Yes! I am also a marathoner trying to finish a book - and I reflect on this a lot. It is clear when the 15 miles are over on a long run - but might that chapter need one more edit? Sigh.
I love the distinction between our different responses when we encounter challenges depending on the task. I always try to remember that when it comes to writing, feeling lost is not a sign that you should abandon the project, it’s a sign that you’re deep in the work, and it’s an essential part of growth.
I'm psyched about the 'Psyche" piece! It came just in the nick of time. "This is what it's like to be involved in a heuristic task, " is now in my writer's toolkit.
Also, I can say with impunity "Well, you're not running a marathon!"
Gosh I am so with you. My writing is largely poetry and non fiction short pieces. I rarely get that wonderful feeling of everything being 'in flow'. My 'best' poetry usually comes out of the tip of the pen in one steady flow and needs very little editing. But I know that it it has been seething sometimes for years in the compost heap of my mind until it was 'ready'
Mostly however it is straight hard work that goes to and fro through drafts, changes shape, gets screwed up and thrown, comes out in another way and fails to satisfy me in some way because it is seems to be not so good in some way. But I persevere with both. The pain (marathon training) and the flowing expressive joy of the easy writing are part of the same whole don't you think?
Watched an old interview last night with David Hockney and Alain Yentob in which Hockney exposed a lot of his angst and reflected on how he sees stuff outside that does not appear in the lens of a camera and vice versa and how a lot of his work is because he has a commission to fill rather than just being his so creative self - like fill a whole wall with a picture. He reflected deeply on the nature of creativity - worth watching - it is on BBC iplayer in the Imagine series.
Yes! I am also a marathoner trying to finish a book - and I reflect on this a lot. It is clear when the 15 miles are over on a long run - but might that chapter need one more edit? Sigh.
Absolutely! Pleased it resonated :)
I love the distinction between our different responses when we encounter challenges depending on the task. I always try to remember that when it comes to writing, feeling lost is not a sign that you should abandon the project, it’s a sign that you’re deep in the work, and it’s an essential part of growth.
I'm psyched about the 'Psyche" piece! It came just in the nick of time. "This is what it's like to be involved in a heuristic task, " is now in my writer's toolkit.
Also, I can say with impunity "Well, you're not running a marathon!"
Ha! Marathons aren't for everyone Nancy :) Thanks so much for reading. I'm pleased it helped.
Gosh I am so with you. My writing is largely poetry and non fiction short pieces. I rarely get that wonderful feeling of everything being 'in flow'. My 'best' poetry usually comes out of the tip of the pen in one steady flow and needs very little editing. But I know that it it has been seething sometimes for years in the compost heap of my mind until it was 'ready'
Mostly however it is straight hard work that goes to and fro through drafts, changes shape, gets screwed up and thrown, comes out in another way and fails to satisfy me in some way because it is seems to be not so good in some way. But I persevere with both. The pain (marathon training) and the flowing expressive joy of the easy writing are part of the same whole don't you think?
Watched an old interview last night with David Hockney and Alain Yentob in which Hockney exposed a lot of his angst and reflected on how he sees stuff outside that does not appear in the lens of a camera and vice versa and how a lot of his work is because he has a commission to fill rather than just being his so creative self - like fill a whole wall with a picture. He reflected deeply on the nature of creativity - worth watching - it is on BBC iplayer in the Imagine series.
Thanks for your comment Viv. I'll root out the Hockney interview. A big loss to us all. Have a super day.