Writing in a Time of COVID-19

Yesterday, frustrated and

unable to focus on my writing,

I let my mind off its leash

to wander as it wished--

I tagging along with scratch pad in hand,

recording where it went,

what it saw, what drew its interest and curiosity,

and thereby noticing what I normally might miss, discovering what I'm usually too busy to see, too preoccupied to occupy.

And so I offer this suggestion to fellow
frustrated and preoccupied writers...

Practice pointless writing.

Get a scratch pad. The backside of used paper is good.

(avoid clean, crisp paper, which can be daunting)

and scribble freely, scribble nonsense,

scribble a limerick or a haiku or grocery list,

or write a haiku from your grocery list.

Write anything
to jump-start your creative engine,

to invite in your Muse,

to reconnect with your Center and Source.

Give yourself a half hour to write nothing much,

to write something inconsequential,

something not-uplifting, not-memorable,

to write something not-good.

Write for the sheer fun of writing,

prime the pump to see what comes

(Maybe nothing--Wonderful! You're still writing.)

Write without point or purpose and definitely without plot.

Write for the simple pleasure of finding what emerges,

of discovering what's there within you seeking a voice.

Turn your stream of consciousness into a stream of playfulness,

and words into playthings.

Today use your soul as a writing prompt.

First posted: March 23, 2020