Comments on: Naked Mind: Writing as Spiritual Practice

By: Kirk Fisher

Kirk Fisher — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 22:18:23 +0000

Dammit and wow. Great article. I do writing practice when I first get up with a cup of Irish breakfast tea. It’s the most creative part of my day, and I keep following the line on my page until my mug’s empty (or has gone cold for too long to consider drinking it), until it’s time to do zazen, or until my kids pester me for breakfast–whichever comes first.

I am daily surprised at what comes out onto the paper, and I am reminded of how important it is to give space to your thoughts. There’s another side to this, as well, though, and I find that I prepare for my day with my writing. Whatever problems I face, or focus I am preparing, the rehearsal happens on paper. It helps me to be less controlling of others, because I am clear with myself. I solve problems, and think creatively. You’ve said this already, so I’ll stop here.

I was thinking, just this morning, how to capture this, and you’ve done a beautiful job here. Thanks.

By: Writing as a spiritual practice « Exploring the Spirit

Writing as a spiritual practice « Exploring the Spirit — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 17:29:03 +0000

[...] a comment » Mary Jaksch has an interesting article on Write to Done about writing as a spiritual practice. As someone who is both a writer and a person trying to find greater spiritual depth in life, I [...]

By: Corey Frisbee

Corey Frisbee — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 13:18:22 +0000

GREAT reminder!

http://frisbeepainting.com

By: Brett Cornwright

Brett Cornwright — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 20:13:41 +0000

I really like this article. You are right, writing can be very “zone” like for me. It’s a fine thing to watch what transpires as the words move across the page. I think that perhaps writing is one those things like running or anything else that requires discipline, patience, and hard work — the going is often tough, and the finished product is nice, but the journey is the real key.

By: Mamashares

Mamashares — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 17:13:39 +0000

A writer needs to write every day, even when the urge to write is not there; primarily because, even when the desire is absent, there is something inside that needs to come out: good or bad.

Occasionally, it takes that transition onto paper to discover what is really going on inside your mind. Whatever it is is never wasted matter, but usually the beginning of a great story.

By: Mary Jaksch

Mary Jaksch — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 04:26:05 +0000

Hi guys!

The article I was struggling with is now published on Zen Habits. Have a look here: http://zenhabits.net/2009/02/how-to-find-islands-of-ease-in-the-chaos-of-life/

Maybe you could give me some feedback??

By: Terry Heath

Terry Heath — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 03:05:25 +0000

Here’s my five minutes (or thereabout, I didn’t have a stopwatch so I just watched the clock at the bottom of my screen, which was distracting). Anyway, I feel changed . . . like I learned something:

This page is blank, as are all pages when we begin. What a great place to start, considering that’s where everyone has began since the beginning of time memorial. Shakespeare, Bronte and everyone else started there.

But I feel like my mind is circling back on itself now, that without direction I go nowhere. Funny, that critical thought almost brought me to a standstill. There was a pause before I started that last sentence.

I’m wondering if I should be doing this exercise with a pen and paper since I type pretty fast and my mind might need time to catch up, to be free, or it might feel rushed. But on the other hand, I’m flying by the seat of my pants. At this speed I don’t have time to worry about what might be ahead, I just fly.

That was the end of that idea and now I’m wondering where to go next. My mind goes back to a dream I had this morning, last night before I woke up. I woke up thinking it might be a good children’s book. But I don’t write children’s books. There I go judging again, deciding I must live by labels instead of flying free.

I can see where this exercise can take me. I realize now that I do judge myself and my writing when I write, and even when I dream about things I could write. “I’m not that kind of writer.” Yeah, right. How do I know that for sure if I’m living my writing life in chains? If I don’t let go and let my mind express what it’s really thinking, how the hell do I really know what sort of writer I am?

By: Michelle

Michelle — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 20:48:40 +0000

I’m currently reading Writing Down the Bones, and it speaks to me as I move into my own adventure in writing.

By: Jeff

Jeff — Sun, 01 Feb 2009 00:50:09 +0000

Agree 100%…when I was conceiving The Project 100, I found a zen place to clear my mind and approach the problem…now I almost have 100 authors for the piece, and I feel this ability to clear my mind allowed me to see through the complexity of recruiting almost all of the 100 authors I need for this not for profit work.

By: Mary Jaksch

Mary Jaksch — Sat, 31 Jan 2009 09:57:12 +0000

Hi Jim,
Thanks for the warm welcome!

I like what you say: “Seems to me it’s damn good discipline, or call it “practice,” to let your thoughts flow directly onto the page and worry about editorial concerns after.”
Good point! It seems to me that many people get stuck in their writing because they mix writing and editing.

Hi Brenda! Talking of editing…
You’ve posed a great question:

“There is the editing, the rewriting, reworking, making consistent, creating overall coherence, simplifying, clarifying, and I wonder if you have struggled with this aspect of finishing a manuscript, and how you have approached it, and, oh, yes, naked mind, how you’ve nakedly entered your texts to cleanse and polish them…”

Oh yes, I have struggled with finishing a manuscript [sigh]. I reckon the weeks spent doing the last edit of my book “Learn to Love” just about killed my muse. I hated every email the editor sent me. She’d rip into my favorite chapters and make me rewrite them. I’d grit my teeth and rewrite. And rewrite. And rewrite.

Of course as a blogger, editing is an necessary part of my daily life. Most pieces come together organically. That’s when I let go of trying to control the piece and – with a naked mind – allow superfluous sentences and words to drop away until I can really feel the bones of the piece.

I must admit, though, that I’m at present agonizingly stuck on a guest post that I’m trying to edit into shape. Wild mind: no. Angry mind: yes. Add to that: frustrated mind, puzzled mind, and blank mind.

In desperation, I sent a draft of the article to one of our faithful WTD readers, Claudio. He always offers such interesting comments! He emailed me some excellent suggestions.

Now, just remind me: what was that naked thing I’m supposed to have?