The Artist’s Way, Progress Update
So I’ve been doing The Artist’s Way, I said in my last post. I discussed a bit about Morning Pages and Journaling. One of the things that I’ve found is that when I do My Morning Pages my mind clears and I’m less stressed about writing. Lately, I’ve been feeling very iffy about my writing. Not in the, I’m going to stop writing, but less confident about it. It’s something that writers do go through. But when you’ve been through burn out and re-approaching writing you feel that sense even more so because it goes beyond being rusty. It’s like re-starting something you’ve put down after a long time of neglect.
I’ve been taking it slow but that doesn’t seem to help. When I don’t write my stress level goes up, but when I do write I’m not confident about what I’m writing. Am I going deep enough into POV? Am I giving the reader enough to connect with the characters? Does this sentence/phrase make sense? Will a reader get what I’m trying to say. One of the things that I really didn’t need until now was a solid base. I needed people around me to be honest about my writing. I’ve been talking to Cynnara Tregarth a lot lately but when I re-connected with one of my besties Shara Cooper something clicked. I felt more confident and a peace. I had a good feedback loop to draw from that helped me weed out the crap or the confusion to get to clarity.
Combine that with My Morning Pages and I feel more stable. More confident. It will take some time to get equilibrium but I have a good base around me. As I’m progressing with The Artist’s Way I’m also finding that it will help me really define my characters. As suggested by Missy Welsh in her fantastic post (see previous post for the link), doing a character interview. This was also suggested in The Artist’s Way.
Also, since my stress level is lowering my blood pressure is better. I’m losing weight but I’ve still got a ways to go. It’s a bit of a pendulum. Going back and forth but I’m getting there.
I still have to tell you my news and I have a bit more but I can’t tell you just yet. I know, I know TEASE! But it’s good news. But I have to say a big THANK YOU to Etopia Press and to you my wonderful Readers. Thank you!
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Excellent to hear that you’ve made your way through burn out. Wonderful news! Hang in there!
I worked throgh the Artist’s way and have a couple of volumes of Morning Pages somewhere. I think it was helpful, but I got to a point where I said “why not just write some fiction” so I’d write that instead, and eventually I stopped doing the morning pages. But I think it’s definitely important to do some kind of writing, and it’s so relaxing when you know there’s no reader! Of course, in the long run, it’s so rewarding to find our there is one… and another… and another. Anyway, it was good to hear about your journey forward, and glad you’re feeling less burned out… that’s great!
Thank You! BTW I’m reading Recipe for Submission. *Grins* LOVING IT!
You’ve reminded me! I did the Artists Way ages ago. Now I’ve dug it out and will have a go at it again. You know, I think the further we progress, the less we think we know. Do you find that? I think in the beginning, I thought writing would be easy-peasy but I’ve found out just what a slog it is (but I’ll never give up). Good luck! I’ll come join you…
LOL! I’m learning so much and being reminded of things I already knew. I’m getting back to the basics. Yaaay. Let me know how you get along with restarting it. *Grins*