Meditate your way to better writing

Feb 01 2010

For novel and short story writers, life is full of distractions. We are constantly busy, trying to get as much stuff done as we can. It’s unfortunate that we live in a society that rewards those who can work the hardest and get the most done each day. Being so busy stifles creativity. The brain needs time to rest and re-group.

I’m not suggesting that writers should just sit around doing nothing all day. Of course we have other obligations; some have day jobs, family, chores, social lives and so forth. Writing is just one part of our lives. So how do we give our minds the chance to relax and unwind without becoming a lazy bum?

I found the answer in meditation.

When I first began experimenting with meditation I was worried that I wouldn’t do it right and it would take years to see any results. Boy was I wrong. Mediation is not only easy, but you can feel the benefits right away.

Easy ways to meditate

Meditation is as easy as sitting in a quiet room and breathing deeply. There are a lot of methods of doing this. Some require you inhale for so many seconds, hold your breath, and then exhale. But I’ve found that just breathing in deeply, holding for a second or two and then slowly exhaling does the trick. This can be done anywhere.

A more formal approach to meditation is to sit in a quiet, comfortable place and concentrate on your breathing for an extended period of time. For me, 15 minutes is just right. During that time, I listen to very soft meditation music that is often accompanied by sounds of nature (the ocean, birds, thunderstorm, etc.). These soundtracks can be found easily on CDs and online music stores like iTunes.

There is no ‘right’ or ‘wrong’ way to meditate. Close your eyes, relax your body, breath from the stomach and clear your mind. The last step is probably the hardest. Your mind is used to being bombarded with external stimuli and internal thoughts. Let your thoughts come and go, but don’t dwell on anything. Let your music soothe you. After a while you’ll find this gets easier.

How does meditation help writing?

Generally, meditation clears the mind of all those distractions that stifle creativity. And when your mind is clear, it becomes open to more possibilities. After just a few days of meditation (once a night for 15 minutes each session) I found that my writing had improved drastically and writer’s block hit less frequently. I also found that my little ‘inner editor’ turned off and I was able to just write without worrying about editing until later.

I know that I, and a lot of other writers, suffer from at least a little anxiety about writing – especially faced with the dreaded blank page. Meditation is a natural anxiety reducer and will help face those blank pages with much more optimism.

A natural alternative to drugs

I find it sad that so many writers and other creative types turn to drugs (I include alcohol, as it is a drug) to help them with their writing and to ‘be more creative.’ In the short term, drugs may help (the jury is still out on whether drugs improve writing or just give the illusion of improvement). But as time go on, drugs become more of a problem and most writers begin to spend much of their time dealing with the consequences of drug use rather than concentrating on their writing.

Meditation is just the opposite. It really does help creativity and meditation becomes more effective over time. Meditation also helps more than just your writing. You’ll see your blood pressure decrease, stress levels decrease, anxiety and depression become less of an issue and you’ll be able to deal better with all life throws at you.

I’ve cut alcohol out of my life completely. Instead I try to drink a lot of water, juice, tea, coffee and beverages like Sprite or 7up. I know that my writing has not suffered in the least because of my abstinence from alcohol. I’m not saying I’m any better than someone who has an occasional glass of wine, rather, just giving you my own personal experience.

Try meditating, you have nothing to lose

Give meditation a shot. Even if you spend 5 minutes a night, you’ll see the benefits and you will naturally want to increase your time meditating. Once you get in the habit of doing it, meditating becomes as routine as brushing your teeth.

After you try meditation, leave a comment and let us know how it works out for you. Or, if you already meditate on a regular basis, leave a comment and tell us how it has benefited your life over the long term.

Happy meditating!

4 Responses

I understand what you are saying and for you it may work. Every writer has a technique that works for them. I do think meditation is a necessary component for things such as stress relief. However, I find it is the distractions in life that provide the ideas and the acute understanding of each experience one writes about. Sometimes I sit at my desk preparing to write on a topic and something will take my mind elsewhere and suddenly I am creating from the thought or distraction with more zeal than I initially started with on the writing project.
Doran´s last blog ..Are Semi-truck Drivers Making The Highways Unsafe

Doran 2/4/2010 4:21 pm
Meditation doesn’t mean you lose your distractions; you just become aware of them & less likely to be carried off by the thoughts. LOL so I hear – since I read more about meditation than I actually do it – despite my good intentions. My mind is so “busy” – so much thought in here! Meditation, like regular, exercise is one of those things I want “to get back to.”
Susan´s last blog ..Wordless Wednesday

Susan 2/11/2010 11:11 am
Great post! Thank you for sharing!

I’ve been considering meditation for quite a while, but never find time…ironic, don’t you think? In fact, I put on a yoga DVD yesterday, one I bought months ago, and tried it. Hated it–the DVD, not the meditation attempt.

Will have to try something else. Need some kind of guide to start me off. I’m not disciplined enough to do it one my own at first. Once I figure it out and find my way, I’ll be good to go, but without a partner in the beginning, I’ll never begin.

Thanks again.
Joan

Joan Swan 3/31/2010 5:59 pm
I agree, great post!

I too have been thinking about meditation partly because I get stressed easily and wanted to clear my mind and be less stressful before writing. Now that I have read this I am going to give it a go.

Thanks for sharing,

Anthony
Anthony´s last blog ..It’s a Frog Nope it’s a Toad

Anthony 7/17/2010 5:34 am