Using Meditation to Make Yourself a Better Writer

There are numerous ways to improve yourself as a writer—attending conferences and workshops, pursuing an advanced degree, writing every day, reading books about writing, among other things. But there’s one more way to become a better writer that is often overlooked.

Meditation.

Yes, meditation offers numerous benefits for writers. For example:

* Meditation can help calm the mind and slow down your thoughts, which can help you think more clearly. You might see solutions to your plotting problems that you didn’t notice before.

* Meditation can help you get in touch with your inner self, to access thoughts, ideas and emotions you might have buried.

* Meditation can help you feel less stressed when faced with writing deadlines, blank pages and a daunting writing process. It can help you deal with writing anxiety.

* Meditation can boost your confidence so you feel more comfortable tackling difficult tasks or working out of your comfort zone.

Granted, meditation take practice. But with a little time—no more than 10 minutes a day—your daily mediation practice can help you stay focused and calm, and help you access the most creative part of yourself. That can result in better writing and better stories.

What is the connection between meditation and writing?

With meditation, your mind calms. A calmer mind opens a gateway to creativity. It’s like unlocking a door and gaining access to a room who have always wanted to enter but was never available to you. Meditation also reveals aspects of yourself that you might have unintentionally kept hidden, aspects that come forth with your writing.

What writing won’t do….

Unfortunately, meditation can’t help you do a lot of things, like clear up a messy desk so you can write. It can’t improve your technical writing skills, such as grammar and punctuation. It can’t give you more space in your schedule so you have more time to write. These tasks are still up to you to do.

Meditation also can’t cut out the negative feedback you might receive about your creative talents, BUT it can help you deal with negative feedback with greater equanimity. You can still accept the comments but with a calmer mind, negative feedback won’t throw you off your game. It’s like having an invisible coat of armor around yourself; any negative comments will simply roll off your shoulders.

How to begin a meditation practice

As I mentioned, all you need is 10 minutes a day to quiet your mind. The easiest place to begin is in your own home. If it’s possible, find a place that is quiet and free of noise and distractions, such as your bedroom. Sit in a chair with your feet planted on the floor, or sit cross legged on the floor. Try not to sit on the bed as you might be tempted to lay down and nap!

Shut off your phone or leave it somewhere where you can’t get to it. Remember, with only 10 minutes for your practice, you don’t want to waste it worrying about your phone.

Once you are settled in place, close your eyes. Begin by breathing deeply. Focus on your breath. Each inhale and exhale will feel like a pendulum swinging back and forth. Breathe in. Breathe out. Repeat.

Your breath becomes a mantra that your mind follows. Your thoughts might still race, but when you notice it, let them go. Don’t dwell on them. Let them roll past like an insect flying past a window. When you feel ready, open your eyes. Note how you feel. You may feel nothing the first day, or the first week. You may feel it didn’t make a difference at all. But your efforts will pay off eventually. If anything, because you slowed your breathing, you might feel calmer and clearer.

As you gain more experience, you can try more advanced meditation exercises or lengthen your sessions. You can also try some apps, but I usually find them more of a distraction. Still, you can find one that works for you.  

Here are a few things to keep in mind about meditation:
* Be patient. Don’t expect results overnight. In fact, you may not notice any significant changes in several days or weeks. But stick with the program. Quieting the mind has a cumulative effect. It will build over time.

*Be consistent. Practice your meditation a little bit every day. Because of its cumulative effect, it’s important to be consistent with your practice.

* Don’t compare yourself to others. Everyone is different. Each person will experience meditation in their own way. Find what works best for you.

With a little bit of effort, you can make meditation a part of your daily routine and it can be a valuable part of your writing practice.