- Rush, press yourself, give yourself 15-25 minutes only.
- Write, don’t meditate; writing is thinking, so think by writing.
These are instructions for people who have never written anything. Sure, you should start, and sure, something can be one in a short amount of time. But limiting yourself in this way is damaging, and pressing yourself ahead in this was is unsustainable. You have to do things with love, not with threats, after all.
On the second point, I disagree as well. I’ve never liked “journaling” as a way to work things out. I like to write but I’ve always thought before writing, and sometimes without putting things on paper. The first lecture on a piece of literature for an upper division class I ever gave, I composed mentally while washing dishes and no, I never had or took the time to write it down, I just went to bed, got up, and went to class, and my co-teacher said it was great.
Sitting at a desk with a timer and trying to force something out is bad. It’s carceral. Most people are happiest in prison.
Good advice is that if you like down with dogs, you get up with fleas. No you should not listen to fools, yes you should associate with people who can do a bit better than the above.
Every writing problem I have ever had has involved trying to please by not reading or thinking enough ahead of time, and by orienting myself as directed toward production only.
I never agreed with this strategy. Before I was advanced enough to have to be responsible to mentors, I accomplished a lot and was a confident and competent researcher and writer. I think the professors and faculty mentors didn’t have as much research or writing experience as I did. They certainly were not aware of my work, or did not respect it.
Lie down with dogs, get up with fleas. One of my main reasons for writing now is so as to associate with strong minds. Reeducation was about renunciation of self, and that was not a good idea.
Axé.
