Three Tips to Cultivating Your Writing

How do we handle those days when writing feels like a major chore, or worse, a cement block from which none of our ideas can take root and grow? Interestingly, the way to writing is through. Pick up the pen, face the keyboard, and write with these three tips in mind. We are organic beings, and therefore our writing flows organically from who we are.

Tip #1: Patience. The garden does grow itself. We don't stand by it every minute of every day and say, "Go roses! Go lavender! Grow!" It happens because of the proper conditions—the soil, the sun, the rain, and the seed. We shape the garden by our hand. We watch out for the dangers or bugs, and over- feeding or under-feeding. We care. We nurture. Regularly. As with gardening, so with writing. Show up for yourself. Honestly, why do you write? Could you not write? Probably not. In that case, make peace with yourself, and write. But be gentle. Plants do not grow faster if you pull on them. That would kill them. The most you can do is write regularly, with compassion, with awareness (tracking), and don't give up.

Tip #2: Compassion. Above all, be gentle, have compassion for the writer within, the writer you are growing, especially if you are starting out. And especially if you've been at this for years. We tend our gardens day in and day out with care, giving the plants what they need, even if that rose bush has been there for years, or if you just planted it. Treat yourself no differently, especially if you're having a bad day, week, or month.

Tip #3: Trouble-shooting. Are there unhelpful pesticides—other people's ways, thoughts, ideas, beliefs that are not your own, or fatigue, overwork, not enough play—invading your garden? What hobbies can you give up to give yourself time to write? You can change many things that affect adversely your writer within—learn to say "No." Yet the sun and rain, other people, world events, are factors beyond on our control. Accept that. If the soil needs amending, find the missing ingredients. Do you need to aerate—get out and do something new, something to expand your heart, mind or soul? Do you need to move your body to counteract an overactive mind?

Happy Cultivating the Writer Within!

Beth Barany
Book Coach
Creative Consultant for Writers, Business Leaders, & Fearless Creatives
http://www.bethbarany.com

About Beth
Beth has been coaching and consulting writers in two of her favorite places in the world (so far): the San Francisco Bay Area and Paris, France. As a result of Beth's coaching and facilitations, Beth's clients have experienced breakthroughs in their creative process, clarity in their purpose and mission, gained tools for creative success, and identified and addressed their challenges, and produced more writing than they thought possible, achieving their writing and creative dreams.