One of my favourite lines is this, “I write because I don't know what I think until I read what I say.”
Writing for me is slow and sometimes a painful process. My colleague is a lightening bolt when it comes to writing stories. She can write a whole novel the same time it takes me to write a single chapter.
I've always wanted to be a speed writer, to move on from one story to another without breaking a sweat, but for me it's not in the cards. Just like you Sarah slow writing is my modus operandi. I tend to study each sentence and weigh each word before I commit to it. This takes precious time.
Some "professional writers" told me to write fast and edit after, I tried this approach but it wasn't satisfying. Writing is more than assembling words in a factory, it's an emotional and even spiritual pursuit.
I could detach myself from my feelings and write thousands of words in one hour but why should I do that.
Thanks Sarah for helping me to see that writing slow is okay.
There's no rush.
There is no finish line.
There's no one firing a starting pistol.
It's comforting to know I'm not a defected writer because I write like a turtle.
The slow and steady wins the race and not always the quick and nimble.
Well done Sarah! I hope you have a great day today, writing exactly the speed you need to. I’ve been reading Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management For Mortals, on a recommendation from a friend, and it touches on the one-sided/demonized relationship with death, and how our choices tend to distract us from the idea that we all have only a finite time - so stop pretending you can do it all and make the hard choices to do what is important to you. (Easier said than done, even the author admits, but the idea won’t leave me, it is popping up everywhere I go, this perspective changing idea - a little live in the moment, a little practice doing absolutely nothing, a little do less with more commitment). Anyway, your post brought the ideas from my reading to mind - in the sense that our relationship with time can make us feel anxious that we aren’t producing fast or enough. We aren’t doing enough. I know when you write for a living you have the pressures of financial security, and that’s just reality. I wish I could snap my fingers and make it so for you and all the writers, but for what it is worth - I wish for you all the days of writing your way... and all the money you need to live the life you want!
Thank you, Melanie — for your thoughts and your kind words! Weirdly, I just ordered two books — Four Thousand Weeks and Saving Time (by Jennifer Odell). I'm so excited to read both.
I recently started Bullet Journaling myself. And I liking it. No need to make it fancy like many youtubers out there does. For me its just helps to write down what on my mind if something negative happen that day :)
And Bullet Journal can be what ever you make it to be, the beauty with it :)
I've really enjoyed the bullet journal method and how adaptive it is. The impending death section really hits hard.
It's also so hard to believe not making things fast isn't a waste of time or a problem. I think especially in a culture that values producivity. People would've balked at the idea of the author of Coraline writing it a sentence a day.
I’m not sure I am a Slow Writer by the definition (I had to google that term) but I do know I don’t write fast. It takes me lots of time to convert my feelings and ideas into words. I like your perspective that you write to survive/live!
One of my favourite lines is this, “I write because I don't know what I think until I read what I say.”
Writing for me is slow and sometimes a painful process. My colleague is a lightening bolt when it comes to writing stories. She can write a whole novel the same time it takes me to write a single chapter.
I've always wanted to be a speed writer, to move on from one story to another without breaking a sweat, but for me it's not in the cards. Just like you Sarah slow writing is my modus operandi. I tend to study each sentence and weigh each word before I commit to it. This takes precious time.
Some "professional writers" told me to write fast and edit after, I tried this approach but it wasn't satisfying. Writing is more than assembling words in a factory, it's an emotional and even spiritual pursuit.
I could detach myself from my feelings and write thousands of words in one hour but why should I do that.
Thanks Sarah for helping me to see that writing slow is okay.
There's no rush.
There is no finish line.
There's no one firing a starting pistol.
It's comforting to know I'm not a defected writer because I write like a turtle.
The slow and steady wins the race and not always the quick and nimble.
Thank you for this, York. I hadn't thought of writing as a spiritual pursuit, but I think that's exactly what it is.
Sarah, Thank you , thank you, thank you for your words of wisdom today.
- Michelle, a fellow slow writer
Thank you for reading, Michelle!
Absolutely spectacular. Well said and well done. Keep LIVING! 🍻
Thank you, Ethan!
Well done Sarah! I hope you have a great day today, writing exactly the speed you need to. I’ve been reading Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management For Mortals, on a recommendation from a friend, and it touches on the one-sided/demonized relationship with death, and how our choices tend to distract us from the idea that we all have only a finite time - so stop pretending you can do it all and make the hard choices to do what is important to you. (Easier said than done, even the author admits, but the idea won’t leave me, it is popping up everywhere I go, this perspective changing idea - a little live in the moment, a little practice doing absolutely nothing, a little do less with more commitment). Anyway, your post brought the ideas from my reading to mind - in the sense that our relationship with time can make us feel anxious that we aren’t producing fast or enough. We aren’t doing enough. I know when you write for a living you have the pressures of financial security, and that’s just reality. I wish I could snap my fingers and make it so for you and all the writers, but for what it is worth - I wish for you all the days of writing your way... and all the money you need to live the life you want!
Thank you, Melanie — for your thoughts and your kind words! Weirdly, I just ordered two books — Four Thousand Weeks and Saving Time (by Jennifer Odell). I'm so excited to read both.
I like what you said Melanie. Life is finite and we can't get it all done.
My days are filled with wants and needs. Many times I feel paralyzed.
If I do one thing I'm neglecting the other thing and that's were the guilt and stress sinks its teeth.
I have to understand that I can't do it ALL, and that's okay.
I recently started Bullet Journaling myself. And I liking it. No need to make it fancy like many youtubers out there does. For me its just helps to write down what on my mind if something negative happen that day :)
And Bullet Journal can be what ever you make it to be, the beauty with it :)
Yes!!! Mine is simple as heck, too 😅😅😅
I've really enjoyed the bullet journal method and how adaptive it is. The impending death section really hits hard.
It's also so hard to believe not making things fast isn't a waste of time or a problem. I think especially in a culture that values producivity. People would've balked at the idea of the author of Coraline writing it a sentence a day.
Oh my gosh, yes to this. It's so good to know that one can pursue one's craft slowly — or at least at one's own pace.
I’m not sure I am a Slow Writer by the definition (I had to google that term) but I do know I don’t write fast. It takes me lots of time to convert my feelings and ideas into words. I like your perspective that you write to survive/live!
Kathy, thank you so much! Converting feelings and ideas into words is an excellent way of putting it. <3
Thank you so much, Leo!