Reaching Deeper

I used to be a writing teacher. I enjoyed it because writing encapsulated so many other aspects of life. I still feel that teaching is one of the most noble professions, especially when it comes to tapping creativity. Taylor Mali says it better than I ever could.

Fearless Writing :: Part III

This third segment in an unplanned series on fearless writing addresses the yin to fear's yang: hope. Often we think hope as that force that gives us strength. On the contrary, hope tends to be the force that gives rise to expectations. Those expectations, or rather the consequences of not fulfilling those hopeful expectations are where the seeds of fear are sewn.

In the Tibetan language, the word for for hope is rewa; the word for fear is dokpa. More often, however, the term re-dok is used, as it is the linguistic combination of the two. For, as long as there is one, the other will also be present. Fear stems from hope unfulfilled. Hope stems from the belief that something else can suppress fear.

When Dante wrote "Abandon Hope, All Ye Who Enter Here," it was before the gates of Hell. I believe that a way to break the cycle of re-dok is to simply abandon hope. Right now, you are probably wondering what the heck any of this has to do with writing or creativity.

Next time you sit to write, abandon hope. It's hope that robs the present moment from us. It's hope that puts emphasis on how things could be in the ideal situation. Well, not to be a wet blanket, but life is just not ideal. But you knew that a long time ago. When you abandon hope and all of its expectations, however, you also abandon fear. In doing so, you reclaim the present. You regain your moment in front of the screen as you cull thoughts from the universe and create something where nothing existed before. You regain the right to fail without consequence. And you regain the right soar without reservation. You regain the creativity that hope too often takes away...when we let it.

This doesn't just go for writing. I would consider it a life lesson I've picked up along the way. Abandon hope. Live life in the present as much as possible, and immerse yourself in the experience of now. I can't promise it will make your writing better, but I think that you'll find the writing comes a little more easily each time.

Related Posts
Fearless Writing
Fearless Writing Part II

Fearless Writing :: Part II

In my Fearless Writing post, I talked about the practical aspects of writing and why fear should have no place. And while I stand by everything I offered in that post, I realize that simply saying, "just do it," isn't always so simple, because fear is often impractical. It is a basic psychological, even intuitive, response. And while I'm not a psychiatrist, I've learned some things about fear, and its ability to undermine writing efforts. I'd like to share those things in this post.

Fear, at its very core, is primarily a reaction to the unknown. We've been conditioned to flee what we do not know because sticking with what we do know tend to be good for basic physical and emotional health...or is it?

The unknown, by its nature, may very well offer us insight or truths about ourselves, our world, and the relationship between the two. Along the way, it is entirely possible that the unknown might also show us things we don't like or that make us feel uncomfortable. It is only through knowing these things, I would posit, that we can progress both as writers and as human beings.

We write to explore. It's how we make sense of the world. Be it a sonnet, a novel, a piece of journalism, or even a blog about something difficult, but worth facing, we write to explore. And it is only when we explore, that can we discover. What if Christopher Columbus didn't face the fear of the world actually being flat? Like Columbus, writers are explorers. And it's not writers; all artists are explorers.

By embracing your fear, understanding what it is you are fearful of, accepting it, and moving forward, you can make at least one person's life better: yours. Who knows? You might just make a difference in others' lives, too.

Remember, every instance of fear is also an opportunity for courage. It is only when we face life's challenges (like fear) with courage that we truly learn how strong we really are. I firmly believe writing can be a vehicle for this sort of self-discovery, but only if we approach it fearlessly.

Related Posts
Fearless Writing
Fearless Writing Part III

Fearless Writing

Over at CopyBlogger, guest blogger, Michael Stelzner of Writing White Papers posted a simple question: What Keeps You From Writing? While there were a great variety of answers, one common answer that showed up several times was "fear". Since this blog deals with ways to keep you writing whatever it is that you write, I thought addressing this common issue would be beneficial.

As a former college writing instructor, I've seen fear manifest in a variety of ways. Sometimes it's the fear that a blank screen presents. Other times it is the anxiety that what we write will not live up to the standards we set for ourselves. Either way, approaching writing as a process rather than as an activity can help quell fears and get keys moving.

Too often, we are motivated to write by good things we have read or by witness remarkable events that move us to express ourselves. What is especially helpful to keep in mind, however, is that the OVERWHELMING majority of well-regarded works of writing are the products of extensive editing or rewriting that occurs after an initial draft is completed. Ulysses wasn't built in a day, nor will your most captivating work be.

Realize that 50-90% of your initial draft will be rewritten or thrown out during the editing stage, and you should feel a tremendous weight lifted from your shoulders during the drafting stage.

Drafting stage:
This is the stage where you get out shreds of ideas . You jot down thoughts. You pour collective brain drippings onto the page. These thoughts will come out in varying degrees of order: and that's okay.

Editing stage:
After you have put the words on the page, the editing stage is where you begin to shape them into the story you wish to see. During the editing stage, you'll discover that some thoughts need filling in, some need to be rewritten to portray a more accurate account of your creative vision, and some need to be reordered for maximum impact. Depending on the length of your work, the editing stage can often take 20 times as long as the drafting stage. That, however, is why writing is a process, not an action.

Additionally, the best way to reduce fear of writing is to write as much as possible. Create a journal and feel free to post even the most mindless things in there. Try writing a poem. Scribble ideas on sticky notes. Don't think. Just write. This practice will reduce anxiety and usually uncover themes from your own life that you find important and worth writing about.

In the end, however, I find writing is a mode of self-expression that should satisfy our basic desires to express ourselves. If you get something brilliant, that is a bonus - one that can certainly be worked toward, and even achieved - but not necessarily the most realistic motivating factor.

If you are looking for ways to be fearless in your writing, I might humbly suggest my book: Tapping Creativity.

Related Posts
Fearless Writing Part II
Fearless Writing Part III