Comments on: 11 Things To Do When You Just CAN'T Write

By: Fae Rowen

Fae Rowen — Mon, 18 May 2015 05:41:55 +0000

In reply to dianahockley. I'm glad my journey can help you through the rough spots in yours, Diana. Best wishes for a fantastic check-up this week. Hugs to you!

By: dianahockley

dianahockley — Mon, 18 May 2015 01:10:51 +0000

PS forgot to tick the two boxes at the bottom of this.

By: dianahockley

dianahockley — Mon, 18 May 2015 01:09:50 +0000

Fae, thank you the link to your blog. It makes me feel better to know I'm not the only one at bit down. We have lost some friends - three from the one family - within a short space of time. Having had cancer two years ago (and due for a checkup next week) I know how fragile life can be and this has rebounded somewhat. I am doing anything but writing at the moment though deep down I do want to. Thank you for the tips and yes, I'm going to use them.

Hugs

Diana Hockley

By: Fae Rowen

Fae Rowen — Sun, 17 May 2015 05:40:16 +0000

Thanks for the blog love, Prof Janet!

By: Saturday Summation – 16 May 2015 | It'll All Work Out

Saturday Summation – 16 May 2015 | It'll All Work Out — Sat, 16 May 2015 12:33:47 +0000

[…] – for realsies. Life has other things that can truly impede. For all the other times, we have these suggestions from Fae Rowen. Rowen’s post comes from a situation of too many emotional obstacles, but I really like them for […]

By: Fae Rowen

Fae Rowen — Sat, 16 May 2015 07:24:19 +0000

Thank you for your kind words, Kimberly, and for sharing another way to put together a "good day." In the first weeks, I, too, wrote letters, none of which got mailed. But I got out some very harsh feelings and captured my pole-axed pain in a form that, much later, I could revisit and begin to work with it.

Isn't it glorious the first time you can put two good days back-to-back?

Love and peace to you.

By: Fae Rowen

Fae Rowen — Sat, 16 May 2015 07:18:50 +0000

In reply to Linda Fletcher. I'm happy that our unplanned synchronicity of posts has helped you stop beating yourself up, Linda. And I'm glad that you have embraced "the other side" of impermanence. Best of luck as you and your family come back from your challenges. Love and healing to you.

By: Elizabeth Anne Mitchell

Elizabeth Anne Mitchell — Fri, 15 May 2015 02:26:05 +0000

In reply to Fae Rowen. Thank you, Fae, and condolences and hugs fir your losses. I have some tough days still, as I'm sure you know. I especially like the suggestions of letting a character live my year. It's a great way to get to know them.reading and music are also very helpful.

By: Kimberly Brock

Kimberly Brock — Thu, 14 May 2015 14:13:52 +0000

Thank you for such a vulnerable post, Fae. You've written a road map and believe me, when a person suddenly (it's almost always suddenly) finds themselves in the situations you're talking about, the thing they'll do is go searching for someone to take their hand and show them the next step. Any step! For me, I searched all the words on the internet and cobbled together a list of steps something like yours. Most days, at least one step works. And those are good days because I know I'm not static. I know I'm not wheeling through space, directionless. I am holding onto my voice - maybe it's holding me. One idea that's helped me in an unexpected way (because I rebel against morning pages or a daily journal for some reason) is letter writing. Pen and paper, old school letters. If I can't work on fiction (which has been impossible for months) and I'm not faced with a freelance project or teaching for the day, I've taken up writing letters. Sometimes to friends or family or even new acquaintances. Sometimes to teachers or librarians or people I want to thank for unknown kindnesses. Sometimes to friends I've parted ways with and sometimes to dead people. I mail some of them. I toss some in a box. Surprisingly, I've found these letters open my heart again, connect me when I want to isolate too much, and allow me to be grateful without succumbing to the constant urge to set things right. And some days, on good days, they lead me to the place where I feel safe enough to play with story. xo Love, Kimberly

By: Linda Fletcher

Linda Fletcher — Thu, 14 May 2015 11:58:44 +0000

Oh, Fae, I'm sending you a HUMONGOUS virtual hug because I'm so thankful for you sharing this. Since October, my family has been dealing with a situation that's just rocked us to our collective core, plus my work situation has been so challenging recently that I've had almost no extra brain power to spare. I've been beating myself up over not being able to write, but between Orly's post the other day (big virtual hug for her, too) and now your post, you've both made me realize there are other ways to make use of the time I'm not writing. Some of them I've been doing just naturally, labeling it in my head as wasting time, but now I realize I'm really just recharging. I'm starting to see signs that both situations will be resolved soon, so hopefully when that point comes (or before that, even) I'll be ready to go. I'm going to print out both posts and carry them with me, so I can peek at them and remind myself that this, too, shall pass. Thanks again, Fae and Orly!