As a writer, I struggle with discipline. I make empty promises to forge a daily writing habit. I fill my calendar with self-imposed, unmet deadlines.
When I confront the need to change, especially a renewed commitment to a writing routine, it becomes a persistent and nagging force, until the change happens, with a feeling of accomplishment. And then the backsliding. Oh, I’m an expert at that one! For instance, last year, I recorded how much time I’d spent every day writing my third book. I’d compare the actual time to my goal and calculate the percentage of difference. I never reached 100%, and any day better than 30% of my goal was better than nothing. I started this year, committing to the same daily measure for writing. It didn’t last beyond January. What happened? I found all sorts of other activities to fill my day to prevent me from sitting and writing. I’ve yet to track any progress again.
On March 27, I joined two on-line writing groups to kickstart my writing with the intent of getting back to my third novel. When I opened the document, I was aghast at the last date I worked on the book: March 1. Really? I’d pretty much allowed an entire month to go by without addressing my first priority. But who am I kidding? If it was my top priority, I’d probably be close to finishing the first draft. I recall after writing my first novel, Unearthing Christmas, that I’d made a half-hearted oath to write every day for the work in progress. Ha! Well, as a writer, I’m the artful dodger when it comes to routines. I need to work on discipline. I’m armed with lots of excuses like other obligations that can fill the day or night. But then I consider the hours that are uncommitted, i.e. wasted time.
Yet, there’s another take on delaying creative energies. This week, I discovered notes from when I studied screenwriting in Los Angeles. I attended many workshops, lectures, and classes. One of our featured speakers, Linda Seger, a popular consultant on filmmaking, mentioned the importance of incubation, as in time to divert conscious attention away from a task. She expressed how important incubation is to the creative process. And she emphasized that there’s no magic formula for a writing discipline. She stated, “You need to know your own writing discipline, whether it’s two hours or seven hours per day, once a week or five times per week.”
I believe I’m coming out of a long stretch of an incubation period in my writing, my faith journey, my very life. I’ve made some positive changes that, most likely, wouldn’t have occurred if I hadn’t slowed down a bit. The incubation time is not a sign of lethargy or indifference. I now look at as the time like a caterpillar in its cocoon before emerging as a butterfly.
I hope anyone who’s feeling depleted this spring will take time to detach from any self-imposed aspirations, deadlines, or goals. Even if it’s just for twenty-four hours, a couple of days, or, if needed, a month, take time to incubate and let go of tasks that overwhelm, as long as you don’t interrupt real duties and obligations. But, for the creative process, it’s essential! For myself, I know it because I’m living it. The period after incubation is illumination, which I’m now prepared to enter with my writing. Whatever is pressing upon me, I’ll let it go for now! With guidance from the Holy Spirit, I’ll know when to return to it both refreshed and renewed! Wishing all of you a happy and joyful remainder of spring. Take time to nurture the creative process!