In tranced fixation dreaming upon object before you
Dear Writer,
Have you ever been in a writing trance? The muse. Divine inspiration. The force. Whatever you want to call it, when it’s there, you feel it. Nothing can stop you from creating the art you want to manifest into the world.
Well, except things like work, spouse, kids, social obligations… Life gets in the way.
Don’t waste this energy. When your neurons are on fire with an idea, hide somewhere for a writing sprint. Lock yourself in the closet. Get up at 2 a.m. when everyone else is asleep. Do what you have to do before the dream slips away.
Happy Writing,
—Christa
Where is your favorite writing place? Please share.
Continuing our elaboration of Jack Kerouac’s Belief and Technique for Modern Prose.
Write what you want bottomless from bottom of the mind
How low can you go?
Often we don’t know what kind of cerebral garbage has piled up until we start writing. Once we get into the flow state, all kinds of bizarre neurosis surface from the rubble.
You’ll discover fears that never had a name and desires you never knew you had. Sometimes the fears are of these desires.
It might be scary, smelly, and dark, but don’t turn back. This is when the writing gets really good. Keep going till you dig to the bottom … if there is one.
Continuing our elaboration of Jack Kerouac’s Belief and Technique for Modern Prose.
Blow as deep as you want to blow
Yes, writing is sometimes like standing naked in front of strangers who are poring over you with HD cameras. You sweat as they scrutinize every blemish, scar, and crevice.
But resist the urge to hold back.
Nothing is too wild, too ridiculous, too dark, too lewd, too silly if it tells a truth. Readers don’t want a half-assed, cowardly attempt. That’s a waste of time. They want whole-ass stories.
Writers are exhibitionists. Don’t pretend you didn’t want to expose yourself.
Be bold. Say what you really want to say. Blow as deep as you want to blow.
Continuing our elaboration of Jack Kerouac’s Belief and Technique for Modern Prose.
Be in love with yr life
Dear Writer,
I think all writers are in love with life. Why else would we spend countless hours dealing with the tedious business of inventing characters and stories?
Life might leave us confused, bewildered, awestruck, angry, sad, or outraged, but we still love it. Even if our experiences have mistreated us and left us bitter, we pay homage to existence by creating stories that illustrate its mystery, its complexity.
So how do you connect with that love for your life, even when it’s shitty?
Think about what makes it unique. Think about the littlest things that make it good. Think of all you learned and how strong it has made you. Take your pain and your happiness and turn it into beauty. That is the magic of art.
For the month of May, I’m going to elaborate on Jack Kerouac’s Belief and Technique for Modern Prose. This list of 30 mantras is one of my favorite collections of writing advice. I have it pinned to the cork board in my office. It’s intuitive, poetic, and mystical—just like the writing process.
1. Scribbled secret notebooks, and wild typewritten pages, for yr own joy
Sometimes, we try too hard to please readers or live up to some standard in our minds. Suddenly, writing isn’t fun anymore. It becomes work. Once we cease to enjoy it, the creativity fades and we’re left with mechanical, uninspired ramblings.
That’s why you should keep some writing for yourself. Go on a spree and write wildly without expectation, without imagining what other people will think of it. This is for pure enjoyment.
Keep your scribblings secret, but look at them from time to time to rekindle your mischievous sense of fun.
