There are several reasons why I am now ready to head back into my writing cave.
Firstly, it is winter here in Italy, and my focus always returns when the days are dark, damp, and the mornings below zero. Secondly, I will soon launch the 2022 Art of Writing programmes. We have some exciting in-person retreats lined up for the year ahead, ranging focus from Plot & Character, to Deep Writing, and the Essentials of Story. Thirdly, I realised a home truth the other day whilst talking with a friend.
When a writer is not writing, really hooked into a project that gives that writer joy, there is something missing in their lives.
When we put off writing, delay it and procrastinate about our quiet time with words, we are not happy. There are millions of excuses that we come up with not to write. Don’t have time, trouble with my spouse, with my work or with my children, and these things need my attention. But all that postponement makes writers unhappy. We need to realise that writing, that self-expression, and creativity make us very happy. Even if the process is tortuous we must keep going because, in the end, we thrive on the page.
We write because we love it. We put words on paper because we need to. It fulfills us. There is unquantifiable satisfaction in writing. We are writers so let’s write. Please don’t put it off any longer. Give yourself the great gift of time to write. As Julia Cameron says in her lovely book The Artist’s Way, ‘do the work, don’t judge the work.’
So…into your caves! There has never been a better time to be a writer!
Another couple of my favourite Julia Cameron Quotes;
SET SMALL AND GENTLE GOALS AND MEET THEM
SHOW UP AT THE PAGE AND USE THE PAGE TO REST, TO DREAM TO TRY.
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If you’d like to share any comments or thoughts, I’d be happy to hear from you. Email me directly at lisacliffordwriter@gmail.com.