Doing what you want

Lately I've been doing just what I want. Not a big deal perhaps? For someone who was used to doing what I 'should do' rather than what I felt like doing, it's a bit of a breakthrough. I thought life had to be hard work. If it came easily, I wasn't doing it right. Wrong!

Writing is something I have always loved doing, from making my own illustrated books as a child to writing letters and long, chatty emails to friends and family. I never thought it was something I could do professionally until I became so unhappy I had to rethink my path.

No one is going to tell you to be a writer

No one is going to tell you to be a writer. That's something you have to choose for yourself. It's not easy. Writing a novel is a labour of love, taking months, probably years to complete with endless self-critique. But if the act of writing brings you joy then you should give it a try.

I've learnt to tune in to what my true self wants and from that I can access something magical when I write. You know you hear about characters writing their own stories? It's true. If you stop putting in so much toil, agonising over every word and protagonist decision, you may find that the words flow and you'll tap into characters and worlds you didn't know existed.

So how can you access that sweet, creative spot?

Let go

Use meditation to bring about a state of calm and relaxation. YouTube has plenty of videos so listen to find your favourite, or try an app like Insight.

That inner critic is not to be listened to if you want to get words on the page

Experiment with freewriting, where you write for a number of pages or for a timed period, and write quickly, freely and without judgement. That inner critic is not to be listened to if you want to get words on the page. There's plenty of time for editing later.

Get out

A walk in nature, whether that's in your local park, a forest or on the beach will help you tap into your spirit and unclog your brain. You could use the time to solve a plot issue or work on some great new ideas.

Change where you usually write. If you have an office where you work, perhaps cosy up instead in a warm armchair by the fire. Or take a notebook outside and sit under a tree. See how your creative mind responds to a change of scene. Plus you have every right to make the writing process as comfortable and enjoyable as you like.

Make a plan

Try to work out what you want, then create a plan to get you there. If life feels like an uphill struggle you just might be climbing the wrong mountain. It's OK to take a rest and learn to climb another.