July 29, 2009

Have you reached a point in your writing career where you’re not as gung-ho as you were? Your fingers aren’t as fast on the keyboard, your neck gets stiff more quickly, or sleepiness overtakes you before you’ve written more than a page?

Maybe you’re in need of renewal.

Like the Eagle

I read a fascinating bit of information about bald eagles today. There comes a time when an eagle can no longer take off as quickly or fly at top speed, when his sharp talons have grown dull, when calcifications have formed on his beak, and his feathers are worn. Did you know that this smart bald eagle takes time to renew himself at this point?

He goes away alone, sits on a high rock close to the sun, and begins to pluck out all his feathers, one by one. (He may have 7,000 feathers! Talk about pain!) Then he finds a stream to clean himself of the caked mud, parasites, and insects he’s collected. When he’s clean and nearly naked, he sits in the sun and waits.

Renewal

During the waiting period–up to forty days–the eagle sharpens his talons and beak on the rock. He beats the calcifications off his beak. He waits for his feathers to grow back in. Much of the time he rests. He may look battered, he may feel weak, but he is being renewed. [Updated note: see comment below about this being a myth. I hope you find the analogy useful, just the same!~~Kristi]

Writers need renewal too. Are you at that point? Have there been one too many rejections or disappointments lately? Have you given it your all for months (maybe years), but without seemingly much progress?

If that’s the case, you may want to carve out some renewal time for yourself before disappointment becomes despair, before the rejections make you give up, before natural tiredness becomes burnout, before brain sludge becomes writer’s block.

Stumped for ideas on how to renew the writer within? One place to start is Monday’s blog post on restoring balance in your life. I mentioned a good resource there. What are some of YOUR favorite ways to find renewal (both short-term and when you need a deeper rest?) Please share!

16 Comments »

1. 

   I didn’t know that about eagles. That’s amazing!
   Julia Cameron talks about filling the well … nurturing ourselves. There are so many ways.

   First is to cut back. When rejections get me down, I quit submitting for a while. When deadlines get overwhelming, I plan to write just for myself for a month or so (after I meet the deadlines) … not work on any project per se. No pressure.

   This allows me precious time to spend on family and friends — cooking, gardening, playing games, taking walks, splurging on a trip to the zoo or botanical gardens.

   I’ve often thought it would be luxurious to go away for a weekend, but I’ve never done it.

   Comment by Vijaya — July 29, 2009 @ 8:02 pm

2. 

   Vijaya, you gave readers a great list of things to try. I can see that you’re well on your way to having a writing career that lasts and isn’t derailed by burn-out. Good for you!

   Comment by Kristi Holl — July 29, 2009 @ 8:17 pm

3. 

   I am sorry but you’ve just lost all credibility with me.

   This ridiculous fable about eagles has been debunked and derided for many years.

   There is not the slightest truth to it.

   Check out the entry at snopes.com at . . .

   http://tinyurl.com/25bqsl

   Comment by Rick Grant — July 29, 2009 @ 8:45 pm

4. 

   Rick, thanks for writing. I thought you must be wrong at first because I was quoting from a brand new 2009 hardcover book which I just paid $24 for. I’m sorry I lost credibility with you. I guess I’ve learned (again) that just because it’s in print in a book doesn’t make it true. (Wish it were though–I loved it when I read it.)

   Comment by Kristi Holl — July 29, 2009 @ 9:14 pm

5. 

   I really like this article! I am sending this to my cousin who has cancer. He is not a writer, but I think it will inspire him to fight on. Thank you very much.

   Comment by Joe Sottile — July 30, 2009 @ 9:02 am

6. 

   Joe, thanks for your comment. Before you pass it along, you might want to read the comment ahead of yours. Looks like I swallowed an inspiring (but untrue) fable.

   Comment by Kristi Holl — July 30, 2009 @ 2:20 pm

7. 

   Even if it is not true, it is inspiring. For it to be in a non-fiction book, I would think that the bigger part of it is true. We just don’t know what isn’t true. Does it matter?

   Comment by Sue Tornai — July 30, 2009 @ 4:00 pm

8. 

   Sue, thanks for your comment. I kind of wondered that myself…and I DO like the story and the basic idea. And I DO need to pluck out a lot of old feathers!

   Comment by Kristi Holl — July 30, 2009 @ 4:53 pm

9. 

   Oh, too bad that the eagle renewal is a myth. You might want to edit your original post to reflect that. It doesn’t mean that it’s not a useful analogy. I did wonder how they survived without feathers and such for months.

   Comment by Vijaya — July 31, 2009 @ 2:03 am

10. 

    I should have wondered about that too, Vijaya. The book had said that other younger eagles dropped food to it during this time, and I didn’t know any different. But yes, it’s still a useful analogy! And you’re right–I’d better mention that it’s a myth.

    Comment by Kristi Holl — July 31, 2009 @ 12:23 pm

11. 

    I have, from time to time, given myself a day’s retreat. It has been at home (alone) or in nature (alone), focusing on a topic that I’ve been brooding about for awhile. Just one topic. I think, I pray, I journal, I read appropriate material I’ve collected for that purpose. This has really rejuvenated me, given me direction and a sense of purpose. Sometimes we think we should just keep working, but taking a time out can be so helpful!

    Comment by Jane Heitman Healy — July 31, 2009 @ 9:49 pm

12. 

    Jane, I’ve done that often over the years too, and a focused day like that can settle a lot of issues and give us direction. What I sometimes long for now is a day off when everything is going fine! When I’m not brooding about anything, when no cloud is on the horizon, but just for fun! Or maybe I’d read one of my stacks of writing books or my pile of writing magazines… Ahh, bliss!

    Comment by Kristi Holl — August 1, 2009 @ 3:00 pm

13. 

    Kristi – I think the fact you used the word “fable” says it all. There are many myths and fables that resonate with us in a really strong way – it’s not the fact of the story that we relate to. It’s the idea behind it. It can lead us to do wonderful things, including restoring ourselves. (It also led the Aztecs to blood sacrifice, but let’s not go there!)
    One year when I was totally exhausted and had really had all I could take of the world, I went on a five-day retreat at home. The key was that I told everyone what I was doing, told them I would not be answering the phone, doing emails, communicating about anything to do with work.
    I wasn’t able to go away to a motel or retreat, so I did it at home. Everyone respected it, even my daughter who turned up unexpectedly (and then left me alone). Too often we try to “filch” time and peace and wonder why others ignore our needs. I’d recommend making it really clear what YOU need and asking for support.

    Comment by Sherryl — August 1, 2009 @ 10:00 pm

14. 

    Sherryl, I remember when you did that retreat–and I wondered how well people would respect your privacy and need to recoup some energy. How smart you were to do that BEFORE you were flat on your back in a hospital bed. I wish I could get over feeling guilty for taking time off when I’m not really too sick to work. Sometimes that Puritan work ethic is a real pain!

    Comment by Kristi Holl — August 2, 2009 @ 8:12 am

15. 

    Hmmm, renewal? Take the time to enjoy down time with my girls and hubby and not going near the computer or answering the phone. Soaking in a long hot bath with a good book. Taking the time to savor the weekends, before writing and marketing begins again. Not to be hard on myself if the day is not going as planned. To learn to go with the flow.

    Warm regards,
    Donna
    Children’s Author
    Write What Inspires You Blog
    Donna M. McDine’s Website

    Comment by Donna McDine — August 2, 2009 @ 10:43 am

16. 

    Donna, each one of your points would make a good article! More and more these days, people talk of renewal and getting away from technology in the same breath. Things we used to take for granted as pastimes (e.g. reading in a swing or tub) are now seen as big luxuries. “Learning to go with the flow…” sounds like the best advice of all!

    Comment by Kristi Holl — August 2, 2009 @ 1:15 pm

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