Adopting a Writing Mindset

Immersing yourself in a writing project changes the way you see the world around you.

Want to see the world like a poet? Try taking a class on writing poetry.

Some years back, I took a creative writing/poetry class in a continuing education program, to counter-balance my corporate writing work.

The weekly assignments kept me on my toes. Looking for inspiration, I started noticing unexpected connections, mood shifts, and undercurrents to find fodder for a poem.

Committing to write poetry inspired me to pay attention like a poet.

Something similar happens when I am absorbed in writing a book: I see its themes everywhere. (This is part of the immersion that I wrote about in this post on finding one’s pace.)

When you delve into a writing project (or any creative endeavor), it’s like acquiring a set of glasses you can use to see the world differently. That fresh perspective might be a healthy thing right now.

Summoning the writing mindset

If you read the news regularly, you may be ruminating on the state of the world, your personal finances, your relatives’ health, or the local economy. The pandemic may influence your thoughts. Metaphorically, you’re…