Note: this is a rather long post!
It started with "I'll try anything" and booking a place in a writing therapy group at University, facilitated by two lovely counsellors.
At first, I only wrote for the hour per week that I attended the group. I was busy trying to work on my PhD, and never gave writing/journalling much thought outside of that writing room. Over time, the frequency and depth of my writing increased as a result of those sessions, and I found a sense of hope in that room. I could understand myself and my experiences better through writing about them.
Writing has contributed immensely to my therapy over the last year. It solidifies my experience, helps me process the world, and my interactions with people. Writing speaks to me. It has become my comfort, my place of rest, and something I could not be without. I still meet my writing therapy group without the counsellors, and the connections I have made with the members are special. I’ve seen an immense trust develop between us, and it’s an experience I cherish.
THE SECRETS
In my year of consistent writing practise, I have tried a lot of different methods, software and tools, and have found some favourites.
Frequency:
My writing practise has gradually built up from once per week at the writing group, to 2-3 times per day now, in short time slots:
I try to write in the morning for 10-15 minutes because it calms me down before starting my day, instead of watching the news or being on the computer.
I always write during my lunch break for 20-30 minutes.
In the evening, I get ready for bed at 9pm, hop into bed, and write for perhaps 30 minutes. This is my favourite time to write.
- At the weekends, my routine changes, so I will normally write in bed in the morning while my partner is still asleep, and then again before bed.
Consistency:
It’s all about priorities. It might not sound like much, but that’s what it comes down to. I’ve made writing every day my priority, second only to my health, and getting enough sleep. The good thing about writing, is that it contributes to those two - it improves my health (stress, anxiety etc.) and helps me sleep. Win-win!
Over time, writing became non-negotiable. It’s effectively on par with wearing clothes when I leave the house. For me, wearing clothes is absolutely non-negotiable (you too, I guess ? ;) ).
One other trick I use is to build the time with my writing group into my schedule. We meet on Thursday evenings, and by default, I am not free on that day. If I get invited out, I will say I can’t make it. If it's cancelled, I will normally use the time for quiet reflection (or blogging, like today) at home. I plan easy meals for Thursdays because I don’t get home until 7.30pm.
Tools
I carry my journal and a pen with me most places, and always have it in my bag for work. I like the feeling of knowing it is there if I want and need to write.
My favourite pens are in the photo above. My Parker (with a blue Quink refill) ballpoint, and my Uniball Micro. They are both amazing to write with.
Mostly, I write in my paper-journal, which is just a basic exercise book (lined A4 paper). I now have 3 journals! One for my regular journalling, one for blog ideas, and the other for my writing course. I like to have separate places to record things because my blog ideas would very quickly get lost among my stream of consciousness.
I have also tried a number of online and software apps for writing.
Ommwriter is a free download, has lovely music playing in the background, and a distraction free page. I use it sometimes, but the files are not compatible with other software, which prevents them from being accessed elsewhere.
I draft all of my blog posts in Google Docs. That way they are all backed up in the cloud, and I can see them anywhere with a decent browser and internet connection.
I’ve written blog posts in Notepad before, and emailed them to myself for back up. Notepad is a nice no-frills app to write with.
For journalling, I have tried 750 words, which is a lovely distraction free white page where you can write to infinity! Cue Buzz Lightyear! I found myself compelled to fill the daily 750 word quota though, and would get stressed about not having a streak for a certain number of days. You get badges for a certain number of days completed, y’see. I found it counterproductive to be forced to write.
I’ve recently discovered Penzu, on recommendation from a friend, and so far, it’s a nice app. Free, and no pressure to write at all, no word count. The page also expands indefinitely which is cool.
What I write
After all this time, I normally just put pen to paper, and let the words flow. Quite often I will discover threads, remember something from my day, and sometimes I will have great epiphanies in my personal growth. I have these a lot in the writing group, probably because we write for longer, and dedicate the time to writing and sharing.
I write about my thoughts, feelings, random happenings, what’s on TV, what I did at work, basically anything and everything. I don’t force myself to create anything, I just write.
Decluttering comes in and out of fashion in my journal, and at the moment I write about it a lot. I read somewhere that you’ll write about something so much, get bored of it, and then actually act on it. I think that’s true!
How about a summary?
- I write up to 3 times per day, following my stream of consciousness, in short time slots.
- I make it a priority, such that it has become non-negotiable.
- I mostly use pen and paper, and draft all my blog posts in Google Docs.
- I write about whatever comes to mind!
I cannot imagine life without my journal and my favourite pens!
Over to you
Do you write regularly? What are your reasons for writing? I'd love to hear from you in the comments.
Thanks for reading!
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