Hey, I know you!

I don’t have to own a crystal ball to know what writers (that’s you and me) want. We want “someone” to send us large checks, praise our writing, send us large checks, connect us with publishers who will send us large checks, and provide us a fantasy editor to make our writing better to earn even more large checks.

Oh, I forgot to mention that we want a quick response every time we send our work, too. No matter if it is snail mail, we check the mail the next day. If it is email, we check our email messages, incessantly. We hate waiting and we can get moody, bossy, paranoid, spend hours daydreaming about catastrophes (the mail plane crashed, the editor’s office caught fire, computer crashed…), develop tics and twitches, and nightmares added in for good measure.

The poor people “on the other side!” They have to serve as professional editors, mini-publishers, spend their already stretched time and console each person attached to a manuscript. No wonder it’s difficult to get them to see us as we really are, the most talented writer they’ve read! And not as, “Oh, no, another one. What was I thinking?”

How trusting are we? Depends, doesn’t it? We’ve sent our work out to be read and judged, compared to everyone in the world, and we sit waiting, trying not to lunge for the phone to “check on things.”

And then. We hear back. Whew! or What?!

After the shock settles in that our manuscript was not perfect and we can read the comments and suggestions for corrections without emoting over every mark, there is The Choice. Do you have the confidence that you can revise your text or the energy to do so?

Short of hiring a cheering squad to parade through your office, cheering,”You can do it! Y.O.U.” Gather up your feelings, see the therapist, and then get to work – again. But, isn’t that what it’s all about? The publishers are not our projections of saviors, father or mother figures, authority figures. They are real people with real jobs that serve the writers and the public. They long for us to succeed.  Their projections go the other way – we’re “their” writer. Perhaps they see us as the bad boy or the woman-who-reminds-me-of-my-mother. It takes time to find our roles, our footing.

Let’s try to not become infantilized or act out our teenage ways of controlling people.

I say, stick with your Muse. Perhaps your Muse comes in the form of an editor, a publisher, a friend, a coach. Most of all, your Muse is an inner guide, the voice that shows you the way, and then vanishes so you can shine.

Want to use this article in your ezine or website?
You can, as long as you include the following details with it:

Dr. Patricia Brawley maintains a therapy and consulting practice and is a university professor. She has always been deeply interested in mind-body interaction, health psychology, creativity, consciousness and dreams. She is strongly influenced by mindfulness meditation practice, Buddhist philosophy, yoga, and humanistic values and beliefs.

Dr. Brawley, a published author, enjoys writing and leading writing groups. She lives in McComb, Mississippi with her husband and three cats, Kwan Yin, Nightmare and Goldilocks.

One of the challenges of writing is aligning your aspirations with your circumstances. It requires identifying what you want to achieve and then learning to get what you want.

Some people write like maniacs and then collapse; others put it off altogether and feel like failures. If only…becomes a mantra. If only I had more time…if only I didn’t feel pain when I sit too long…

Everyone has special circumstances. What are yours? Maybe it’s time to take a closer look at what you really want now, at this stage of your life. Perhaps writing the bestselling novel is not so interesting to you anymore. What’s more interesting to you now? Poetry? Exploring your inner world by journaling?

Aspirations change. Don’t hang on to them just because you always have.  What’s important is that you write what’s in your heart, that you listen to your Muse, and set up a lifestyle that will bring your aspirations into the world. We need them.

Step 1: Look at your patterns of writing (or not writing). Notice your thoughts or complaints if you overdo or not do any writing. If you feel stuck, examine what you are afraid of. What are you avoiding?

Step 2: Learn and apply pacing. Pacing has rhythm. It’s not jitterbug all day long and it’s not all slow dancing, either. It’s a little bit of both. I suggest you keep a diary of your day, analyze your energy, moods, and practices/behaviors. Why? Because we’re going to do things backwards by resting before writing.

Step 3: Set your intentions to write for xxx minutes a day. I suggest 20 minutes at a time. Rest 15 minutes before writing. Then write for 20 minutes. At the end of 20 minutes, you may want to rest again or do something else (for 10 minutes). You may find keeping a book or magazine where you rest will give you something to look forward to during your breaks. Rinse, repeat.

Step 4: A frequent changes of activity gives the body and mind a break and helps you get a lot done, especially writing. Learn what activities come easy to you, such as taking a walk. Learn which ones sap your strength, such as riding in a car for 3 hours.

Step 5: Bonus. To keep the mind relaxed and ready to receive your Muse’s inspirations, take frequent deep breathing breaks. Mindfully, notice how your feel and what thoughts are floating through your mind. This breathing break will provide you renewed energy for your next activity. Make a reminder for yourself to do this during your day.

Want to use this article in your ezine or website?
You can, as long as you include the following details with it:

Dr. Patricia Brawley maintains a therapy and consulting practice and is a university professor. She has always been deeply interested in mind-body interaction, health psychology, creativity, consciousness and dreams. She is strongly influenced by mindfulness meditation practice, Buddhist philosophy, yoga, and humanistic values and beliefs.

Dr. Brawley, a published author, enjoys writing and leading writing groups. She lives in McComb, Mississippi with her husband and three cats, Kwan Yin, Nightmare and Goldilocks.

I love Richard Outram’s book of poetry about an elephant named Mogul who met a terrible fate and died. Actually, he had already met a terrible fate before his death. Mogul was part of a circus, mistreated and betrayed. In 1836, the circus animals and handlers were on a ferry boat off the coast of New Brunswick when a fire broke out. I can only imagine the terror that shone in the eyes of man and beast, alike. Many animals were too dangerous to unleash, like the large cats. The roar of fire and screams must have mixed in with the smoke that left a trail of sadness, leaving an imprint that we look at delicately because to get close is to risk feeling overwhelmed with sadness.

It was written that Mogul broke his tether, and already blind in one eye, made his way to the rail of the listing ship where some people had lowered themselves into lifeboats. What a frightening sight it must have been to look up and see Mogul trumpeting and pushing against the railing. In a wink, he fell through the railing straight into their boats, drowning them.

One of Outram’s poems is titled, “Mogul’s Orrery.” An orrery is a model representing the solar system. You may have seen them in planetariums. How does Outram use the concept here?  He writes,

“Mogul has an orrery, not, granted, of clockwork.
Deep-sunk in his skull, forever implanted there.”

We all have an orrery or something our lives revolve around. Is it work? Drugs and alcohol? Family? What is the center of your orrery/life? What place does writing have in your world? Is it the center of your world, or is it out in the universe waiting to be discovered? Your answer to this question can affect the whole model, just as one orbit can affect the whole solar system.

Mogul’s tethered world was defined by others; his death, recorded by one newspaper journalist.

Whether it’s ten minutes a day or hours on end, you have the freedom to find your own world through writing. Through your writing, you can set in motion your orrery that will leak into the universe of language that lasts for eternity.

Want to use this article in your ezine or website?
You can, as long as you include the following details with it:

Dr. Patricia Brawley maintains a therapy and consulting practice and is a university professor. She has always been deeply interested in mind-body interaction, health psychology, creativity, consciousness and dreams. She is strongly influenced by mindfulness meditation practice, Buddhist philosophy, yoga, and humanistic values and beliefs.

Dr. Brawley, a published author, enjoys writing and leading writing groups. She lives in McComb, Mississippi with her husband and three cats, Kwan Yin, Nightmare and Goldilocks.

Can you believe it’s almost Spring? Winter never really came to Southern Mississippi this year. I hope this doesn’t mean another scorching summer because my muse wants to hide from the sun and stay out of the heat! Do you have a favorite writing season? I’d love to hear about your preferences, or if weather has any effect on your writing?

A lot of you know I went to Big Sur, California earlier this month. It’s been my favorite place for a long time. I always feel inspired by the beauty of the landscape and coastline, but most of all, the Pacific Ocean. There’s something here that means “freedom” to me. Most of all, I feel relaxed. Even if I bring work with me, I get it done without the sighs I hear myself making when I’m feeling stressed.

Maybe like you, when I relax, I let myself remember my desires and goals in life. I feel aligned. You may wonder what alignment has to do with anything besides getting tires balanced.

For me, alignment has other names. Perhaps you will resonate with one of these simple phrases: feeling good, in the zone, all is right with the world, positive things flow into our writing and our lives, including money.

When we are out of alignment, we feel it. Nothing seems to go right, we feel frustrated, stressed, stuck and our creativity well has dried up. Our Muse has gone into hiding. Judgment is impaired. When we have the least energy, we push ourselves to do more. But, you know what happens. More of the same.

Like tires, we need balancing to get into alignment. Everyone has an idea of what they need to do. Really. Some things, like my trip to Big Sur, cost time and money, but I relax and feel free from stress. I feel at home without all the chores of home, if that makes any sense.

But, other things, just as relaxing, do not cost money. Getting out of the house to take a drive or take a walk to clear your mind are mostly free. Some people get back on track by taking a meditation break, perhaps with incense to clear the senses. Hum a song, eat and enjoy something you love. You get the idea. I crave the sight of water. I don’t want to get in the water. Just the sight or sound of water tips me more toward alignment.

How about you? Why not make a list of things to do that entice you to feel happy? Once you are in alignment, you are ready to remember how to write what your Muse told you. You didn’t forget how to tap into the Muse. You were sidetracked. As you learn how to relax, you’ll remember more and more.

So, take time daily to align your energy with your Muse.

Want to know more about getting aligned with your Muse? I’ll be letting you know about a complimentary teleclass called, “Attracting Your Muse: How to tap into creative energy and write from your heart.”

When you get my email with this information, please feel free to invite your friends. It’s free!

Want to use this article in your ezine or website?
You can, as long as you include the following details with it:

Dr. Patricia Brawley maintains a therapy and consulting practice and is a university professor. She has always been deeply interested in mind-body interaction, health psychology, creativity, consciousness and dreams. She is strongly influenced by mindfulness meditation practice, Buddhist philosophy, yoga, and humanistic values and beliefs.

Dr. Brawley, a published author, enjoys writing and leading writing groups. She lives in McComb, Mississippi with her husband and three cats, Kwan Yin, Nightmare and Goldilocks.

Who is Janus? Our first month, January, is named from this ancient god of beginnings. His two faces, one facing forward and one backward, remind us to not only look ahead this year, but also remember whence we came. We are always coming from somewhere and changing.

What are your plans for the year? I like the idea of always having a fresh start, a blank slate, starting over. In sports psychology, the words “start over” give the player a sense of relief and renewed focus, forgetting past mistakes. Can you use that phrase with your plans for the year? If you’ve been putting your plans to write on hold, perhaps this will be the year you start over.

Janus is also called the god of doorways. Standing in a doorway, metaphorically, gives you a vantage point to see where you’ve been and look ahead to where you want to go. Writing out your plans for the year starts your move toward your goals.

Writing is full of transitions, from paragraphs to pages. But, the transitions in your life/mind/soul as a result of writing cannot be counted in word count and page numbers.

If you’d like to become part of this deeper conversation about writing, I’d be honored to hear from you.

Want to use this article in your ezine or website?
You can, as long as you include the following details with it:

Dr. Patricia Brawley maintains a therapy and consulting practice and is a university professor. She has always been deeply interested in mind-body interaction, health psychology, creativity, consciousness and dreams. She is strongly influenced by mindfulness meditation practice, Buddhist philosophy, yoga, and humanistic values and beliefs.

Dr. Brawley, a published author, enjoys writing and leading writing groups. She lives in McComb, Mississippi with her husband and three cats, Kwan Yin, Nightmare and Goldilocks.

In life there are times when you must let go of the comfortable and familiar. It may be that ratty flannel gown you love, the butter containers with no lids or the old manuscript you carry around like a pal. Even friends and lovers are targets for The Goodbye Kiss.

How do you know when to break up? First, there is no vow, “till death do us part” for what we write. You do not have to suffer in sickness and in health with a story, poem or halfway writing project. It could be it’s draining your time, or your constantly making changes but not really changing anything or it’s just no longer fun for you. It’s tired. You’re tired and most likely, scared.

What if you quit your torturous writing schedule on your novel? What will you write? Indeed! What will you write? The world is waiting to see!

Don’t worry. I know you won’t throw it out. Put it in a drawer or file for safe- keeping and start writing a new story. If you don’t feel inspired right away, write about breaking up with your writing. Talk about the guilt you feel about making, what you know to be, a good choice.

So, put on your lipstick and plant The Goodbye Kiss on your manuscript.

Want to use this article in your ezine or website?
You can, as long as you include the following details with it:

Dr. Patricia Brawley maintains a therapy and consulting practice and is a university professor. She has always been deeply interested in mind-body interaction, health psychology, creativity, consciousness and dreams. She is strongly influenced by mindfulness meditation practice, Buddhist philosophy, yoga, and humanistic values and beliefs.

Dr. Brawley, a published author, enjoys writing and leading writing groups. She lives in McComb, Mississippi with her husband and three cats, Kwan Yin, Nightmare and Goldilocks.