Comments for A Writer Afoot

Comment on Showing up by Yvonne Erwin

Yvonne Erwin — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 13:41:00 +0000

It’s hard sometimes but I remind myself of everything I want to accomplish and all everything I want to see happen in my life and before long, I become energized. I can sit down and write for long periods of time then. If that doesn’t work, I cook something. Something old, something new, doesn’t matter. I find the process of chopping, grating, sauteing sooths me and I can get into the place in my head where I need to be and get the work done.

Comment on The Practice of Giving Something Up by Judy King

Judy King — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 01:36:45 +0000

Hi Barbara and everyone. Loved this conversation. I’m joining in a little late, lent is nearly two weeks old. I’ve given up any number of things for the duration of lent…mostly sweets–the joy of my former life. Still, really that was more like a diet than a spiritual practice. Besides once I was diagnosed with systemic chronic Candida I gave up ALL sugars and flours and processed carbs (and most fruits and starchy veggies) pretty much permanently.

I know the original thought of giving up something for lent, was to indicate a willingness to sacrifice…but I’ve come to a point where ADDING something means more to me than taking something away.

This is the third year I’ve promised myself to attend daily mass during lent (some mornings that’s a sacrifice ). I have a cousin who adds affirmations for herself and others during lent…I like both of those ideas, as well as The Artists Way.

One year I worked on collages that revealed oh, so much about me, to me as were suggested by Simple Abundance author Sarah Ban Breathnach’s Excavating your Authentic Self. Another year I worked on exercises from The Woman’s Comfort Book by Jennifer Louden and another I practiced the mindfullness of all religions as presented in Pocketful of Miracles by Joan Borysenko.

Comment on Showing up by Barbara Samuel

Barbara Samuel — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 17:15:49 +0000

Sharon, I do that, too. I have programmed the Internet to go off at a certain time so that I remember to just get to bed. Sleep is one of the things that will make the biggest difference to how I feel each day.

Comment on Showing up by Sharon Knoell

Sharon Knoell — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 06:27:29 +0000

I need to follow your recommendations, even though I am dealing with daily homemaker stuff, not writing. I also think I should watch when I go to bed because if I am messing around on the computer, I go to bed late, get up later and nothing gets done. Thank you for the reminder.

Comment on Showing up by Barbara Samuel

Barbara Samuel — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 18:20:19 +0000

Definitely others have a time clock that is different from my own most productive times. I think I’m the only lark in a family of owls, and my son Ian is the only owl in a family of larks. The trick is to know when your most productive time is and respect it.

It does seem to me that the Internet wastes a lot of time. For me. It’s easy to surf, not so easy to write or any number of other, more productive things.

Comment on Showing up by Ruthie

Ruthie — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 16:01:56 +0000

I always start the day with such good intentions. I’ll get my ‘projects’ done if I start in the morning. Ah, yeah, no dice. I tend to be most productive late in the afternoon into the evening. I have no idea why this works for me. But it does. It’s been this way for years.

Mornings? It’s the computer, babysitting my grandchildren, errands, etc.

Comment on Showing up by Leigh Duncan

Leigh Duncan — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 13:49:39 +0000

“Great advice,” I write while getting my daily blog fix when I should be opening my WIP and getting down to the business of writing. Lol

Comment on Showing up by dirtywhitecandy

dirtywhitecandy — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 00:21:52 +0000

Like you I have to resist the lure of the ether. And you put it so well – that it pulls you out of yourself and into the world. Now I get up an hour earlier, which is painful but makes me feel the house hasn’t woken up. I turn my computer on but leave the router off, and make sure the first thing I load in my head is my novel. An hour later I allow myself emails, blogging and tweeting, but by then my novel has limbered up in my head and is the predominant occupant.

Your phrase has made me realise why this works well for me. Thanks!

Comment on Showing up by Mel

Mel — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 20:47:39 +0000

I write better in the afternoon and evening but can definitely lose time faffing around on the net in the morning where I could be doing other things. I don’t think I can completely avoid checking email because of the time difference. If you get much past 10am here in summer or 8am in winter you’ve missed New York. Day job days I never write in the morning so just check emails and blogs while eating brekky. Maybe I should try that on the other days too!

Comment on Showing up by Yvonne Lindsay

Yvonne Lindsay — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 20:29:23 +0000

I totally agree with you, Barbara, and need to rehone that will-power bone in my spine that keeps me off the net first thing in the morning. Now, where did I hide my honing tools..?