This is so interesting, Bec. My rare breakthrough/fragments-coming-together moments often occur while walking. But 6 months ago I started daily meditation for the first time in my long life. Sometimes, most unexpectedly, a host of creative cohesive thoughts tumble in. It’s weird. But then, maybe it’s not.
Emma - this is so interesting. I have been a daily (ish) meditator for ten years now and the practice of observing thoughts is quite something. It is impossible to 'think nothing' but I find meditation slows down and forces me to notice what I am thinking. And afterwards, I feel calmer and more able to pick up the thoughts are bothering me - in a good or bad way.
I too find that being in airports, and on flights (not v often) give me those 'aha' moments. Somehow my mind makes connections that were not apparent beforehand. Something about being in these liminal spaces?
Yes - you are so right about liminal spaces or anywhere we are forced to stand and wait. The key for me is to fight the urge to pick up my phone and distract myself.
However hard I try I cannot orchestrate the coming together of my work. Sometimes a poem can fester away in the back of my mind for weeks and i cannot string it right. It is uncomfortable , makes me feel useless, nervous and unproductive. But I have learnt to live with the un-ease knowing that it WILL come right at some time and usually not of my choosing - usually a random phrase or a tally of ideas come together and it generally gets written at that point when my mind is boiling over. It then comes out in a splat which generally only needs limited editing. Usually much better than stuff that I labour on trying to get to come true. The 'waiting' bit I genuinely hate and how undermining it is - but have learnt to trust it - sort of. Living with me, as my husband will testify, is no walk in the park. Viv Longley
Viv - I hear you! Waiting, sitting with the discomfort of an idea is so damn hard. I think for me that success in writing is a combination of patience and tolerance. With thanks to the people in our writing lives for their patience and tolerance!
Yes! How do you make time/space for these? Fascinated by the difference between reminding ourselves to do this (scheduling?) or whether we can get to a point where self care is as daily as eating a meal.
I constantly have breakthroughs/moments of clarity when doing dishes and taking showers. The monotonous movement must have the effect of giving space to my busy mind!!
There is some lovely research on blue spaces and creativity - while they focus on being by water outside, the sea, a lake or river - the shower moment is much reported. Must find out if anyone has found out why...
I'd say it's the ice cream Bec ! I think my breakthroughs are slow ones that usually come when I walk daily. Whatever problem I have, a solution comes up as I'm walking or later in the day, at my desk or driving. Actually, thinking about it I get a lot of ideas while driving and it annoys the hell out of me because I can't write them down and avoid using my phone to record myself.
Always the ice cream! I love how many writers incorporate walking into their writing life. I have a draft post somewhere in my folders based on St Augustine's Solvitar Ambulando - its is solved by walking. I have a couple of books on my TBR about this too. Must read & dust off that post to share.
PS I have been known to voice record ideas or just stop and type into my notes, but tbh, the best way I find is to just rewrite in my head over and over again until I get home (also works for me in the gym where I don't have my phone)
This is so interesting, Bec. My rare breakthrough/fragments-coming-together moments often occur while walking. But 6 months ago I started daily meditation for the first time in my long life. Sometimes, most unexpectedly, a host of creative cohesive thoughts tumble in. It’s weird. But then, maybe it’s not.
Emma - this is so interesting. I have been a daily (ish) meditator for ten years now and the practice of observing thoughts is quite something. It is impossible to 'think nothing' but I find meditation slows down and forces me to notice what I am thinking. And afterwards, I feel calmer and more able to pick up the thoughts are bothering me - in a good or bad way.
Thank you Bec. Very interesting and encouraging. I’m definitely going to keep going with the meditation.
I too find that being in airports, and on flights (not v often) give me those 'aha' moments. Somehow my mind makes connections that were not apparent beforehand. Something about being in these liminal spaces?
Yes - you are so right about liminal spaces or anywhere we are forced to stand and wait. The key for me is to fight the urge to pick up my phone and distract myself.
However hard I try I cannot orchestrate the coming together of my work. Sometimes a poem can fester away in the back of my mind for weeks and i cannot string it right. It is uncomfortable , makes me feel useless, nervous and unproductive. But I have learnt to live with the un-ease knowing that it WILL come right at some time and usually not of my choosing - usually a random phrase or a tally of ideas come together and it generally gets written at that point when my mind is boiling over. It then comes out in a splat which generally only needs limited editing. Usually much better than stuff that I labour on trying to get to come true. The 'waiting' bit I genuinely hate and how undermining it is - but have learnt to trust it - sort of. Living with me, as my husband will testify, is no walk in the park. Viv Longley
Viv - I hear you! Waiting, sitting with the discomfort of an idea is so damn hard. I think for me that success in writing is a combination of patience and tolerance. With thanks to the people in our writing lives for their patience and tolerance!
I find moments of self-care lend themselves to moments of clarity - taking a walk, showering, napping...These moments create space for inspiration.
Yes! How do you make time/space for these? Fascinated by the difference between reminding ourselves to do this (scheduling?) or whether we can get to a point where self care is as daily as eating a meal.
I constantly have breakthroughs/moments of clarity when doing dishes and taking showers. The monotonous movement must have the effect of giving space to my busy mind!!
There is some lovely research on blue spaces and creativity - while they focus on being by water outside, the sea, a lake or river - the shower moment is much reported. Must find out if anyone has found out why...
There’s even a term for that - shower epiphany!!!
I'd say it's the ice cream Bec ! I think my breakthroughs are slow ones that usually come when I walk daily. Whatever problem I have, a solution comes up as I'm walking or later in the day, at my desk or driving. Actually, thinking about it I get a lot of ideas while driving and it annoys the hell out of me because I can't write them down and avoid using my phone to record myself.
Always the ice cream! I love how many writers incorporate walking into their writing life. I have a draft post somewhere in my folders based on St Augustine's Solvitar Ambulando - its is solved by walking. I have a couple of books on my TBR about this too. Must read & dust off that post to share.
PS I have been known to voice record ideas or just stop and type into my notes, but tbh, the best way I find is to just rewrite in my head over and over again until I get home (also works for me in the gym where I don't have my phone)