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Dear Writer

As I write this, the lake glitters out my window, fresh with our late winter rains. I hope this finds you well and writing; making time for yourself and what you love; enjoying winter’s permission to slow down, curl up and write or read, and dream.

Slowing down has never been my forte, it runs counter to my chemistry. It’s a challenge to stop myself from jumping into something new, it’s out of character for me to just say no. But this winter, I have been practicing saying no to busyness–I like to think I’m spring cleaning my head!  I’m staying in more evenings, unplugging when possible, silencing my phone, turning off email, taking walks, and only prowling around Facebook once a week. I am practicing quiet, paying attention to what enlivens me and what does not. It’s allowing me to see how many minutes can be reclaimed in my hours, and discover wasted hours in my week. So, before I get busy or start to just do… I’m practicing stopping to ask: is it necessary? Can it wait?

This winter, as I’ve been stumbling with this new practice, I’m reclaiming space and time that I’m hawkishly hoarding for writing. I’ve discovered more room for my characters to get in touch, to let me know why they’re stuck or where they want to go next. And, it’s giving me the room to go deeper into my stories, to discover how best to write what I most want to say.

How do you make time for yourself? Where do you find space and time to write? Are there minutes you might reclaim in your own life? Minutes in which to write the story or poem growing restive inside of you?

What better time than now to spring into your writing, seize that energy that comes with the longer days and keep that pen moving?

Best,

Teresa