Writing for life
The first Tuesday in February 2003, and it's my 'writing day'. I'm taking my time getting back into regular 'good/readable' writing, I'm possibly lacking confidence through not writing on a regular basis. Also I haven't written anything that is 'good' for ages and need to find that feeling again. I'm reminded of Natalie 'bones' Goldberg - the book sits within an arms stretch of where I am typing this on my PowerBook. I pick it up and skim through the words and pencil marks of the first chapter. Half way through I stop at a sentence and re-read it, 'To do writing practise means to deal ultimately with your whole life', that about summarises the direction I am heading in, and at the end of the chapter she writes, ...'don't just read it. Write. Trust yourself. Learn your own needs'.
Here and Now I am writing an email, and hope it is easy and relatively entertaining to read. I begin to feel self-conscious and the feeling of 'is it good writing' begins to creep up on me. I re-read the beginning of this email; 'I'm taking my time getting back into regular 'good/readable' writing, I'm possibly lacking confidence through not writing on a regular basis'. I keep referring to 'beginnings' here; 'I begin to feel self-conscious'; 'the feeling ... begins to creep up on me', and; 'I re-read the beginnings'. I read some more of 'Writing Down The Bones, the next chapter, 'Beginner's Mind. Pen and Paper', she writes '... every time we begin, we wonder how we ever did it before' - I'll use these words to start my new writing notebook, I'll write on the cover, 'Writing Practise 2003' and not worry too much about making it good, but I'll still be hoping it's good enough. I'll write ...'don't just read it. Write. Trust yourself. And learn your own needs'.

(4856) Need to see optician for an eye test