The Cure of Writing Complexities I Found in My Favorite Books
Ever doubted your writing self? Re-reading a book as a writing ritual would help you in these 4 research-backed ways
“The golden rule is that there are no golden rules.” ― George Bernard Shaw
The quote above especially rings true for writing. Whatever works for you — that's your rule.
But I’m sure you’ll agree we, as writers, attest to at least one writing rule that asks: keep your eyes on your own paper.
It liberates you and me from comparison.
It tells: get inspired and learn from experience — whether that’s yours or of the one already firmly grounded in your field.
We see, for example, young writers getting published and celebrated when even our book proposal hasn’t found a way to publishers. We see the self-motivation with which they show up while we, ourselves, might (occasionally) feel like hitting the wall because of the creative block that keeps lingering in the background. We might see their passion seeping into the physical and virtual world, while our passion wanes.
The list would go on.
But, no comparison. They are all inspiration!
My point is: none of the difference feeds the comparison.
From the very beginning, when the original idea in mind could not translate into paper (which we learned after rereading it weeks and months after the initial wrap-up)— in its purest form — we began appreciating: the journey is unique.
It’s a competition with oneself.
However, it cannot be denied that sometimes, the formerly patient paper now scowls blankly, offering you fright (that you do not have a writer within you) and distraction (as the urgency to refresh Gmail once again).
Tough schedules and procrastination may trigger a creative block, which paralyzes your desire to write. Yet another rejection from the publishers and misunderstanding from loved ones over choosing a career in writing and waiting this long in a world teeming with other surefire careers makes one feel lonely.
Then, the desire to write feels like a distant hometown, too far to let you in, too close to give up on it.
But the only way out is through — you feel it somewhere within you.
The Cure of Writing Frustrations in Favorite Book(s):
After having had enough bad writing days and enough experiments to claw a way out, at this point I’ve learned that when the passion to write or curiosity to try new things in writing fades, that’s the time to return to my favorite book(s).
As I’m sure you’ll agree with researchers, procrastination is an emotional problem rather than a time management one.
When, instead of forcing creativity, you read some chunks and feel the warmth and comfort oozing through pages, the emotional imbalance smoothens.
Thus, you keep procrastination out of the window and change the way you see writing — while enveloping yourself with familiar warmth.
“Books are the flung-open windows to a parallel universe.” — Kevin Ansbro
Re-reading as a writing ritual:
Mindful, slow, and excessive rereading helps in critical thinking and writing, the research backs. However, they aren’t the only ways in which rereading some parts of the book we love enriches our writing life.
In his book The Psychology of Creative Writing, author Scott Barry Kaufman discusses how creative writers let go of daily concerns and enter the flow state. He writes,
“One of the insights I gained was that everyone had a ritual. Some of them did not even know they had a ritual associated with writing, but they all did, however simple and basic that ritual might be.”
He then goes on to write more about the ritual,
“When you do the same thing every day before writing, you are getting your brain and body used to it.”
For example, keeping the book I treasure on my desk and reading it as a writing ritual makes writing or whatever seemingly new project I am working on less lonely (because most of my work happens on a screen, which can be lonely, especially when your path is non-linear) as it reminds me of a world waiting for me and also my ultimate goal as a writer.
However, as our feelings and understanding change about life, the list of favorite books broadens. The top ones sometimes get replaced — but everything you read becomes a part of yourself, and thus keeps whispering to have you back again.
Here are the four ways in which the book(s) you immensely love might help you in writing.
1. Re-reading ritual makes you feel you’re not alone:
One of the reasons that we love writing is to enrich life with differentness, creativity, and fulfillment. Even though it is a joyful practice, we oftentimes experience bouts of loneliness.
For those who haven’t fallen in love with words, the self-doubt, and urgent desire to write at odd hours (for example at the usual 2 a.m.) may seem like melodramatic explosions, but a writer knows these feelings are real.
Celebrated American humorist Mark Twain, for example, once met a young writer who told him that he was losing confidence in his ability to write.
“Did you ever get that feeling?” he asked.
“Yes,” said Twain. “Once I had been writing for nearly fifteen years, it suddenly struck me that I did not possess the slightest talent for writing.”
By then, he was already famous; the world recognized his work, but it couldn’t keep self-doubt at bay.
That’s probably why author Elizabeth Gilbert writes,
“Frustration is not an interruption of your process; frustration is the process.”
In our busy world, it’s hard to find a connection when writing disappoints.
For example, picture me telling someone about an idea that doesn't find a way to words easily or I share with them about my creeping self-doubt over working on an original idea. The ones who aren't into writing would most definitely ask me: if it's paining you this way, why don’t you leave it?
How would I explain to them that there is no compulsion to write from the world outside of me, of course, but what about the world that's inside me?
What about the idea that keeps calling more loudly when you're alone?
This makes sense only to those who have experienced these feelings firsthand.
However, rereading familiar words (of those who have experienced these feelings at some point in their career) fuels the desire to write, and that is all we need. A reminder that we are not truly alone.
2. Re-reading ritual feels familiar, and familiarity is the antidote to uncertainty:
As humans, we crave newness; we look forward to getting glimpses of things we don’t know. Future, for example. But sometimes, revisiting familiarity is a healthier choice.
When things are uncertain, your mind loves to go back to certain and familiar things to help its coping mechanism.
Everything old is gold again.
In marketing, designing, politics, and even writing, nostalgic techniques are used because it is easier to trigger an emotion we’ve felt than to create it from scratch.
And the book(s) we cherish ignite a familiar emotional connection to landmarks of the past.
Cornelia Funke, the author of Inkheart Trilogy that captured the world audience, writes about rereading,
“Isn’t it odd how much fatter a book gets when you’ve read it several times? It’s as if something were left between the pages every time you read it.
Feelings, thoughts, sounds, smells — when you look at the book again, many years later, you find yourself there, too — a slightly younger self, slightly different, as if the book had preserved you, like a pressed flower both strange and familiar.”
So, a favorite book speaks on an emotional, familiar level.
And, sometimes, familiarity is bliss providing you with greater self-continuity. So, whenever you feel like doubting yourself — your writing part, in particular, turn a few pages and surround yourself with familiar warmth.
3. Re-reading ritual inspires you at the right time:
When intrinsic inspiration fades, we depend on intervention by external factors.
The world is full of distractions, but it offers a perpetual stream of inspiration, too. The artwork and literature, for example.
The problem, however, is the unexpected nature of inspiration.
As I’m sure you know, there’s no surefire way to fill the well with inspiration and motivation (as per your requirement), but reading the right book at the right time begs us to chase the goals/life we have been looking for.
In his memoir, On Writing, Stephen King shared the lesson he learned when he abandoned his dream desk and shoved a handmade one into the corner of his office. He says,
“Life isn’t a support system of art, it’s the other way round.”
That’s the way of life, for the most part. But in the universe of unchanging words, we find support. We find ways to embrace our differences.
For example, because I mostly write nonfiction, I mostly read the same genre. However, in the fiction genre, I am always looking for books that feature a writer as a main character or even as a supporting character. I see their journey, I see them accepting rejection letters with grace, and finally, I see them reach a point where the outcome is irrelevant and they continue to create art at their vibration, eventually shaking the world in their way.
Thus, inspiration bathes in the book(s) you treasure as it reminds you of a journey or a goal that needs you.
So, whenever writing feels hard, read something from your support system and recapture the zeal you felt while reading it for the first time.
4. Re-reading ritual is good for your well-being:
Writing is satisfying work that washes away pain and mood swings, but it, too, takes a toll as much as other jobs.
About five months ago, I started writing for an internet publishing company. I love the pub’s vision and support while being on the team, and I’m grateful for it, but some days I feel suffocated, which arises because I find myself forcing myself to write that way.
You know every publication has a theme and a vision and that’s the thing for which the audience looks up at them. This algorithm-oriented writing pushes the joy to the other side, sometimes.
Thus, our lives beyond paper ruin our creative attitude.
Also, after running demanding errands, it’s harder to write as much as we want when the ‘I’m not feeling the idea’ mood creeps in.
And, for a writer, nothing is more irritating.
However, William James once remarked,
“The greatest weapon against stress is our ability to choose one thought over another.”
Your favorite book(s) can help with this.
The curious thing about the book(s) in which we willingly preserve a part of our lives (by rereading till we lose count) is self-reflection.
Escapism into self-reflection fills the gaps with encouraging feelings even when we don’t feel the energy to invest in the lonely business of positive self-talk. It facilitates replacing stressful thoughts with warmer and positive ones.
Studies also show strolling down memory lane is good for health and emotional well-being. Nostalgia provides a window into one’s authentic self and gives life a greater sense of meaning.
Isn’t it the thing we want in our writing lives?
Summarizing Lessons:
1. Every writer has his/her share of complexities. Your chosen book as a writing ritual can make you realize that you’re not alone.
2. Familiarity with such a book helps you improve your focus.
3. In a world, where inspiration is uncertain in its very nature, such a book is a surefire way to get inspired.
4. By replacing stress with focus and uncertainty with inspiration, your favorite book inspires you at the right time.
Final Thoughts:
Each one of us has different rules and outlooks on writing, but anyone who writes has had his fair share of doubts and jitters.
In the ebbs and flows of writing life, we come across as many gifts as frustrations. There’s only a need to scrape off the layers of self-doubt and burnout to see the inspiration and hope in gleaming folds.
The words we read cannot die; they come back to remind us of our strength and to brush off the crippling sensations.
No matter how hard it is to write on some days, words that speak to your soul are always there to help you overcome the overwhelming sensations.
Keep your inspiration nearer to you; nestle it whenever you feel overwhelmed because it reminds you of that.
Let’s remember what Parker Palmer has said about life (which is no less relevant to writing life):
“Before I can tell my life what I want to do with it, I must listen to my life telling me who I am.” — Parker Palmer
