I take a #2 mechanical pencil and a legal pad out to the porch with one line written on it, because I know it’s going to lead to a song.
Time? Sometimes it keeps pace with nature outside, other times it slows to a reflective pace, moves out of my reach; often taking weeks to finish even one verse or chorus. (even years, until I feel I can release it, to float back to the surface.)
But when the magic comes, I do feel that I am underwater with my words, and the birds and the bees and the trees wash over me slowly until I come up for air… always surprised, and always curious how long I have been under.
Time writing disappears. Like when I meditate underwater, let most of air out to lie on bottom of a pool. Quiet, listen to heart beat. Total time to myself and one with the water. I stay as long as I can. No thoughts, if I could stay longer underwater I would. Pure bliss.
Writing has shattered any concept of linear time for me. Especially, my own life as linear in time. When I write about my past, present or future, there are no rules about order. I instinctively jitter from one scene in my adolescence to a vision I had on a walk yesterday. And when others read it, they are not lost. It makes sense to them too. This shows me that we are constantly living all our moments as one breathing thing. Within us, the events of our lives are not sequenced. They are happening and being recalled and fusing together all the time, to form one kaleidoscopic composition. Time is more an abstract painting than a story.
'This shows me that we are constantly living all our moments as one breathing thing' - This really sparked something inside me, I'll be sitting with this today. Thank you for your comment.
I’m so touched, Anagha. This piece is unbelievable. And incredibly poetic. Whether it’s a poem or an essay or both is entirely up to you. In my mind, it’s both.
I understand what you’re talking about in a profound way. This is akin to how I experience my/(our?) Creation Space. I think yours is more developed and more able to run simulations that really mimic and yet tweak whatever this “real life” thing is. But I expand the capabilities of mine often, as it’s clear you do too.
Wow, thank you Mike, this is so generous! I worked really hard on this piece after a fresh burst of inspiration and I'm really glad it came through. Here's to expanding our capabilities!
How beautiful! Funny I'd read this today. I've noticed, some essays are harder for me to write. Especially when it comes to digging into my memory. Writing an essay from your past, even if it's fond memories, is hard when you've used forgetting as a coping tool all your life.
Thanks for reading Sanobar <3 And I completely understand the struggle of being a writer who has gotten used to forgetting. I've found that beautiful things can emerge even from those empty gaps in memory. And sometimes writing the hard thing can be a way of healing, I hope it is for you.
Writing is my time traveling machine, which takes me to places and times, that I miss and long for... but have never been. It's like a nightime dream, that's happening in real life, with my eyes wide open.
Yeah. It goes to what Whitman said, "stop this day and night with me and you will know the secrets to poetry." Some people would also call this "flow" or even ecstasy. I value writing not just because it produces something hopefully amazing, but because it allows me to get into that state.
Hi Anagha. I really enjoyed reading this piece. When I am in "the zone", time seems to keep going on outside, but when I look up, I feel slowed down. Does that make sense? I find that writing in a notebook is quite different from using my laptop, too.
Anagha! Love this…
I take a #2 mechanical pencil and a legal pad out to the porch with one line written on it, because I know it’s going to lead to a song.
Time? Sometimes it keeps pace with nature outside, other times it slows to a reflective pace, moves out of my reach; often taking weeks to finish even one verse or chorus. (even years, until I feel I can release it, to float back to the surface.)
But when the magic comes, I do feel that I am underwater with my words, and the birds and the bees and the trees wash over me slowly until I come up for air… always surprised, and always curious how long I have been under.
Thanks for a great question!
This is a beautiful answer Sea, I love it. It is always a surprise right? How long we can stay under.
It was a super beautiful question. And yes, it is surprising, isn’t it?
“When I first started to write, it felt like a type of alchemy - making one thing out of another. “ YES!
Really beautiful piece. I love this.
Thank you Sarah! I'm really glad it resonated with you
Time writing disappears. Like when I meditate underwater, let most of air out to lie on bottom of a pool. Quiet, listen to heart beat. Total time to myself and one with the water. I stay as long as I can. No thoughts, if I could stay longer underwater I would. Pure bliss.
Pure bliss indeed!
Writers create worlds. Every one is their own God!
I agree!
Writing has shattered any concept of linear time for me. Especially, my own life as linear in time. When I write about my past, present or future, there are no rules about order. I instinctively jitter from one scene in my adolescence to a vision I had on a walk yesterday. And when others read it, they are not lost. It makes sense to them too. This shows me that we are constantly living all our moments as one breathing thing. Within us, the events of our lives are not sequenced. They are happening and being recalled and fusing together all the time, to form one kaleidoscopic composition. Time is more an abstract painting than a story.
'This shows me that we are constantly living all our moments as one breathing thing' - This really sparked something inside me, I'll be sitting with this today. Thank you for your comment.
I’m so touched, Anagha. This piece is unbelievable. And incredibly poetic. Whether it’s a poem or an essay or both is entirely up to you. In my mind, it’s both.
I understand what you’re talking about in a profound way. This is akin to how I experience my/(our?) Creation Space. I think yours is more developed and more able to run simulations that really mimic and yet tweak whatever this “real life” thing is. But I expand the capabilities of mine often, as it’s clear you do too.
Beautiful.
Wow, thank you Mike, this is so generous! I worked really hard on this piece after a fresh burst of inspiration and I'm really glad it came through. Here's to expanding our capabilities!
How beautiful! Funny I'd read this today. I've noticed, some essays are harder for me to write. Especially when it comes to digging into my memory. Writing an essay from your past, even if it's fond memories, is hard when you've used forgetting as a coping tool all your life.
Thanks for reading Sanobar <3 And I completely understand the struggle of being a writer who has gotten used to forgetting. I've found that beautiful things can emerge even from those empty gaps in memory. And sometimes writing the hard thing can be a way of healing, I hope it is for you.
It really is! This is why I write.
Time disappears. Or else I disappear? I don't know.
I loose all sense of it.
Who is disappearing-the one's not feeling, or the one that's not felt?
Beautiful essay, thank you, Anagha
Yes, perhaps it is us who disappear Chen! And thank you for reading.
Writing is my time traveling machine, which takes me to places and times, that I miss and long for... but have never been. It's like a nightime dream, that's happening in real life, with my eyes wide open.
reading this feels so raw. i love how it portrayed how writing could make you feel such unusual emotions
Yeah. It goes to what Whitman said, "stop this day and night with me and you will know the secrets to poetry." Some people would also call this "flow" or even ecstasy. I value writing not just because it produces something hopefully amazing, but because it allows me to get into that state.
I love this perspective: valuing the state of flow over the outcome
Yeah. In workshops I try to aim for getting into flow for it's own sake. If anyone writes well, that's a bonus, but not the goal itself.
Hi Anagha. I really enjoyed reading this piece. When I am in "the zone", time seems to keep going on outside, but when I look up, I feel slowed down. Does that make sense? I find that writing in a notebook is quite different from using my laptop, too.
That makes sense! And I’ve noticed the difference between notebook and laptop as well
I love this, when I write I am able to experience my memories afresh just like when they happened
Thank you Amara! And you’re right, writing also changes ones relationship with memory
From one mermaid to another, lovely!! XO
Thank you Danielle!
Letting the edges fall away & resting in the middle - writing ✍️ is the calm in- between. LZ
Absolutely!
Delicious! Yes, I completely lose track of clock time while writing. But somehow, things work out.
I’m the same!! And thanks for reading, Aaron