The Dry Spell in Writing

I seem to be reading books that address more serious human issues than I had been reading for a while   As an example is Kay Jamison's An Unquiet Mind.  I am working on the remaking of meaning in my life through my writing.  As I write, so I learn to know what I'm thinking.  Typical for a writer.  This is as well a point Natalie Goldberg makes in Wild Mind.

Writing is not only the opportunity for the creation of a product but as well an opportunity for personal growth.  In fact, if personal growth has not occurred, it is likely that you, the writer, will feel stagnant and therefore disappointed.

Clearly, there can be periods of stagnation.  Certainly I have talked about that in another post.  But, it is necessary to "bear" this process.  No writer that I know of has avoided it.

While I heartily encourage people I coach to write no matter what (see Overcome Writer's Block Easily), still the human condition is such that this is not possible all the time.   When Eric Maisel in Coaching the Artist Within talks about the necessity of embracing duality, he gives as an example discipline versus flexibility (p 61).  He talks about "holistic creating" where the creator says to herself "'I have no preferences.  I do whatever is necessary and best.'" (p 61.)   Maisel tell the story of a musician he worked with who had gotten to the point of being unable to play music.  He took a rather long hiatus from music and eventually returned to it with a new mindset.

I'm not advocating a break from writing, but I am aware from my own experience as well as from working with others and the readings I've done that it's important to be gentle with yourself during the dry periods.  The "dry spell" may be one of the greatest fears a writer or would be writer can face.  It's important to weather it courageously and with optimism.