Thursday, June 12, 2014

How I Am Figuring Out Writing Again

Lately, I have had trouble writing. I have not evolved completely from teenager who had excessive amounts of time to write in silence to wife and then wife and mom with hardly any silence ever. You would think that I would have learned in the span of ten years. It is difficult to change any habit and this includes a writing habit.

However, I am trying to consciously make little pockets of time to write. Pockets of time, even though I have not completely defined what that means yet, is my main plan of action. And when I say this, it is because I am trying to break the habit of needing to write a complete essay in one sitting. So, pocket time creates a space for my writing juices to start flowing, to stretch my literary muscles and then strengthen them. I am not in the habit yet, but I am finding time.

In what ways am I finding time? If I think of a good turn of a phrase (such as I did while mowing the lawn while my boys were in quiet time) then I write it in my journal. Often, the phrase flies out nearly as soon as it comes in because a little boy voice pushes it out by saying "I'm hungry" a few times in a row-more than a few. But when it stays for a few minutes, I write it down and this is better than I have done in the past.

The "pocket" idea I am currently most proud of is returning to a favorite pastime from my childhood. All the while, introducing it to my own son while sneaking in some writing. Two weeks ago, I folded and stapled together about five pages and then told my son that we were going to write a book. I let him draw and then I used his drawings to inspire writing (see below). I also stapled together some pages of my own and just did a freewrite. Making a cover page with my name on it somehow inspired me to write better.

                                                       



On the horizon
A lonely cloud
In a storm.



You have 
Looked
Hooked
Took
Forsook
The reason
My Life
Is a book.



Capture my madness
In your arms
And love my
Tornado ways.
Keep me grounded
But fly and let
Me fly
And let us
fly.




Another exercise has been recording some of my past writings on the computer and, when I type out words I have written before, I start to feel encouraged and somehow something comes to mind. In fact, I was in the middle of recording a short story and I felt that it was time to begin this post.

I will admit that the boys have stayed in quiet time a little longer than usual today. But I think they will not be scarred.

Lastly, I am learning that perfection cannot always be attained in a post, but that it feels best to get something out there instead of one hanging in limbo until perfect. Which is why I am going to leave this one alone now, post it, and get my boys' out of quiet time.

Until we meet again.

Emily

3 comments:

Story Lover 24601 said...

Emily!

I am so thrilled you are stretching your literary muscles again. :) You've got a great way with words and I didn't even know you liked writing. So grateful to have found your blog!

I think the book you made with E is wonderful! I especially love the " love my tornado ways" page... that is extremely profound in a few words:

Keep me grounded
But fly and let
Me fly
And let us
fly.

Really looking forward to reading more from your pocket time!

Unknown said...

I love this! It's like an art journal almost, and even more special since you're doing it with E.

AD said...

Hi Emily

Very creative approaches to finding whats in your "pocketses," sometimes gold, often magic.

Made me remember something else I want to try. I want to speak my thoughts into a recorder. Think I will use my phone for that. Might also be a good way to capture those just before sleep thoughts.

Maybe I should record this.

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