Overcome writing roadblocks - sifting
I’ve been drafting a little list in my notebook. Journaling myths or something like that. Literally, that’s what I wrote at the top of the page because it seemed like there should be a catchier way to say ‘journaling myths’ but so far it hasn’t come to me. Journaling myths it is, unless one of you has the better name. But obviously the things on the list are more important than the title anyway – all things that are hang-ups and road blocks to writing about life’s adventure. One of those myths is It’s only real writing if I can write a lot.
Of course that’s not true at all – it’s just something we tell ourselves from time to time.
Sure, sometimes writing at length is great. It can tell a story in detail. It can develop an intricate plot. It can help get a whole bunch of stuff out of your thoughts on onto paper so you can evaluate and move forward. But it’s not length that makes writing real or meaningful, and it’s certainly possible to overdo it. We’ve all read or listened to a retelling that just went on so long that it was hard to find the point in all those words.
And therein lies the key: writing is about sifting. Taking all the possible tangents and all the possible perspectives and all the possible details then shaking them up and sifting through to collect the shiniest or the smoothest or the most colourful of the bunch. Depending on the circumstance. Sift, sift, sift and the end result might be pretty short.
Sometimes when I write straight into a journal I don’t sift at all and just try to remember everything and write it down… but it takes ages and can sometimes be quite frustrating, especially since I like to keep things in order but my memories might not stay that way. So on this trip I am sifting, and what was actually a really packed day came down to a little bullet pointed list. For now.
I’ll stop there before I end up on an entirely different myth on the list!
Are there writing roadblocks that keep you from getting words on paper (or screen)? Just curious if your list matches up with mine! I’ll sift through some of my thoughts on the rest of the list another day!
Have a beautiful week.
xlovesx
Read more about:
Next post: Scrapbooking giveaway winner
Previous post: Scrapbooking Giveaway Day
