yoga (almost) every day, my Muse has gone wild! I can’t write things down fast enough. I’m writing like mad. Every. single. day. And, it’s not that I didn’t write a lot before yoga–because we all know I have absolutely no loss for ideas of what to write about or where to submit those ideas–but it seems like yoga refreshes me to the point that writing is now a whole new world. I can crank out articles or blog posts much more efficiently now that I allow myself that hour of yoga.
I love to start my day with yoga and I’ve worked my way up to an hour each morning. The mornings I don’t do yoga, I find it a lot more difficult to find the words and write energetically. Although I wasn’t consciously aware of this fact, your post made me realize that by giving myself that hour to do yoga, I’m allowing myself time to meditate and focus–not only on my health in the physical, but my mental health as well. And that makes me a better writer. Yes, I definitely agree with you. Meditating makes a HUGE difference in our writing lives!
Great post, George, and I can’t wait to read the next part of your meditating thoughts!
Oh, and I shared this on Twitter and SU. I’m also going to share it on FB!
*smiles*
Michele
.-= Michele | aka Raw Juice Girl´s last blog ..Just Call Me Chocolate Girl =-.
Michele,
I’m so glad you made the connection between the two. The benefits are truly astounding and I can testify that you have been much more prolific in recent weeks.
Thanks so much for the vote of confidence, Michele. I’m looking forward to the next few posts myself!
George
Well, I’m glad you noticed my writing improving over the past few weeks!
Yay for yoga!
You’re most welcome. You’re one of my favorite bloggers. I always know I’m going to learn something new when I come here–and in such a fun way!!!
*smiles*
Michele
.-= Michele | aka Raw Juice Girl´s last blog ..Just Call Me Chocolate Girl =-.
Hello again, George!
Good for you, my friend!
I, too, meditate, but not in some repetitive chant or whatever. I close my eyes and try to concentrate on that universal overflowing fountain of ideas gushing forth from our creative source. I call it God. Some of you might call it nature. Or your muse. That’s OK.
But one extremely important thing I have learned in life is this:
I am not a personal creator.
I train myself to get my noisy human ego out of the way first. Then, I can “hear” ideas and “see” writing “prompts” that have really been there all along.
Call it what you will, but this inner quieting really lets me align my human thinking with a much greater creativity than just my own.
My best writing comes when I let go and let plots materialize, characters speak and lead, and settings form out of thin air.
Call it meditation, prayer, or whatever you want. The important thing is that you turn off the jangle of your human surroundings and let pure, unadulterated creativity wash over you like a benevolent tide.
Folks, don’t shy away from this central issue. George, you’re really spot-on in my book and that’s why your writing efforts are going to the natural next level. We surely do reap what we sow in this garden of creativity!
Weeds or blossoms. YOU get to decide!
Regards,
Wayne C. Long
Writer/Editor/Internet Publisher
http://www.LongShortStories.com
Where the Short Story LIVES!
Oh Wayne, sage of sages.
We are so on the same page with this.
My daily meditations focus on co-creating an ideal day that I hold in my vision. “I intend to co-create my ideal day” is my focus phrase. I do this as I connect to my source and stay connected to my source throughout the day. (As much as I can, I’m still new and distractions are still problematic.)
Wonderful comment, Wayne.
George
Hi George,
I don’t “meditate” so to speak, but I do tend to quiet my thoughts throughout the day. I also love to work in silence as it lets me focus on that which I need to get done. Too much background noise starts to filter into my brain and I lose my path of concentration.
BTW: That’s a great quote from Wayne – “Weeds or blossoms. YOU get to decide.”
.-= Barbara Swafford´s last blog ..He Said, She Said, They Said =-.
Hi Barbara!
I generally work better in silence as well. Music tends to be distracting for me and the silence helps me focus and listen to other more subtle sounds in my environment that I find comforting.
I too love the weeds or blossoms thought. It is very grounding to consider it.
Cheers!
George
Hi George,
Glad to see that you too are a spiritual person. I try to meditate daily also even if it is just to calm the swirling thoughts going around in my mind. I think if I were able to record everything that goes on in my mind on a daily basis I would probably have a years worth of blog posts and probably a novel or two also. I find that getting some quite time alone to clear my mind helps increase the flow of my writing and I also find the some of my best ideas come from this too.
I am about to take another step and join a meditation group that meets weekly which I am really looking forward to.
Thanks for sharing and it was great to read all the comments too and to realise that sometimes when we think we are the only ones doing something they are many more just like us.
Amanda
.-= Amanda Evans´s last blog ..Freelance Writer or Make A Quick Buck Writer? =-.
Hey Amanda,
It is pretty interesting to see the folks that this post has spoken to. There really does seem to be a common thread of folks taking the time to relax and focus their efforts, even if it’s not called meditation.
George
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I have recently started experimenting with playing meditative music in the background. It works wonders. Being in a meditative mode frees our mind and removes resistance – I think that’s the reason muse finds us easily in these times.
.-= Avani Mehta´s last blog ..Enrich Your Life – Part 2 =-.
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As weird as it may sound, I seem to work best in loud, bustling areas. I’ve always been a city kid, and am not a big fan of quiet areas. From reading the comments from other readers of this post, I stand out as pretty odd, haha!
.-= The Gooroo @ iBlogPlanet.com´s last blog ..I’m A “Senior”, So They Say =-.
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hey george!!
awwwsome stuff.
i think uncovering your consciousness and awareness of your awareness helps everything you do. and your writing. my writing has improved immeasurably as a result of some spiritual stuff i’ve checked out.
in particular, you never feel trapped or stuck. writer’s block comes up but you can let it go. and that awareness allows you to get new perspectives and ideas. and on a deeper level, you can work around success barriers and things like that. all round recommended.
with regards to the meditation question; i think, as you say, it’s people’s connotations with the term that’s the problem. but meditating isn’t necessarily sitting cross-legged in some cave off the coast of india, every moment is a meditation, every moment is a decision to either live in reality or to retreat into your thoughts and stories and worries.
hmmm
keep well mate
a