There’s something to be said for dabbling–putting your toes in the water, so to speak. We all benefit from trying things out or giving our energy to a practice for a while without major commitment. We learn, we grow, and then go on to something else.
But diving into a practice deeply provides a very different kind of experience. Last week I spent five packed days with writers and writing instructors at a retreat in Maine. Each morning our major workshop, where eight of us considered 5,000 words of each other’s writing, met from 10-1 under the leadership of an accomplished teacher. After a break we had our choice of “craft workshops” where the focus might be on creating dramatic tension in poetry, best practices for paragraphs, basic rules for publishing in the USA, and other choices too. Evenings were given over to readings–some from the faculty, some in which we students could share our efforts. The full effect was stimulating, inspiring, and supportive. Now that I’m home again my hope is to keep the writing mojo going and not lose the benefits gained from this time away.
If you have an opportunity to immerse yourself in an experience like that–grab it. Maybe it will be in the arts or a business interest or tai chi?
This sounds fabulous, Anne–a real deep dive into the writing process! I know I speak for many others when I say that I can’t wait to read what comes from all your hard work 🙂
Thanks for your kind encouragement!