Writing is an Endurance Activity

How to find the creative zone...and stay there

As you move outside of your comfort zone, what was once the unknown and frightening becomes your new normal. -Robin S Sharma

Dear Writers,

I love riding my bike. I especially love the feeling of riding down the trail and the wind isn’t too bad, and I can maintain a steady state. As I ride, my breath stays steady. My legs don’t fatigue. I can keep going for hours. It doesn’t even feel like exercise.

On good days, writing feels the same way. No matter how much I accomplish, when I am in the writing zone, I write with more confidence. Then we all know what happens next. When we’re confident, we take more chances.

Of course, it isn’t always that way.

This week was one of those weeks. My writing zone was disrupted by by politics. The fires. The world. It felt more like deadlifting hundreds of pounds (I’ve done that, so I know!).

Effortful writing can lead to writers block, which can lead to imposter syndrome. Fear. And often, not the best writing either. When I’m struggling, I’m not listening the same way I listen when I’m in the flow either. I’m not taking so many chances. It’s hard not to give into bad habits that only make me feel worse!

My best writing comes when I feel the way I do on my bike—when it’s steady and manageable. Writing IS an endurance activity. And when I’m feeling steady, it is easier to open up and be vulnerable, and that makes everything more authentic.

So, knowing that the next few weeks are going to be really distracting and alarming and busy, I decided to jot down some strategies for getting into the zone—so that I can use them with intention—before I lose the flow. I’d love to hear what works for you, too. Let’s help each other!

Here are four strategies that have historically worked for me:

1. HIDE THAT PHONE. Especially in the morning. My best writing days begin with a notebook and pen. I usually draw Lynda Barry’s swirly. Or sometimes, my view. Or I journal about whatever I feel like. It doesn’t have to be more than a list. These activities work to get me away from the real world—and into the world of creativity. Remember: our words aren’t precious, but time is! Don’t give it away! (We are already doing too many things.)

2. Whether that works or not, I do four Pomodoros every single day! That’s four rotations of 25 min of writing, followed by 10 minutes on the yoga mat in corpse pose. I got into Poms when I had a bout of carpal tunnel syndrome, but now I do it because it increases my momentum. Trust me—it won’t feel easy at first. Staying still and quiet for ten minutes may feel very threatening. But once I got used to it, the ideas found me.

3. Get yourself a peach sorbet—that’s Sarahspeak for a second project that I write all for myself. (It tastes good and makes me happy.) The point of the sorbet is not to avoid tough writing. It’s to keep you writing. And engaged. And maybe even joyful! Writing begets writing!

4. Find a group to write with! Get on the zoom or meet at the library and write together! There is nothing that keeps me more honest than some community writing!

   

Are you ready to reach? Groan? Stretch? Dig deep? (Of course, we are! We are so bad*ss!!!)

Try the swirly!

Draw it tight. Cover a whole page. Focus on drawing so that your mind relaxes and welcomes inspiration! (Let me know if it works!)

Start writing, no matter what. The water does not flow until the faucet is turned on."- Louis L’Amour

And if you’d like to try some community writing, Chris Tebbetts and I have been planning something for next Monday:

Sending strength and light to everyone in the vicinity of the fires. If you are anxious to help, here are some places that are taking donations.

Sarah