June 8, 2011

Back in high school, I watched people try to be more social and outgoing instead of shy wallflowers by drinking.

They got talkative, and yes, they certainly tried things they would never have done sober. They looked and sounded silly–or worse–to me. Being under the influence (of anything) didn’t help them.

It doesn’t help writers either. [And that includes quite a few things we're dependent on.]

Mental Evacuation

Over the weekend I was re-reading one of the very best books on writing that I own. If You Want to Write by Brenda Ueland is a classic. In one chapter she was talking about how words and our really good ideas come slowly–and how impatient writers get and the unproductive, artificial ways they try to “hurry” the words.

“…good thoughts come slowly. And so it is nothing for you to worry about or to be afraid of, and it is even a bad plan to hurry them artificially. For when you do so, there may be suddenly many thoughts, but that does not mean that they are specialy good ones or interesting. It is just as when you give a thoughtful, slightly tired person a stiff drink. Before the drink he says nothing but what seems to him interesting and important. He mentally discards the thoughts that are not important enough to make up for the fatigue of saying them. But after the drink, all his thoughts come out head over heels, whatever crosses his mind. There are suddenly many thoughts; but they are just like the flutter of thoughts that come out of one of those unfortunate people who cannot keep from talking all the time. This kind of talking [or writing, I might add] is not creation. It is just mental evacuation.”

Drug of Choice

While I never drank, I had my own stimulants to get my mind going. While never a coffee drinker or smoker, I had my four-candy-bar-a-day habit, and my day started with two Diet Cokes. When I got bogged down and blocked and didn’t know what to write next, a sugar rush and caffeine jolt could get me producing again and keep me going. But it took me years to see that the quality of the writing suffered.

Ueland quotes Tolstoy (Anna Karenina, War and Peace) on this subject of being quiet and thinking, and waiting for the words and “tiny, tiny alterations of consciousness” to come:

“It is at such times that one needs the greatest clearness to decide correctly the questions that have arisen, and it is just then that one glass of beer, or one cigarette [or candy bar or donut or Coke, I might add] may prevent the solution of the question, may postpone the decision, stifle the voice …”

A Quiet Patience

We get in such a hurry to write, to revise, to submit. When the words don’t come quickly, we use stimulants to force the issue, and often end up with something (Ueland calls) “superficial and automatic, like children yelling at a birthday party,” not something tried and tested and true.

I know I’ve been guilty of this “hurry” habit with my writing in the past, but yesterday I made a conscious effort NOT to do so. I gave it time, and when the words didn’t come readily, I waited (instead of making my usual trip to the fridge.) It was uncomfortable at times. But I ended up writing for over two solid hours without interruption, and I’m excited about what I wrote. It may not be War and Peace, but it’s not “superficial and automatic” either.

Is it harder for you to write without artificial help? Does it affect your writing–or had you thought about it? Try writing “with” and “without,” and see if it makes a difference.

12 Comments »

1. 

   This is an important post, Kristi. After being emotionally out of commission following the death of a loved one this year, I found myself urging myself to “hurry up and catch up” when I DID start writing again. This attitude only produced anxiety. And lots of it. One thing I’ve found that helps me slow down and not produce “superficial and automatic” stuff is to write–in longhand–two pages every day. Once I’ve got it written the old-fashioned way, I can type it up. At first, I worried that this approach would “take too much time” and be “too much work.” Instead, I found out that breaking my writing into two stages like this helps me slow down, really connect with the scene and my senses in the scene, and even find new nuggets to insert as I type what I’ve written.

   Comment by Heather — June 8, 2011 @ 1:18 pm

2. 

   Heather, that is a brilliant thing to do. With our computers and faxes, we’re in such a hurry these days. I’m glad I’m not the only one who fights the “this will take too much time” voice in her head. I think your solution is so very wise.

   Comment by Kristi Holl — June 8, 2011 @ 2:06 pm

3. 

   This was really insightful, Kristi. And it’s a concept I’ve been mulling over recently, so the timing was brilliant. I’m slowly learning that writing cannot be forced. It must be nurtured, watered, and cared for just like a flower. And flowers do not bloom overnight. Thanks!

   Comment by Brittney Breakey — June 8, 2011 @ 4:23 pm

4. 

   Brittney, I think your comment is insightful–flowers don’t bloom overnight! And the forced flowers from the hot house have very little scent–it’s lost in the process sometimes. We could all benefit greatly from slowing down!

   Comment by Kristi Holl — June 8, 2011 @ 7:58 pm

5. 

   I tend to eat when I have no ideas, but what helps me far more is to go for a walk. For me, movement is invaluable.

   Comment by Francie — June 9, 2011 @ 9:38 am

6. 

   Francie, I am relearning that myself this week. Started strolling the new granddaughter in the mornings, and I had forgotten what a good idea starter that walking is! (I, too, eat when I’m stuck, so this is definitely better.)

   Comment by Kristi Holl — June 9, 2011 @ 12:01 pm

7. 

   I really appreciate your articles and wanted to thank you for your hard work. I’m just beginning to submit work and all this info is so helpful- really makes me think.

   Comment by shawn — June 9, 2011 @ 1:20 pm

8. 

   Shawn, thanks so much for your kind words. We’re all in this together, no matter how experienced we are. And if I can steer you away from some of the mistakes I made along the way, so much the better! Good luck!

   Comment by Kristi Holl — June 9, 2011 @ 5:02 pm

9. 

   Thanks, Kristi. I needed that! Slow down….what a concept.

   Comment by Brittney Breakey — June 21, 2011 @ 12:28 pm

10. 

    Music practice is ALL about this – – It’s ALWAYS “SLOW DOWN!” (if you are serious -because it is HARDER. though much more true and nuanced if you can play (whatever rift) to the best of your (perfectionist) ability, FULLY – than to just skitter over it with lots of automatisms that go nowhere. Skitters, strangely drop out and regret it years later. (the whole tortoise thing)

    I went through a time period, bro’s passing – when all I could do was shallow skitter – but sometimes, if you Do that intentionally, being as cheap as possible, on purpose, it keeps you at least writing (schlock) and moving the pen! ~shallow~ done
    on purpose & knowingly, will bring you back in a gentle spiral to the river again. I found that I would have had to get through the layers, whether I put my mind to it now, or in three years – I still had to get through them -

    I love Brenda!
    I am such an/advice/bio/good read junkie!
    Well, I smoke and drink gallons of coffee – but I am more afraid of the fact that I am getting really used to being interrupted, as an addiction!

    Comment by jen — June 23, 2011 @ 8:16 pm

11. 

    Buy best quality, 100% satisfaction guaranteed aches, pains Danocrine Inkop Extra Cheap inget recept Suomi no physician approval soy isoflavones supplements ing without prescription! Save on Your Medication.Billigste Tabletten Canada with american express flushing fever Danocrine generic no prescription cod thyroid disorder Overnight cheap.Buying online cheap, Price Beat, Start saving today confusion or hallucinations Strattera kopa billigaste USA cod no prescription
    side effects get Viagra soft purchase, sale side effects Strattera cheap, online buy Zithromax price, purchase get Nexium online,

    Comment by low price frumil — September 1, 2011 @ 1:39 pm

12. 

    Buying over the counter fedex aggression, erratic behavior Cleocin Cheap approved pain in stomach or abdomen overnight delivery, online no prescription.Buy best quality, 100% satisfaction guaranteed increase or decrease in blood pressure Cleocin cheap+non prescription Nevada without perscription loss of bladder control on line pharmacy low-price generic online.Non Prescription Free Shipping,Cheap online changes in vision Phoslo Washington Shipped C,o,d
    online without prescription Celebrex generic, buying order Levitra order, get buy Cialis generic, buying purchase Renova order,

    Comment by online pamelor — September 1, 2011 @ 2:20 pm

RSS feed for comments on this post. TrackBack URL

Leave a comment

Name (required)

Mail (will not be published) (required)

Website