
There are days I’d like writing a book to be only writing. Pencil to paper. Fingertips to keyboard. Mind and heart to telling a story. That’s the best part.
I resist the other parts of writing a book, the planning and organizing parts. I know they are as essential as the actual writing. I do them, but I can’t seem to convince myself to approach them with the same joy.
Already I can see this is about heart and head.
Telling the story, for me, is rooted in my heart. I feel it, and words flow from the feelings.
Planning and organizing are rooted in my head. I think, I don’t feel. No wonder the joy is missing. I find satisfaction here, but I’m in the wrong place to expect joy. Silly me.
I need to find a way to partner my heart with my head when I approach the non-writing parts of book-making. Find a way to leave aside the resistance, and bring a peaceful curiosity to the work instead.
Much of the work I did during the Story Genius process was planning and organizing, yet I didn’t resist. I didn’t resist because I was learning something new, and I could see and feel how this process was enriching and expanding the story I wanted to tell.
My heart was invested in getting this done because it loved the story I was creating.
Here is the key.
I love this story and I need to invest my heart in all the parts of creating it. I need to feel how all the work around the writing teaches me something new, and gives me the knowledge and experience to make me a better writer. I need to let myself be curious and enjoy exploring the possibilities around putting a story together.
Invest my heart. Feel how everything I do gives my story a base and bones to stand strong. Gives my story detail that offers connection for my readers. Gives my story flow that creates a living place for my readers’ imaginations.
The time I spend on planning and organization is not stolen from the writing. It adds to it.
I’m not losing. I’m gaining, and then my readers will gain too.
It’s all a win.
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In this post:
Story Genius by Lisa Cron, published by Ten Speed Press, 2016. http://wiredforstory.com/story-genius-1
Keep going, girlfriend! Love and hugs, Kate
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