Most days I love writing. I love the process and the “click” that sometimes comes when I start writing, as if the wheels have been greased.
And I’ve heard from every writer: “Writing is hard work.” But, it’s not the writing part that’s hard for me. Noooo, it’s the sitting my ass down in the chair without having to warm my coffee, get a better pen, check emails one more time, meditate or do the dishes first — that’s the hard part!
Scott Pressman tells us in The War of Art that resistance will bury me, so I know that when it comes to writing, the most important thing is to move past my resistance and just do it.
Lately, in addition to writing my blog, I am also working on writing a memoir piece about my days as an 18 and 19-year-old girl touring with John Denver in the early ’70s. I’m calling the piece “Rocky Mountain All Time Low.” Hey, it wasn’t all horrible, but it was the pivotal point in my life and career that left me pretty well traumatized and putting the pieces together at 60.
I’ve even decided to sign up for a month-long writing class and hire an individual writing coach to help me turn the piece into something I can be proud of, and taking both of these steps has really made a difference in not only the piece itself but also in letting go of my resistance to writing.
When I was younger, I had a hard time asking for help or going to teachers for advice. Not only did my mother discourage me from going to school (she said I didn’t need an education if I was going to be a singer), she also said I didn’t even need a voice teacher. She would say: “You have a natural gift, and you don’t want anyone to ruin that.”
Hmm. Well, while it’s true I was born with a gift, I’ve realized over the years that it’s only when I have had teachers, coaches and help from those who knew the terrain I wanted to travel that I really started getting somewhere.
So, here’s to all of us students who know they don’t know and to those of us who are willing to show up to learn every day, work every day and practice — ugh — every day. (It’s a goal…) And to all of the teachers who are helping us to grow.
And I’ve heard from every writer: “Writing is hard work.” But, it’s not the writing part that’s hard for me. Noooo, it’s the sitting my ass down in the chair without having to warm my coffee, get a better pen, check emails one more time, meditate or do the dishes first — that’s the hard part!
Scott Pressman tells us in The War of Art that resistance will bury me, so I know that when it comes to writing, the most important thing is to move past my resistance and just do it.
Lately, in addition to writing my blog, I am also working on writing a memoir piece about my days as an 18 and 19-year-old girl touring with John Denver in the early ’70s. I’m calling the piece “Rocky Mountain All Time Low.” Hey, it wasn’t all horrible, but it was the pivotal point in my life and career that left me pretty well traumatized and putting the pieces together at 60.
I’ve even decided to sign up for a month-long writing class and hire an individual writing coach to help me turn the piece into something I can be proud of, and taking both of these steps has really made a difference in not only the piece itself but also in letting go of my resistance to writing.
When I was younger, I had a hard time asking for help or going to teachers for advice. Not only did my mother discourage me from going to school (she said I didn’t need an education if I was going to be a singer), she also said I didn’t even need a voice teacher. She would say: “You have a natural gift, and you don’t want anyone to ruin that.”
Hmm. Well, while it’s true I was born with a gift, I’ve realized over the years that it’s only when I have had teachers, coaches and help from those who knew the terrain I wanted to travel that I really started getting somewhere.
So, here’s to all of us students who know they don’t know and to those of us who are willing to show up to learn every day, work every day and practice — ugh — every day. (It’s a goal…) And to all of the teachers who are helping us to grow.
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