tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2907737240492304428.post6591227802157767165..comments2024-03-28T16:52:31.923-04:00Comments on The Write Conversation: The Writer's Guide to NothingnessEdie Melsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03902312441667526147noreply@blogger.comBlogger20125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2907737240492304428.post-43037587292772149082013-02-24T21:31:56.124-05:002013-02-24T21:31:56.124-05:00That's right Bruce. You are cultivating your i...That's right Bruce. You are cultivating your inner muse to be truly great!<br />Blessings,<br />Laurie1writerlaurieepps@gmail.comhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12257614630313547483noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2907737240492304428.post-61565735391896012362013-02-20T22:30:59.754-05:002013-02-20T22:30:59.754-05:00Great post, Laurie. It helped me realize that my l...Great post, Laurie. It helped me realize that my lack of production is due, at least in part, to my lack of nothingness.Bruce Brady - Writerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17215977053225614116noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2907737240492304428.post-14908142319887869872013-02-20T13:05:56.263-05:002013-02-20T13:05:56.263-05:00Hi Celeste, I definitely feel your pain. I am spre...Hi Celeste, I definitely feel your pain. I am spread pretty thin these days myself. (See Comment above) But I do know about the blankness of the mind. For me, those empty moments always happen in WalMart. I become too overstimulated by all of the excessive marketing. Now, I just stopped shopping there. I do have to go through one once a year when my brother sends me a gift check at Christmas and then I swear I won't go there again. So schedule your quiet time, maybe not as fun, but ever bit as effective.<br />Blessings,<br />Laurie1writerlaurieepps@gmail.comhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12257614630313547483noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2907737240492304428.post-80737892526651571472013-02-20T12:59:09.038-05:002013-02-20T12:59:09.038-05:00Hi Michelle. I confess, most of the time it is eas...Hi Michelle. I confess, most of the time it is easier to say to do nothing to hear the voice of your inner voice, or the calling of God than it is to actually do. I know, I am a single mother, full-time student and intern for Edie. Often, there just isn't enough of me to go around. But it always pays off, and pays off big. So it is well worth the concerted effort. So start of small, and build from there.<br />Blessings,<br />Laurie1writerlaurieepps@gmail.comhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12257614630313547483noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2907737240492304428.post-15287540404679278612013-02-19T20:09:55.193-05:002013-02-19T20:09:55.193-05:00Honestly, I'd love to be the queen of doing no...Honestly, I'd love to be the queen of doing nothing. But something always comes up! ;) I do find that with writing, I usually have so many ideas floating through my head that need to be done, I sometimes have to put it all away and go for a run...or watch a favorite TV show works better. When I'm running, I'm still thinking too much! But give me an episode of NCIS, and my brain goes blank. Celeste Vaughanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10518136866180830749noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2907737240492304428.post-67252528936155718282013-02-19T15:40:54.742-05:002013-02-19T15:40:54.742-05:00What a wonderful idea, Laurie! Sometimes it is in ...What a wonderful idea, Laurie! Sometimes it is in the quiet moments that we really hear whispers of characters and whispers from God's heart.Michellehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02555114982961724400noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2907737240492304428.post-56602073021628995452013-02-19T13:58:19.075-05:002013-02-19T13:58:19.075-05:00Dear Sandy, As a single mom, full-time student, an...Dear Sandy, As a single mom, full-time student, and editorial intern I do have a bit of a problem slowing down myself too, but it always so positively affects my writing. This post is evidence of that. I put my homework away on Valentines, and I went out with a friend. Then, on Sunday, I took my daughter to a movie. These are both activities very foreign to me. This column for today is the result. It works.<br />Blessings,<br />Laurie1writerlaurieepps@gmail.comhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12257614630313547483noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2907737240492304428.post-60465748853283311832013-02-19T13:54:37.585-05:002013-02-19T13:54:37.585-05:00Wow Linda. I know what you mean. I used to follow ...Wow Linda. I know what you mean. I used to follow Flylady.com years ago, and I just stopped about six years ago. I have noticed a definite difference in my household, but hadn't thought to apply it to my writing. It is worth a shot. I think I will accept your challenge and write about it next month. Thank you for the idea.<br />Blessings, Laurie1writerlaurieepps@gmail.comhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12257614630313547483noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2907737240492304428.post-29763001407665497672013-02-19T13:50:48.818-05:002013-02-19T13:50:48.818-05:00I'm a big fan of Flylady.com who teaches the f...I'm a big fan of Flylady.com who teaches the frazzled world how to manage time. Her method is simple: Set the clock for 15 minutes and do what you need to do as fast as you can. The trick is to stop when the timer goes off. It's amazing what can be accomplished in a short 15 minutes. Every 45 minutes, you must take a 15 minute break before starting on the next task. Writers could benefit from this by writing as fast as we can in 15 minutes, then take another 15 minutes away from writing to do something else. It might not work for everyone but it's worth a try.Lindahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10742313107472665351noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2907737240492304428.post-7831141702493457742013-02-19T13:23:07.639-05:002013-02-19T13:23:07.639-05:00Laurie, thanks for this post. Giving myself the &q...Laurie, thanks for this post. Giving myself the "right" to slow down, is something I've been working on, lately. Appreciate your thoughts.Sandy Quandthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12402594414692382413noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2907737240492304428.post-86386783491799270372013-02-19T11:56:34.504-05:002013-02-19T11:56:34.504-05:00Hi Ellen, I operate much the same way, and it is s...Hi Ellen, I operate much the same way, and it is slowly becoming part of my process. I have a collision of ideas at times, but with more time to do nothing, I can cultivate those ideas and sort them out.<br /><br />Thanks for stopping by.<br /><br />Blessings,<br />Laurie1writerlaurieepps@gmail.comhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12257614630313547483noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2907737240492304428.post-20762619882640176032013-02-19T11:54:30.088-05:002013-02-19T11:54:30.088-05:00Dear Susan, I agree wholeheartedly. We try so hard...Dear Susan, I agree wholeheartedly. We try so hard to do everything and often all at once. This isn't good for our writing, our health, or our soul. It makes us tired, agitated, and burnt out. We must escape from the shackles of our chaotic lifestyles, and just be. <br /><br />Thanks for stopping by.<br /><br />Blessings,<br />Laurie1writerlaurieepps@gmail.comhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12257614630313547483noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2907737240492304428.post-84280194745233991842013-02-19T11:51:14.330-05:002013-02-19T11:51:14.330-05:00Hi Vonda, Thank you so much for your encouragement...Hi Vonda, Thank you so much for your encouragement to fellow writers. But yes, sometimes we all have to slow down to hear our inner voice. It is whispering to us our opus. We cannot hear this calling if we are running around in twenty direction all at once. Sometimes we must stop long enough to listen to the yearnings of our imagination. This exercise is not just good for our writing, but also our soul.<br />Blessings,<br />Laurie1writerlaurieepps@gmail.comhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12257614630313547483noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2907737240492304428.post-69563534548955202092013-02-19T11:47:37.146-05:002013-02-19T11:47:37.146-05:00Hi Myrna, Wow. Where did you get said coffee? Mayb...Hi Myrna, Wow. Where did you get said coffee? Maybe we can all go there for some Mojo. All joking aside, thank you for your candor and validation of this concept. I still have to figure out an effective way to take notes in the shower, for the whispers of genius also speak to me there as well. Blessings, Laurie1writerlaurieepps@gmail.comhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12257614630313547483noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2907737240492304428.post-51593354879954418592013-02-19T11:44:50.554-05:002013-02-19T11:44:50.554-05:00Hi Pam, I am so glad to oblige. I know when I work...Hi Pam, I am so glad to oblige. I know when I work so hard to come up with an idea, then it eludes me like a flitting butterfly in a garden. But when I open myself up to the world, and all it's possibilities, the muse strikes and my best ideas evolve and cultivate from nowhere. Be open to life, and what it could endlessly be. Thanks for your input. Blessings, Laurie1writerlaurieepps@gmail.comhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12257614630313547483noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2907737240492304428.post-79015763130124685632013-02-19T09:34:09.525-05:002013-02-19T09:34:09.525-05:00Thanks for the reminder, Laurie. I often glean the...Thanks for the reminder, Laurie. I often glean the best insights when I'm doing nothing. I need to have a notebook nearby though, because I remember things best when they're written down. Then I can look at something concrete and develop it from there.Ellen Andersenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05474986203062305511noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2907737240492304428.post-24127055352339904022013-02-19T08:52:25.095-05:002013-02-19T08:52:25.095-05:00Great post, Laurie! I used to feel guilty for my t...Great post, Laurie! I used to feel guilty for my times of nothingness. We Americans believe perpetual motion = productivity. It does NOT, and I think it's one of the reasons we have so many health problems. I did a little research on the benefits of rest, especially disengaged periods of solitude, and changed my view. Those quiet times are making me healthier!<br /><br />Thank you for sharing your insight.Susanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04823919278259760743noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2907737240492304428.post-31788788438052704712013-02-19T08:48:37.689-05:002013-02-19T08:48:37.689-05:00Great timing, Laurie. I'm headed to the mounta...Great timing, Laurie. I'm headed to the mountains next week and will plan times of doing just that--nothing!Vonda Skeltonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15709374938210704402noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2907737240492304428.post-26007297755177708022013-02-19T08:36:59.990-05:002013-02-19T08:36:59.990-05:00Laurie, thanks for validating my escape from my da...Laurie, thanks for validating my escape from my day job yesterday to a nearby lake. Caffeine in hand, "the voice of my soul" whispered a much improved first scene for my novel and infused new energy into the final draft. Myrna Loy Ashbyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12627673200465483221noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2907737240492304428.post-4006788285402038982013-02-19T07:37:05.453-05:002013-02-19T07:37:05.453-05:00Laurie, thanks for legitimizing doing nothing! I j...Laurie, thanks for legitimizing doing nothing! I just got back from a writing vacation. I did research, I wrote, and then I did a little of nothing, notebook at my side. It was very productive. You've given some suggestions for ways to transfer "goofing off" to my daily routine,Pam Gloverhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15299762633768768470noreply@blogger.com