I appreciate the perspective of "creative non-fiction". I haven't come across that phrase before. It gives value and place (to me) for writing from experience and memory.
I wrote poetry and tried to write fiction for years, until I felt compelled to start writing a memoir, and found that nonfiction and essays worked well alongside poetry and felt more "me" than trying to write fiction. I know I have a long way to go but I do feel like I've found my niche and feel more compelled to write than I ever have before.
Marie, I love what you wrote about how certain forms of writing feel more like you. That's exactly what I was hoping to convey. There are types of writing that we can still aspire to do but others that feel more like "home."
I think it is so true. The only real "should" can be that you "should" do what you want. Isn't that the greatest freedom? Granted, there are many life pressures that make doing what you want an impossibility for a huge number of people. But to the extent that that kind of liberty exists, you should (!) take it.
I think of this in terms, too, of the style or genre that a person might choose to write in, even within fiction. I am more interested, I think, in inhabiting different styles, different modes--the way an actor would not want to be type-cast perhaps. But "should" I be sticking to something that's recognizable as a brand? Nah.
Exactly. If we have the freedom to do writing (or some of our writing) as a choice, let's take risks when we want to (even--or especially--if we're scared) but not because of some feeling that we have to.
Comfort writing is not a way I've thought about it before since for me I think the act of doing it in general is engaging directly with my own discomfort, but recently I've been starting my writing practice with a little bit of poetry and it really gets me in a good place to just let things flow, then I move into the screenwriting that feels a bit more uncomfortable. It feels like warm-up writing to me if that make sense!
Jared, how nice to hear from you! I think the loosening up exercises make total sense--plus you never know how poetry might find its way into your screenwriting. Thanks for this!
Meta, this really touches on something I try to practice in my own writing: expanding that circle in a way that isn't too painful. I agree completely about the need for balance, and I further believe there's a great deal of growth you can have while on the periphery of your comfort zone, not totally outside of it. That's where I live most days.
Thanks. The class really has me writing. Just wrote a paragraph from each of the three prompts you included in the email of a few days ago.
That's wonderful--keep going!
I appreciate the perspective of "creative non-fiction". I haven't come across that phrase before. It gives value and place (to me) for writing from experience and memory.
Thanks,
Iris
Iris, thanks for this comment. I can't wait to read your writing in our workshop class!
I wrote poetry and tried to write fiction for years, until I felt compelled to start writing a memoir, and found that nonfiction and essays worked well alongside poetry and felt more "me" than trying to write fiction. I know I have a long way to go but I do feel like I've found my niche and feel more compelled to write than I ever have before.
Marie, I love what you wrote about how certain forms of writing feel more like you. That's exactly what I was hoping to convey. There are types of writing that we can still aspire to do but others that feel more like "home."
I think it is so true. The only real "should" can be that you "should" do what you want. Isn't that the greatest freedom? Granted, there are many life pressures that make doing what you want an impossibility for a huge number of people. But to the extent that that kind of liberty exists, you should (!) take it.
I think of this in terms, too, of the style or genre that a person might choose to write in, even within fiction. I am more interested, I think, in inhabiting different styles, different modes--the way an actor would not want to be type-cast perhaps. But "should" I be sticking to something that's recognizable as a brand? Nah.
Exactly. If we have the freedom to do writing (or some of our writing) as a choice, let's take risks when we want to (even--or especially--if we're scared) but not because of some feeling that we have to.
Comfort writing is not a way I've thought about it before since for me I think the act of doing it in general is engaging directly with my own discomfort, but recently I've been starting my writing practice with a little bit of poetry and it really gets me in a good place to just let things flow, then I move into the screenwriting that feels a bit more uncomfortable. It feels like warm-up writing to me if that make sense!
Jared, how nice to hear from you! I think the loosening up exercises make total sense--plus you never know how poetry might find its way into your screenwriting. Thanks for this!
Hi! I've been lurking! I started posting some essays and such so I figured I should make myself known! Thanks for the piece Meta!
A Substack lurker--love it! I just subscribed to your newsletter--can't wait to read it.
Meta, this really touches on something I try to practice in my own writing: expanding that circle in a way that isn't too painful. I agree completely about the need for balance, and I further believe there's a great deal of growth you can have while on the periphery of your comfort zone, not totally outside of it. That's where I live most days.
Andrew, I like the notion of perching on the periphery of your comfort zone and even subtly expanding your comfort zone over time. Thanks for this!
We're figuring this thing out together.
Exactly!