It’s no mystery that our minds move the way they do. We live in the age of the internet. We have smartphones and on-demand TV. We are socialized to expect everything quickly and many things made to order. Media advertising bombards us with the latest and greatest: hitting us with commercials about the hottest and newest movies, TV and music. It seems like there’s something “new” every day.
In recent weeks, I’ve been talking with writers who work fast, and those who want to work fast. No matter the speed of the creativity, I haven’t met a single person who wants their work to be sub-standard. I’ve written before about how often I hear about people expecting their work to be ‘brilliant’ right out of the gate. Many are looking for perfection when it doesn’t exist.
One of the things I’ve been learning about my own work is that each piece has its process. Each process takes time. I’ve written plays that took me years. I’ve written pieces that took me months. Some take days. There is no substitute for spending the time. There is no magic wand, no instant art. There is trial and error and step-by-step. I’m reminded of this as I work on American Crime – we’re crafting something that (even in the fast paced world of television) can only be done one scene, one moment, one word at a time. It’s key to embrace that process – which sometimes means slowing down, owning that sense of impatience, and sitting still.
Meditation may well be at the core of the kind of stillness I’m talking about. I meditate daily. And I’m not necessarily advocating that you start a practice. I am suggesting that every writer I know could use the breathing space for their work. Every writer I’ve met can benefit from a simple, slow approach. How slow? That depends on you.
I believe writing something well should feel distinctly different from running to catch a bus.
How can you create space and stillness in your writing practice this week? Find your way.
Let me know how it goes.
If you need help, coaching could point you in the right direction.
Happy Writing.
