Note to new readers: This post is part of my 30 Days of Writing Practice. I am allowing blocks of 10, 20 or 30 minutes of my day solely to putting my swirling thoughts on paper. No going back to edit which will only serve to stop the stream of consciousness. My writing buddy Kat and I, we call it writing from the heart. Please read my introduction for the full story.
It’s Workout Wednesday today, my friends. I am halfway through my 30 Day Writing workout. I am spent to be honest. Just like any other run or workout at the gym. I’m out of breath. In the Power 90 fitness program that I am doing currently, we are allowed 30 seconds of stretching in between rounds.
So here goes my 30 second stretch; a revision of Day 1 really. In which I revisit why I am doing this nga?
What have I learned so far?
Oh, this writing practice is all about my learnings, my darlings. It’s not so much the content or message I write. It’s much more to do with the process of writing and what I get out of the whole exercise.
Don’t Think. Don’t Get Logical. – Natalie Goldberg, Writing Down the Bones
1) Timed exercise (between 10-20 minutes). Before this, I normally take my sweet time writing a post. It doesn’t come out as tight nor as exciting as with a post that’s time based. Writing against a clock means you write without really thinking much. Really? Not thinking much? Yes. Because you right what you feel at that particular 10 minute period. Your truth now, this very minute. Try it! Just whatever comes out of the heart. Onto a blank page. Outbursts. Outpourings. Your pace will be faster. And this makes for a more exciting read. Another thing. What I write now, may or may not be my truth in the next hour, or the next day. Because I could feel different then. I hope you get my drift.
You have to give yourself the space to write a lot without a destination. – Natalie Goldberg, Writing Down the Bones
2) Write every day. After every post, I feel that I have written my best. How to out-write it? What to write about next? But I don’t stop. Just like in running. I always say don’t stop when you feel pain. (Proper stretching is key) Slow down by all means but keep moving. Don’t walk if you can help it. The first 10 mins of a run are the hardest. Push past that pain barrier, and you achieve a certain kind of zen. You start meditating. In the beginning, the mind is crazy thinking busy thoughts. But after 10-20 minutes, it goes blank. Well, at least my brain does. All of a sudden you arrive home and think, how did my legs get me here. And where was I?
Ha! I’ve written about writing and running. Two of my favourite things. The point is we are all made of muscles. Muscles. I first read the word muscles refer to non-muscley things by Sarah Wilson. She talked about life muscles here. I am now loving the muscle reference. You can tell I am so into it. You can call things you like/love as being a muscle. Exercise or practice your muscles everyday. Here is a short list of muscles so you get the picture.
- writing muscle
- singing muscle
- cooking muscle
- share investing muscle
- property investing muscle
- study muscle
- running muscles
- skiing muscles
- playing guitar muscles
- drawing muscles
- thinking muscles (use crossword puzzles or sudoku to workout)
- your physical muscles
So I come now to the core of this post. Wruddy is short for writing buddy. Without Wruddy, you wouldn’t be reading 15 days of my open heart. I wouldn’t be exercising my writing muscle. My writing buddy @katshots, she taught me well and fast tracked my learning from years to a mere 35 days. We started writing to each other 35 days ago, you see. So Thank You, @katshots for the push and the pull. You’ve helped me in more ways than writing practice. And that is my truth.
OK. 30 second stretch is over (or 15 minutes of writing). Come back again tomorrow?
All the best,
ChaR-g
PS. I went for a jog tonight. 15 minutes in a dark cold wintry night. ‘Twas good. I had my new shoes on. The one that’s so not my color. But it made me fly. It was so light. From crappy to happy 🙂
Visit Sarah Wilson. You should follow her.
Visit Kat at www.katshots.com and Chiqui*Kat Daily.
Lightness from Katness.
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Chiqui Pineda-Azimi says
Aww. Special feature ang ‘Records On’ ng Wruddy…thanks, Pok! My angel de la guardia na amiga!!! :*
myglorybox.com says
But of course naman, Chiquinini. Sharing is caring, di ba? From crappy to happy me…<3