A Writing Detective Story
Rather than “killing the cat”, as the old adage goes, curiosity feeds my creative spirit. Maybe I was a curious cat in a previous lifetime.
When my creative well feels low, I often use the sentence stem: “I’m curious about …” Or “I am noticing …” to guide my mind back into curiosity. In my experience, curiosity seems to pair with a sense of wonder – both are essential ingredients for all creatives. Over time, I’ve learned to let my mind roam freely and ask questions about everything I’m noticing.
My questions inspire me to closely observe the natural world, people around me, and the quality of thoughts in my brain. I love asking questions without having to know the answers. Most of the time, I’m more interested in the mystery of not knowing than I am in “facts” laid out in a linear fashion. At the same time, I’m aware that both forms of thinking have their place.
Getting Clear
Reading over the last six years’ worth of my disparate writing pieces led me to ask an important question: Is there a unifying theme that could be developed into a larger manuscript? Enter: The Writing Mentor!
I pulled together what seemed like a chaotic mess of written material and sent them for a big-picture review. The person I’ve selected is a well-published author who has been supporting writers like me for several years. Her feedback has been positive and motivating, steadying me in my project when my conviction falters. The journey of the writer is full of the potholes of inner-critic activity, and I am grateful to have her along for the ride.
She quickly observed an overarching storyline in my pieces, related to studying and integrating Buddhism as a lay person in our fractured world. Under her direction I’ve been playing with an outline, and learning to break old writing habits (show, don’t tell!). At times, I can tell when it’s time to shift into creating some immediate examples to bring my readers in closer. I imagine a reader’s curiosity about what I’m sharing, and use that sense of wonder to build out my writing, using sensory details.
Getting Detailed
At this moment, in its early stages of development, I’m playing with stories about my first summer meditation retreat with our Buddhist teacher, Lama Mark Webber. That was in 2018, when my husband was undergoing his first round of chemotherapy for chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). Since then there have been many challenges and celebrations. Everything I’ve learned through study and practice of Buddhism has supported me to walk compassionately with my husband as he cycles through the rotating stages of chronic leukemia: illness, treatment, recovery. Through sharing my experience in writing, I intend to share the best of what I’ve learned – and continue to learn – with readers who might be needing/ wanting support in challenging times.
My writing mentor is helping me organize and identify which stories will engage my ideal readers, and also provide information, nervous system regulation, and some laughter. It’s a rigorous commitment, and I am deeply engaged in this process. Working with a mentor gives me a sense of accountability that I am not always able to create when I’m on my own. Knowing I have dedicated submission dates for her review keeps me on track. As I fumble around with this early-season process, I’m finding clarity and gaining skill.
Helping Others
Hiring a mentor feels like a full-circle choice, since I continue to mentor writers within my programs. I have a much deeper awareness about what creates strong storytelling, which sensory details are required, and when it’s time to prune the deadwood in a story. It’s a source of receiving and giving in the creative realm, and the process gives me great joy.
I’m always grateful to those individuals who choose to work with me. Each person feels like a gift, and I am committed to serving to the best of my ability.
If you are longing to write, and don’t know where to begin, reach out for a free Discovery Call with me.
