Process Notes

The other day I was talking to a workshop participant about the importance of process notes–literally writing about writing–what you were trying to achieve, what was happening around you as you were doing it, what feelings it brought up.  And then awkwardly, I realized that I’ve been letting my own process notes habit slip.  As I’m delving into a dark place in my writing (darker than usual, if one can imagine–I’m exploring some themes I have quite purposefully shielded myself from), I know that I will need to get back to it in order to survive the writing and to give it space to breathe.  I put pressure on myself, because my writing time is so limited, to produce writing that will contribute to a “body of work.”  And in doing so, I think I stunt my writing.

And then there’s the above portrait (of yours truly), done by the amazing Siu, who I suggested should start working on portraits yesterday morning and has done two (that I know of) in the past 24 hours.  Because she’s going to learn how, damn it.  And that’s the approach my writing needs.  Just nurturing the process, improving skills, working for the sheer joy of it.

I mean it.  But tonight I’m rewatching the first season of Gossip Girl.  That’s important too.  Because Chace Crawford.