Comments on: Jane Hirshfield on not writing

By: Antony Kamau

Antony Kamau — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 15:05:20 +0000

I went for nearly five years without writing until I joined a friend in a Poetry blog. I have no idea what happened but my writing changed so much I didn’t recognize it anymore (Was way better).

I should thank my friend for telling me how stupid I was for stopping to write.

By: zoe858

zoe858 — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 02:16:07 +0000

When I’m not writing I know I’m just absorbing new material and when I’m ready to write. The words just flow from my mind to my fingers

By: christine

christine — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 14:23:34 +0000

When I’m not writing I feel like my lover has gone away without me. Even if I’m not writing poetry, I journal. Rants, kvetching, whining, it all goes down in my spiral. Even if I want to burn it later. But it’s good to give yourself permission just to be.

By: ekswitaj

ekswitaj — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 07:02:58 +0000

I guess my equivalent to not writing is writing on a different project. When I temporarily shelve on style or subject, it incubates, while other energies play on the page.

By: jo

jo — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 11:43:07 +0000

I need this right now. I haven’t written a thing for about 3 weeks and funnily enough I’d thought of the word fallow the other day. Never mind, next week I’m back at it, for today I’m just reading.

By: Keith S. Wilson

Keith S. Wilson — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 20:03:19 +0000

I also write every single day, and I have only just begun to wonder if ‘recharging’ is necessary. I suppose I will only feel this if I begin to notice my poetry continuously sucks. Otherwise, it’s on with the daily writing.

By: Pat Galvin

Pat Galvin — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 09:58:54 +0000

Michelle, nice quote. I believe that ideas and inspiration are like a constant shower. Each one like a shooting star, if you blink you miss it. We should always stand out in these showers. Never seek shelter in a shop doorway
or bus shelter, never wait until the rain passes.

By: Julie

Julie — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 22:09:04 +0000

The creative process fascinates me. It’s such an individual thing. I have down periods, but I’ve never gone for months without writing something (even if it’s bad).

I imagine Jane Hirshfield is writing subconsciously during those down times, because when she produces, it’s excellent. I like what she says about emerging from the fallows with an altered set of poetic energies.

Thanks for another interesting quote, Michelle. I’ll see you next week (I’m off for a bit). I hope your week is a beautiful one:)

By: Regina

Regina — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 21:45:50 +0000

Hm, an interesting quote. I never find myself not writing-! I write something every day. But I wonder… can one write too much? Should I be burned out from writing something every day. At first, it was a discipline- I must write- but now, if I don’t write, I feel, well, funny…
Are there times when a writer needs to take a break from all writing, allow the fallows to set in…?
Thanks, Michelle- some food for thought here.
xo