Daily Nourishment for May 18, 2024: All of Life Is the Writing Life
Daily Nourishment Read Time: 40 seconds
Pause/Prompt/Practice Time: 13 minutes
Everything counts. Everything matters.
Pause.
Take six deep breaths with a six-count inhale and a six-count exhale. Then go outside and take another six deep breaths with a six-count inhale and a six-count exhale.
Prompt.
All of life is the writing life because every moment is forming you to do the writing you will do when it’s time to write. If all of life is the writing life, everything counts. Everything matters. One reason I believe all of life is the writing life is because I have no idea where the line can be drawn if it’s not true. Who gets to decide what matters and what doesn’t matter? Who gets to police the writing life and determine this activity is part of the writing life but that isn’t?
We still have to sit down and write. But maybe this approach to a fuller view of the writing life and all it entails can provide a bit of rest and less angst when we aren’t writing, in those spaces before, after, and in-between the writing.
Practice.
Set a timer for 10 minutes and write in response to the prompt above and the statements below.
Make a list of 10 things you did last week that weren’t writing.
Make a list of 10 things you need to do next week that aren’t writing.
Pick one or two items listed and journal or take notes about how those items will affect you (for better or worse) and form you to be who you will be when it’s time to sit down and write.
Want More?
Read James Baldwin on the Creative Process and the Artist’s Responsibility to Society
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Upcoming Workshops & Gatherings
—The May Co-Writing Schedule is live. Learn more here.
—This month’s Revision Stations Designed by Lauren Winner gathering will be on Saturday, May 25th from 10:15-noon CT.
If you have something that needs revision attention, you will not regret attending. Promise.
Today’s Daily Nourishment was provided by Charlotte Donlon.
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