Hola amigos! I’ve been in Mexico writing my third book, and I feel called to share some tips that have worked for me as I’ve gotten ~in flow~. Keep in mind that I failed the only writing class I ever took. But if you’re like me and not a particularly
“Write at a small desk” is soooo true!! ⭐️ I noticed the ‘distance’ I have from my laptop mirrors the distance I feel toward the topic. Work emails — the further away, the better. Substack newsletters? My best ones have always come when I am curled up in bed (throwing my back out when I am done). See #1: the need for squats. Thank you Mari!!! 🌸🌷❤️🔥
Thank you for sharing all this valuable insight! It makes me understand more abt why certain things I write come across as "perfect" (aka so authentically me) and others feel fake or surface level. This essay made me think abt who I'm writing said perfect pieces to, and I realized it was my inner child. It's amazing how I've been trying to soothe her all these years with my writing, even before therapy taught me abt inner child work. Gosh, humans are so fascinating lol. I haven't written in a while, but this new insight is stirring my creative juices again✍️📖 As usual, thank you for doing what you do - it makes me feel so seen❤️
Mari!! Your timing is impeccable! I've finally returned to my writing project after a near 3 mo. hiatus and the rust is REAL. I spent the past two days chipping away to find my groove again. When this popped into my inbox, it became the refreshing bottle (yes the big boy) of Topo Chico I needed. Up until this point, my "SAM" was a collection of cheerleaders in my corner (MY mom also included), but when I realized that my story MUST be a lot darker, I also realized it might NOT be those same cheerleaders' cuppa. I recently stumbled upon a writer who publishes musings inspired by his work at a crisis call center. Dark to say the least. Having him inside my brain has helped me dig deeper into the piece I'm working on this weekend. I'm also obsessed with what you said about "Forget Logic." It's so easy to fall prey to cliched turns of phrase. Such a good reminder (and way more fun) to push ourselves out of our native language's comfort zone. "Break Your Own Heart" is that final bite I often leave on my plate because I fear I'm too full. But I know it's something I need to ingest to make the meal complete. It's terrifying to put your whole vulnerable heart out there, but such a must. And finally, "Surprise Yourself" is what got me into the mess I'm in (writing bits and pieces that flow out of me but now need a genuine plot line story arc), but I have to trust the mystical path that led me deep into these woods. This gave me an entire vat of faith: "Be weird, be incomprehensible, be spooky, be strange, be the you that you learned how to quiet down a long time ago. I want to read that version of you!" I cannot WAIT to pull up to the feast you're cookin up for us. And thank you for nourishing those dear strays while you're at it.
You're getting me all excited to just return writing to my journal again with these tips ✨ Have you thought of the title for your new book yet? 😍 I love how you mentioned about mimicking the mannerisms of the person in front of you! Coming from India, I switch accents when I am in a room with someone who's speaking English with an American accent versus someone with an Indian accent! And funnily enough, the Indian accent picks up a lot of British English pronunciations - I don't know how I'm able to switch accents so subconsciously, I must sound incredibly ridiculous! I have so many questions to ask you about this entire writing process Mari!!! How do you feel about ChatGPT or using AI to write? If you're in Mexico writing and wish to describe something about New York, is it easy to do so from memory or do you have to wait until you get back in order to experience it again and then write about it? Also, I graduate on May 17, so I'm bummed about not making it to the Retreat 😕 And I have no idea how much life is going to look like after I graduate (being an international student and all that) but will definitely try to sign up for the Wyoming one! All my love for you Mari! PS. I come to your work when I am seeking some rhythm in my brain 🎶and thank you for introducing your blueberries to other works as well!
"forget logic" resonates here! I just used a line when writing about outer cape beaches "and believe me when I give this sermon" and that felt serendipitous to reading your line "you are the Pope of your story". yes!!
Really enjoyed reading this, 4 and 9 really resonated. A great reminder of where the focus should be - and how important it is to remain open and vulnerable to connect with readers. Thanks!
Eeeek! I just signed up for your retreat in North Carolina! I am so excited, and also a little nervous! You are someone who I have followed for YEARS and I'm excited to learn from you in person!
Loved this so much, particularly writing to someone else. I've always wrote to the man I've been lucky to love for 13 years and he's a brilliant muse as is the younger/future versions of myself - this also helps me connect with your other tip around breaking your own heart, writing for what I need and then that, in my experience, translates to what the reader needs without trying - thank you Mari 🌼
Mari! Thank you for this! I'm trying to get back in touch with the part of me who loved writing poetic pose/poetry, and I'm taking what you say to heart. "When you’re writing, you get to decide what’s sacred or not" is singlehandedly one of the best pieces of advice I've received on writing. I still have the art piece I made of your quote (from an old old post/essay) on my wall: "Living on Earth should break my heart every day, and living on Earth should lift my heart every day." All my love!
All your tips are helpful to me as a new writer. I often get in my own way. I especially like the idea of warming up with other writer’s work and having a Musical playlist. FYI Buechner is one of my favorites but never thought about using his work as a springboard. Rosemerry Wahtola Trummer has been an inspiration for my poetry. Thanks for your tips. Good luck with your book.
Can’t wait to read your book, Mari. I’ve been a fan of yours now for so long.. and I’m always grateful when a creative like you gets through a book and stays so grounded..while also staying dreamy… haha. Would love to meet you someday and/or talk writing. I’m
working on some essays/stories/book about my hospital/ home experience in the last year and all the ways my son’s heart being healed has changed me, or maybe showed me more of who I am, and who we are as humans… much love
“Write at a small desk” is soooo true!! ⭐️ I noticed the ‘distance’ I have from my laptop mirrors the distance I feel toward the topic. Work emails — the further away, the better. Substack newsletters? My best ones have always come when I am curled up in bed (throwing my back out when I am done). See #1: the need for squats. Thank you Mari!!! 🌸🌷❤️🔥
Thank you for sharing all this valuable insight! It makes me understand more abt why certain things I write come across as "perfect" (aka so authentically me) and others feel fake or surface level. This essay made me think abt who I'm writing said perfect pieces to, and I realized it was my inner child. It's amazing how I've been trying to soothe her all these years with my writing, even before therapy taught me abt inner child work. Gosh, humans are so fascinating lol. I haven't written in a while, but this new insight is stirring my creative juices again✍️📖 As usual, thank you for doing what you do - it makes me feel so seen❤️
Mari!! Your timing is impeccable! I've finally returned to my writing project after a near 3 mo. hiatus and the rust is REAL. I spent the past two days chipping away to find my groove again. When this popped into my inbox, it became the refreshing bottle (yes the big boy) of Topo Chico I needed. Up until this point, my "SAM" was a collection of cheerleaders in my corner (MY mom also included), but when I realized that my story MUST be a lot darker, I also realized it might NOT be those same cheerleaders' cuppa. I recently stumbled upon a writer who publishes musings inspired by his work at a crisis call center. Dark to say the least. Having him inside my brain has helped me dig deeper into the piece I'm working on this weekend. I'm also obsessed with what you said about "Forget Logic." It's so easy to fall prey to cliched turns of phrase. Such a good reminder (and way more fun) to push ourselves out of our native language's comfort zone. "Break Your Own Heart" is that final bite I often leave on my plate because I fear I'm too full. But I know it's something I need to ingest to make the meal complete. It's terrifying to put your whole vulnerable heart out there, but such a must. And finally, "Surprise Yourself" is what got me into the mess I'm in (writing bits and pieces that flow out of me but now need a genuine plot line story arc), but I have to trust the mystical path that led me deep into these woods. This gave me an entire vat of faith: "Be weird, be incomprehensible, be spooky, be strange, be the you that you learned how to quiet down a long time ago. I want to read that version of you!" I cannot WAIT to pull up to the feast you're cookin up for us. And thank you for nourishing those dear strays while you're at it.
You're getting me all excited to just return writing to my journal again with these tips ✨ Have you thought of the title for your new book yet? 😍 I love how you mentioned about mimicking the mannerisms of the person in front of you! Coming from India, I switch accents when I am in a room with someone who's speaking English with an American accent versus someone with an Indian accent! And funnily enough, the Indian accent picks up a lot of British English pronunciations - I don't know how I'm able to switch accents so subconsciously, I must sound incredibly ridiculous! I have so many questions to ask you about this entire writing process Mari!!! How do you feel about ChatGPT or using AI to write? If you're in Mexico writing and wish to describe something about New York, is it easy to do so from memory or do you have to wait until you get back in order to experience it again and then write about it? Also, I graduate on May 17, so I'm bummed about not making it to the Retreat 😕 And I have no idea how much life is going to look like after I graduate (being an international student and all that) but will definitely try to sign up for the Wyoming one! All my love for you Mari! PS. I come to your work when I am seeking some rhythm in my brain 🎶and thank you for introducing your blueberries to other works as well!
"forget logic" resonates here! I just used a line when writing about outer cape beaches "and believe me when I give this sermon" and that felt serendipitous to reading your line "you are the Pope of your story". yes!!
Loved these!! I hate when writing tips feel too ‘this is the only way’ but these were personal and made me smile!!
Really enjoyed reading this, 4 and 9 really resonated. A great reminder of where the focus should be - and how important it is to remain open and vulnerable to connect with readers. Thanks!
Eeeek! I just signed up for your retreat in North Carolina! I am so excited, and also a little nervous! You are someone who I have followed for YEARS and I'm excited to learn from you in person!
Loved this so much, particularly writing to someone else. I've always wrote to the man I've been lucky to love for 13 years and he's a brilliant muse as is the younger/future versions of myself - this also helps me connect with your other tip around breaking your own heart, writing for what I need and then that, in my experience, translates to what the reader needs without trying - thank you Mari 🌼
This issue is such a gift. Thank you for this helpful advice and your beautiful words/genuine way of looking at the world!
Do squats and forget logic are some of my favorite pieces of advice 😂🩵🙌🏼 Loved this post!
Mari! Thank you for this! I'm trying to get back in touch with the part of me who loved writing poetic pose/poetry, and I'm taking what you say to heart. "When you’re writing, you get to decide what’s sacred or not" is singlehandedly one of the best pieces of advice I've received on writing. I still have the art piece I made of your quote (from an old old post/essay) on my wall: "Living on Earth should break my heart every day, and living on Earth should lift my heart every day." All my love!
All your tips are helpful to me as a new writer. I often get in my own way. I especially like the idea of warming up with other writer’s work and having a Musical playlist. FYI Buechner is one of my favorites but never thought about using his work as a springboard. Rosemerry Wahtola Trummer has been an inspiration for my poetry. Thanks for your tips. Good luck with your book.
I will look forward to hearing more about your book! Love this list.
Can’t wait to read your book, Mari. I’ve been a fan of yours now for so long.. and I’m always grateful when a creative like you gets through a book and stays so grounded..while also staying dreamy… haha. Would love to meet you someday and/or talk writing. I’m
working on some essays/stories/book about my hospital/ home experience in the last year and all the ways my son’s heart being healed has changed me, or maybe showed me more of who I am, and who we are as humans… much love
I love this list and it inspires me to get back to my morning pages practice keeping many of these in mind. Thank you!