Anna, thanks as always for sharing your process. I also recently had a pitch for a personal essay accepted with the caveat that I make it a reported piece. I happened to know some experts in my writing circles, but in the future, I'll follow your lead for finding quotes from people I don't know. Also, I do something I call "cocooning," not daily, but when I'm overstimulated. I get in bed and pull the covers over my head for 10 minutes. It's a quick and effective reset. And would make a great essay, right?
Thank for sharing this beneficial practice of rest, Anna. I like to sit quietly with my eyes closed after my morning shower, before writing. I let my mind rest or pray. But I don’t have a similar midday practice. I’ll try closing my eyes!
Hi, Anna! I just discovered your Substack space today. I'm a newish freelance writer and mother of two children, ages 3 and 4.5. When I started to reconnect with my creative self a year ago, I began to construct my own ritual, my own act of priming my brain for writing. I often did this after bedtime (as I hadn't acquired childcare help yet for my youngest). I'd light a candle, close my eyes (but not for too long!), engage in breathwork, and listen to a lo-fi instrumental playlist before opening a blank Google doc. And then, a miraculous thing happened: the words started pouring out of me. It was as though a floodgate had been lifted after many, many years. Your post here has made me feel validated and seen (and a little less cuckoo). Thank you for writing it. I feel more hopeful and confident to try my hand at pitching essays similar to the one you referenced here. ❤️
Oh, I absolutely love this! I truly believe there’s something important that happens when we close our eyes. And I love that your ritual includes a candle! Thank you for sharing this — and thank you for your kind words!
Great credit! I do have a closed eyes practice. It’s called palming, and I learned it from Nathan Oxenfeld, founder of Integral Eyesight and he was inspired by the Bates Method of vision correct. Nathan says, “When you turn off eyesight, you turn on insight.” An optic nerve test & reset feels essential. (I’m a mom who writes, too.)
Ha! I don’t know why I lie face down. Maybe I find it more restorative? But I haven’t thought through that preference. :) I’m glad you also take a break to lie down in the middle of the day!
Once again this is so full of good tips and I loved all the behind-the-scenes!! And regarding the piece you wrote, it seems like such a good idea to do this! I was so exhausted the other day after our trip to London. I said, “Gosh, I’m tired but I’m going to push through till bedtime.” And my teen daughter said, “You know, that might seem like a good idea. But sometimes you’re a better person if you just lie down for a few minutes.” 😂 So that, combined with this post, is inspiring me to take my twenty minutes too.
I LOVE that your teen daughter realized that you needed a lie-down. :) Isn't it wonderful when our children are able to show care for us (and our needs) in ways that we often struggle to do ourselves?
I always feel like when I am saying “yes” to writing, I am saying “no” to something else that’s also important. But I try to shut that noise down, at least for a little bit. Thank you for such a kind comment! I hope this academic year treats you well.
Anna, thanks as always for sharing your process. I also recently had a pitch for a personal essay accepted with the caveat that I make it a reported piece. I happened to know some experts in my writing circles, but in the future, I'll follow your lead for finding quotes from people I don't know. Also, I do something I call "cocooning," not daily, but when I'm overstimulated. I get in bed and pull the covers over my head for 10 minutes. It's a quick and effective reset. And would make a great essay, right?
I love that name for it, Karen! (cocooning!) That is pretty much exactly what I do -- I was just missing the name -- ha!
Thank for sharing this beneficial practice of rest, Anna. I like to sit quietly with my eyes closed after my morning shower, before writing. I let my mind rest or pray. But I don’t have a similar midday practice. I’ll try closing my eyes!
I love that idea for a practice, Joelle -- closing your eyes after a shower and before writing sounds so restorative and helpful for creativity.
Just a few minutes make a difference. 😊
Hi, Anna! I just discovered your Substack space today. I'm a newish freelance writer and mother of two children, ages 3 and 4.5. When I started to reconnect with my creative self a year ago, I began to construct my own ritual, my own act of priming my brain for writing. I often did this after bedtime (as I hadn't acquired childcare help yet for my youngest). I'd light a candle, close my eyes (but not for too long!), engage in breathwork, and listen to a lo-fi instrumental playlist before opening a blank Google doc. And then, a miraculous thing happened: the words started pouring out of me. It was as though a floodgate had been lifted after many, many years. Your post here has made me feel validated and seen (and a little less cuckoo). Thank you for writing it. I feel more hopeful and confident to try my hand at pitching essays similar to the one you referenced here. ❤️
Oh, I absolutely love this! I truly believe there’s something important that happens when we close our eyes. And I love that your ritual includes a candle! Thank you for sharing this — and thank you for your kind words!
Great credit! I do have a closed eyes practice. It’s called palming, and I learned it from Nathan Oxenfeld, founder of Integral Eyesight and he was inspired by the Bates Method of vision correct. Nathan says, “When you turn off eyesight, you turn on insight.” An optic nerve test & reset feels essential. (I’m a mom who writes, too.)
I LOVE this. Turning off eyesight to turn on insight — that’s brilliant! Thank you for sharing.
Should’ve said “vision correction.”
Thank you for this!!
Thank you for reading!
I actually do this too! The problem is I occasionally fall asleep. Why do you lie face down instead of up?
Ha! I don’t know why I lie face down. Maybe I find it more restorative? But I haven’t thought through that preference. :) I’m glad you also take a break to lie down in the middle of the day!
Once again this is so full of good tips and I loved all the behind-the-scenes!! And regarding the piece you wrote, it seems like such a good idea to do this! I was so exhausted the other day after our trip to London. I said, “Gosh, I’m tired but I’m going to push through till bedtime.” And my teen daughter said, “You know, that might seem like a good idea. But sometimes you’re a better person if you just lie down for a few minutes.” 😂 So that, combined with this post, is inspiring me to take my twenty minutes too.
I LOVE that your teen daughter realized that you needed a lie-down. :) Isn't it wonderful when our children are able to show care for us (and our needs) in ways that we often struggle to do ourselves?
Thanks so much for sharing your process! And I definitely need to close my eyes more.
Thank you for always being so kind and encouraging, Heather!
So encouraging and interesting.
Thank you ❤️
I appreciate this so much -- thank you!
Thank you for giving us this behind-the-scenes look!
Thank you for reading and for your encouragement!
Thank you for another wonderful behind-the-scenes issue, Anna. I find these so helpful!
I appreciate this so much, Abby! Thank you. I loved your Brevity piece today.
I so appreciate your transparency, Anna. I am really wanting this academic year to be the one where I figure out what works for me.
I always feel like when I am saying “yes” to writing, I am saying “no” to something else that’s also important. But I try to shut that noise down, at least for a little bit. Thank you for such a kind comment! I hope this academic year treats you well.