Write freely and as rapidly as possible and throw the whole thing on paper. Never correct or rewrite until the whole thing is down. ~John Steinbeck
This quote from Steinbeck comes pretty close to encapsulating how I feel about writing practice, and what I encourage folks to do in my writing workshops.
Still, sometimes I’ll notice a new participant in the groups stop abruptly and stare off into space. I know the look. Maybe they’re trying to think up that perfect word, or they’re seconding guessing a train of thought they just started; whatever it is, they’re thinking a little too much when they should be throwing it down.
Writing practice is all about keeping the pen moving, getting into the flow, and discovering more of your thoughts and unique ideas by just doing it. It’s not about perfection (that’s why we call it practice). But there they go, searching for the just-right word when they could be letting it all out by throwing things on paper.
If you find yourself thinking “There’s got to be a better word…” or “You’re really going to write about that ?” during the throw-down stage, you’re in dangerous territory because those infernal internal editors will elbow their way in – second guessing and stressing and messing with your PLAY, and they’ll suck the inspiration right out of you.
I should know. I’ve been writing by/for myself lately, but not much on ze blog. (duh) For those of you (you few, you crazy, you dedicated) who are subscribed, or who still check in from time to time, you know that I’ve been working behind the scenes with an eye on expanding this “side biz” that I love so well (this work that moves me and makes me feel so completely and totally well used …). But I’ve also been kinda rattling around in a place that says: If you don’t have the back-end infrastructure restructured and ready to “re-launch” with your well-thought-out “branding” and presentation and blahblahblah, then maybe you shouldn’t be writing and putting stuff out there publicly (cause, y’know … what might “they” think)?
And then it hit me: for one who prides herself on encouraging others to put themselves out there unapologetically, I sure wasn’t taking my own advice. So in a variation on the theme of “physician, heal thyself,” I thought …
“Writer Babe, write thy own way through this, damn it.”
See, I’m all about using writing to stay present to your life, support your process, help you become your own personal coach/therapist/best friend/cheerleader … and yes, develop your clear, strong voice and become a better writer (write your book, chronicle your life, write your own wedding vows, create a better website. all those things. and more.). But for some reason, now that I’m getting more clarity on how I want to share the work (expand the ripples and extend the range/impact of it), I go and get all chickenshit with performance anxiety.
So … I’ve decided I need a little public prescription a la Steinbeck in order to kick my own butt, and I’m going to that with a weekly “throw down.” And since I like alliteration, I’m going to do it on Thursdays. Throw-down Thursdays will be a weekly writing thing to invigorate/inspire/encourage my writing practice – and hopefully yours too.
Wanna throw some things down on paper with me? (or on your blog or somewhere else?)
Each Thursday, I’ll offer a quote, a prompt, a photo or a question … something to inspire thought and get the pen moving. And then we’ll all throw-down on paper. I recommend about 15 minutes, but more than that is fine, and less is cool too.
I hope you’ll play. Subscribe to the blog if you want an alert, or “like” my brand-new FB page to get a reminder. If you’d like to share your schtuff publicly, please do: you can post what you’ve written it in the comments below, or if you’d rather, post a link to your own blog in the comments.
Let’s throw-down together: let’s let the words flow and the feelings show as we let the perfect imperfection of our prose out in the light. Let’s lift weights, run the scales and practice, play and produce. Cause it’s not about the perfect word choice or turn of phrase or super-thought-out profundity (unless it is), it’s just about practice. Let’s throw-down, shall we?
Today’s throw down:
Why write?
I originally wrote this in a Word doc and didn’t think to share it here. And then Deb encouraged me in only the way she can, that part of the play and fun here IS to share it. So here’s my first “throw-down.”
Why write?
I write because I have to. I threw my “If you Want to Write” book across the room last night because I was pissed about my life and decided to throw out writing along with everything else. But I woke up this morning and knew I have to write. Have to. Have to have to. Like I have to breath. So here I am, writing. Some will go in a blog. Some will go in a book. Some will go in my journal where I complain and whine and sometime receive inspiration from above and beyond. It doesn’t matter what else happens. I must write. Like a fish needs water. I need writing. Where will it go? Is it any good? Who knows? And really, who cares? Its’ not about that. I’ve always loved words. Stories. Learning. Reading. And yes – writing. It just flows. So let it flow. Let it write.
Wheee! Awesome Dara-leh. “Have to have to” … love that. Love it all. So glad you let it flow. (and thanks for sharing it) xo
Why write? I think for me it’s why not write. I have good reasons. You may have heard them all inside your own head but here goes:
Someone might read it.
My words might be taken out of context.
I can’t explain everything.
No one wants to hear my ranting.
I don’t wanna know the truth.
Ah there it is. That one surprises me but not so much. I know there’s something going on when I’m not writing. Something I don’t want to hear, speak, smell. Taste. Roll around on my tongue or on the page. Lest I will be left looking at my own reflection in the mirror of life that’s all foggy when I’m not writing. I don’t have to look at myself. I don’t have to see. I can keep clippers at bay. The ones who take off bits of my wings by saying I can, I must, I should. I don’t want to. How do you like that? My life is so like um…settled and I don’t want to make any waves. I tried living out loud and almost got drounded for it. Drounded. Is that even a word? Confounded. Not profound it. Not lost but I found it. Homeless. Hopeful. Forgotten. Cherry. Peachy clean. Screechless. Scratched out i’s dotted and t’s crossed. I will not remember. I will not be forgotten when I get to the pages where I pour out my truth, the unspoken words will be carried across the miles. Across the ethers. Somebody called me ethereal yesterday. How dare she when this is as real as it gets. Nothing. Stranded. Beached like a whale on the course that always worked before but now leads to heartbreak. Loneliness. Neediness. Not liking. Liking. Not caring. Caring too much. I can’t write Deb. Stop asking me. Please. Don’t stop asking me. Ever.
Thanks so so much Writer Babe #86. Thanks for throwing it down and letting it live. Thanks for sharing you precious schtuff, and for modeling how folks can be anonymous on here if they want to. (just pick your name, or claim your writer babe [or writer-man?] number, and let it fly)
Love, love, love. D
I write to get it out, to see if I can make it make sense and in the hopes that like our messages to space that someone’s reading.
Gound control to major Mom. (i hear you…)
Roger that.
Pingback: throw-down thursday … | Deb Cooperman
Pingback: throw-down thursday (7-12) | Deb Cooperman
Pingback: throw-down thursday (7-19) | Deb Cooperman
Pingback: throw-down thursday … (7-26) | Deb Cooperman
Pingback: throw-down thursday (8/30) | Deb Cooperman
Pingback: throw-down thursday (9-6) | Deb Cooperman