The Italian Grandmama's Blog : Writing is Hard Work! But here's what I discovered....

I’ve since learned that neither of those statements is completely accurate. Both writing and creating art take a lot of time, energy, patience and tenacity.

I do love to write. And I write nearly every day. Sometimes half a page, sometimes three pages. At the very least, I jot down a few lines or paragraphs in my journal.

But sitting down in the hot seat, preparing to write on a consistent daily schedule – that’s the challenge. And I know I’m not alone. Writer, Anne Lamott says, “That thing you had to force yourself to do—the actual act of writing—turns out to be the best part. The act of writing turns out to be its own reward.” And I know this is true because when I write, it feels good. It's one of the few things I do that, at the end of the day, I feel good about. Like I've accomplished something worthwhile.

My breakfast is finished; I can't waste any more time on my crossword puzzle. It’s time to get to work. The thought goes through my mind that I need to go to my office and sit at my computer and begin; suddenly I want to do all the things that come easily to me – listing an item on etsy or making a collage or taking photographs to put on Etsy! I enjoy these and have done them long enough that I don’t have to think much about it. I can easily go down that rabbit hole - the sun is perfect for photographing my inventory!

Sometimes I tell myself a story– I can’t write in this chaos! So I’ll straighten up my office. Fold a pile of clothes that came out of the wash several days ago.

It’s so easy to make excuses – I need to take a walk. I can easily justify that. I need my daily exercise; I need to get my steps in! I want to lose weight so I NEED to walk, take an exercise class or go dancing.

I avoid sitting down because I know the world still stop when I sit and nothing else will get done. And I always have lists of things to do. So I can get 10 other things done or I can write. But what’s my priority?

Today I realize that I use another technique to avoid writing: I believe that if I put it off until tomorrow morning – when I’m awake, refreshed and have the whole day in front of me – then I’ll be inspired. Ideas will flow. I will wake up with a complete plan in my head of what subjects to write about. There’s one large problem with this - there’s not much discipline in this approach.

Great ideas come to me about an article to write or a blogpost – when I’m driving. Oh – this topic would resonate with people! Or when I’m in the shower - This would make a wonderful opening sentence. Or when I’m drifting off to sleep – I’m going to remember this in the morning!

Rarely, if ever, do I remember these great ideas. Like most writers, I have slips of papers that I write ideas that come to mind – whatever is handy. But do I have a central place for all those scraps of papers? Not yet. Sometimes I send myself a message on my cell phone if I’m lucky enough to be in a place where I can do that.

I have always loved to write. Writing for me is cathartic. Following my husband’s motorcycle accident in 2015 that left him a paraplegic, I experienced many painful emotions. It was complicated by his behaviors while on the medications that negatively affected him. Challenging situations were being created daily that left me shaken. I had so many emotions they were piling up one on top of the other. I needed an outlet for all this angst and grief. Movement helped –dancing or cleaning or talking to a Core Energetics Practitioner. It helped my body release some of the tension that was building. But I had to get all the stuff out of my head.

So I wrote. I wrote it all down. The fear, the pain, the anger. Pages and pages in my journal, on scraps of paper, on whatever notepad or paper were handy.

Writing grounds me. It empties my head onto paper, where things make more sense to me.

I can write anything down. I hate you or you’ve ruined my life or I’m scared of losing you. Without the interaction of another human being, I can be me. I’m an empath and intuitive so if you are in front of me, I’m feeling what you’re feeling. And if you’re not in front of me I can’t read your body language. I can’t take on your feelings. Writing is safe. I don’t have to worry about what you’ll say or how you’ll handle this situation. I don’t worry that you won’t agree with me. I don’t worry about hurting your feelings. Writing is about me.

Sometimes writing helps me make a decision. I’m a list maker. I love lists. Columns. Setting it down on paper allows me to clearly see in black and white what my options are.

I love words. I love the English language. I had an articulate friend who sprinkled fancy words in his everyday conversation. I was enthralled, always asking, How do you spell that? What does it mean? I can listen to someone who puts words together well and be so enchanted. Haven't you ever heard someone speak and think, "I could listen to them all day!"

After reading Little Woman, by Louisa May Alcott, I decided I wanted to be a writer like Jo. In 7th grade, I began keeping a journal- that was 1971! It’s been a very long, slow journey for me.

I am late in learning that discipline is the key, not how I feel. That I need to make a conscious plan to write every day. The book, The Artist’s Way, by Julia Cameron, was very helpful in jump starting my writing in a consistent manner. The book suggests you write 3 pages a day. Doesn’t matter what you say. Sometimes saying nothing becomes something.

I used to think that I had to be inspired to write. Now I understand that you don’t wait for inspiration. Another quote by Anne Lamott ,“Almost all good writing begins with terrible first efforts. You need to start somewhere.” You sit in the hot seat. You write.

If you're need to jump start your inspiration, try writing prompts. I wrote a most fun one about pink cotton candy! Several books are available such as A Year of Creative Writing Prompts (Write on!) Or you can find writing prompts online such as https://www.writersdigest.com/prompts.

I used to think that writing was fun and I would be so happy to do it every day all day! And now I CAN sit and write all day, every day if I choose. But it’s not the happy happy joy joy that I used to think it was. It’s hard work. Being on a schedule to blog is work, finding an editor or a magazine to send out my articles to. It’s all part of the process if you want to write and be published. And it’s not the fun part!

I still enjoy writing. I love putting words together, finding a way to describe what I’m feeling, convey a message in a way that it resonates with others, describe a place so vividly that someone can see it.

And once I stop making excuses, once I’m in the hot seat, I write. Words flow. I am inspired. I forget about time. I am in the zone.