Hope Lyda

Writing Retreat January 4, 2009

Filed under: Uncategorized — Hope Lyda @ 3:10 am

I’m savoring my last night of a personal writing retreat. Chose to stay in a city neighborhood that I used to live in. It’s been a great escape from routine and has helped open up my thoughts. Sitting in front of a blank screen can be painful…it is an act of perseverance to keep staring at it until something surfaces and makes its way to the keyboard. I’m working on my next book of meditations which is why I like to wait out the chaos in my head before I start writing. Doesn’t always happen that way. My goal for this trip was to press on in the writing and to not pause long enough to go back and judge, tear apart, delete what I wrote earlier in the day. So far I’ve been successful.

I’m grateful for a change of view. Shifting “place” always works to shift my perspective and ideas. When I try to write from my normal perch at home, I find that I cycle through the same thoughts for hours. It’s important to shake up routine and to take in fresh sights and sounds.  Back to staring at the screen…with gratitude.