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“Filling the Well”by Waverly Fitzgerald For the first time in many years, thanks to the success of my School of the Seasons website and a regular paycheck from UW Extension, I finally have the ability to take some time off during December and January, the two darkest months of the year and the time of hibernation in the natural cycle. I'm hoping that by clearing from my schedule all but the most essential tasks, I'll create space to read and walk and cultivate that inner knowing about which direction to go, which projects to pursue in the new year. Julia Cameron in The Artist's Way calls this Filling the Well. Too often, as writers we push ourselves to produce constantly — so many pages, so many words. And yet the creative process has a rhythm that includes rest and incubation as surely as it does production and manifestation. If you apply the model of the seasons to the creative process (and I like to apply it to everything), you'd also expect a spring-like period of exploration and experimentation, a time when you might start and drop many projects and a time of harvest and then of letting go. I think the most difficult season for most writers, however, is winter, because it looks like and often feels like we're not doing anything. Writing expert Henriette Klausner, in her first book, Writing on Both Sides of the Brain, tells the story of Eva whose thoughtful husband offered to take their three kids out of the house every Saturday afternoon so she could write. The only problem was that Eva felt terrible when he returned and she had nothing to show for her hours of writing time. Klausner asked Eva to designate one of the chairs in her office as the Ruminating chair to help her recognize the importance of musing in the writing process. When her husband returned, Eva could now announce she had spent her time “ruminating” (Klausner suggests this sounds more effective with a bit of a Scottish roll to the r). For two weeks, Corry, one of the writers in my writing group, castigated herself during check-in. She wasn't writing, just watching a lot of TV. The following week she showed up, flushed, waving a sheaf of new writing. As she told us about her super-productive week — new scenes and ideas had rushed onto the pages—she concluded with these words: “Next time I'm complaining about procrastination, just remind me it's not procrastination — it's incubation.” When you aren't actively producing, there are many ways to fill the well. The metaphor is apt: you want to be both receptive and self-nurturing. Julia Cameron recommends absorbing the creativity of others — and for writers that means reading. If reading isn't a regular part of your life — and I know some writers who eschew reading while they're writing — this is the time to indulge. You can also take a trip to the art museum or attend a concert. Taking classes, especially ones that introduce you to new techniques and mediums is a great way to fill the well. And for many people, nature is the best source of renewal. I think that's why I've been longing to go to the beach all year. My favorite beach retreat is a rather funky motel on the Long Beach peninsula. I've been going there for almost twenty years and it feel like home to me. Besides, I get to take my dog who loves to chase the shore birds. During my retreat I plan to read and walk on the beach, eat and sleep a lot. I won't be taking my computer and I won't be writing. That's for the New Year. But I expect to return from my retreat to my regular routines, refreshed and relaxed and ready to start a new book. References:
Waverly Fitzgerald home • teacher • writer • writing coach • articles • class schedule • links • contact |
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More articles on writing by Waverly Fitzgerald: Getting the Most Out of Summer Writing Conferences Imitation: Conscious and Unconscious |
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