"The only way to make sense out of change is to plunge into it, move with it, and join the dance." - Alan Watts
One of the joys - and challenges of working freelance is that you never know what's going to happen next!
Inevitably, there are times of spate and times of drought. That's life. Luckily, as a writer, when things quieten down, that gives you the time to collect yourself, let your spinning compass calm a little, and point again to True North. Towards writing.
It's been a busy few weeks here, between the Stirling 900yrs launch, performances, and a few deadlines. Now, I love working with people, especially in workshops. But as much as I enjoy being busy, like lots of writers who tend towards introversion, I'm glad when I have a few weeks of relative calm to look forward to. I've been catching up with emails and messages, as well as friends. Gathering my thoughts towards future projects. And preparing myself to let go of the Stirling Makarship.
It's fair to say that the Stirling Makarship has been the biggest writing project I've ever worked on. And six months ago, I didn't think I'd ever want to say goodbye to it. There have been challenges, but I love a good challenge. There have been some terrifying aspects to it too: commissions and telly and stage, oh my! But overall, it's been tremendous fun. I've learned a huge amount and been able to meet and help lots of lovely people. But I'm ready now to set off on other adventures. And my compass, so often restless, is settling. I hope you'll join me.
- Forth Friday - 24th May (none then until August)
- Writing Workshop - 31st May (free)
- Gartmore House Writing Retreat - 16th June
So, what's a writer to do after they've finished a big project? Whether been it's a novel, a poetry collection or a role such as being a Makar, finishing something can be exciting - but it can also be easy to feel rudderless afterwards. A great friend counselled me to make sure I have a big project to bounce off into. That's never going to be a problem, where I'm concerned. There are so many possibilities out there! The main difficulty is choosing. In general, when it comes to choosing where I go next, I mostly follow my nose.
I'll have a new poetry pamphlet out in the Autumn, so I'll be touring around with it, reading and hopefully doing a few workshops...
(let me know if you'd like your writing group to be one of those I come to)
But I also have a novel that's been knocking on my door. So in my quieter moments, I'll be working away on that. As well as staying open to whatever poems or ideas might arise. There's always that tension between sticking to the path of one project, and chasing the glimmer of something shiny in the bordering undergrowth.
Both are fulfilling, in different ways, and so there's a balance to be struck between discipline and spontaneity. This is what I give advice on in Wellspring and Magpie Mind, respectively (available here)
The following quotes have been helping me reflect on this. I hope they help you too:
- "Discipline is choosing between what you want now, and what you want most." - Abraham Lincoln
- "One-half of life is luck; the other half is discipline – and that’s the important half, for without discipline you wouldn’t know what
to do with luck." - Carl Zuckmeyer
- "Though discipline, comes freedom" - Aristotle
My favourite, perhaps, is this one:
"Discipline is built by consistently performing small acts of courage." - Robin Sharma
Every time a writer turns up to the desk, faces the blank page, is an act of courage. Go now, fellow writers, be brave.
Happy writing,
Laura
Inevitably, there are times of spate and times of drought. That's life. Luckily, as a writer, when things quieten down, that gives you the time to collect yourself, let your spinning compass calm a little, and point again to True North. Towards writing.
It's been a busy few weeks here, between the Stirling 900yrs launch, performances, and a few deadlines. Now, I love working with people, especially in workshops. But as much as I enjoy being busy, like lots of writers who tend towards introversion, I'm glad when I have a few weeks of relative calm to look forward to. I've been catching up with emails and messages, as well as friends. Gathering my thoughts towards future projects. And preparing myself to let go of the Stirling Makarship.
It's fair to say that the Stirling Makarship has been the biggest writing project I've ever worked on. And six months ago, I didn't think I'd ever want to say goodbye to it. There have been challenges, but I love a good challenge. There have been some terrifying aspects to it too: commissions and telly and stage, oh my! But overall, it's been tremendous fun. I've learned a huge amount and been able to meet and help lots of lovely people. But I'm ready now to set off on other adventures. And my compass, so often restless, is settling. I hope you'll join me.
- Forth Friday - 24th May (none then until August)
- Writing Workshop - 31st May (free)
- Gartmore House Writing Retreat - 16th June
So, what's a writer to do after they've finished a big project? Whether been it's a novel, a poetry collection or a role such as being a Makar, finishing something can be exciting - but it can also be easy to feel rudderless afterwards. A great friend counselled me to make sure I have a big project to bounce off into. That's never going to be a problem, where I'm concerned. There are so many possibilities out there! The main difficulty is choosing. In general, when it comes to choosing where I go next, I mostly follow my nose.
I'll have a new poetry pamphlet out in the Autumn, so I'll be touring around with it, reading and hopefully doing a few workshops...
(let me know if you'd like your writing group to be one of those I come to)
But I also have a novel that's been knocking on my door. So in my quieter moments, I'll be working away on that. As well as staying open to whatever poems or ideas might arise. There's always that tension between sticking to the path of one project, and chasing the glimmer of something shiny in the bordering undergrowth.
Both are fulfilling, in different ways, and so there's a balance to be struck between discipline and spontaneity. This is what I give advice on in Wellspring and Magpie Mind, respectively (available here)
The following quotes have been helping me reflect on this. I hope they help you too:
- "Discipline is choosing between what you want now, and what you want most." - Abraham Lincoln
- "One-half of life is luck; the other half is discipline – and that’s the important half, for without discipline you wouldn’t know what
to do with luck." - Carl Zuckmeyer
- "Though discipline, comes freedom" - Aristotle
My favourite, perhaps, is this one:
"Discipline is built by consistently performing small acts of courage." - Robin Sharma
Every time a writer turns up to the desk, faces the blank page, is an act of courage. Go now, fellow writers, be brave.
Happy writing,
Laura
RSS Feed