*Note: Some people have reported not being able to see the discussion questions, so I am doing them all in one post. I hope that helps. You can also join the discussion in our discord group.
Section 3 is all about permission.
Question 1: Rules How do you feel about rules? Do you follow them? Break them? Think they are always right or question them instinctively? Seems like the point in this book is to question them, to live your life according to your own rules, and to not wait around for permission... oh wait, she gives you permission right off the bat. I recently read the book Spilling Ink, a guide for young writers and one of my favorite parts is the recurring sections "Writing Rules to Ignore or adore" where they look at the rules and discuss both the merits of it and the reasons to break them
Question 2: Permission "You do not need anybody's permission to live a creative life... creativity is the hallmark of our species. We have the senses for it; we have the curiosity for it; we have the opposable thumbs for it; we have the rhythm for it; we have the language and the excitement and the innate connection to divinity for it."
She also talks about David Whyte's "arrogance of belonging" which allows you to step outside of yourself and engage more fully with life, saying I am here."
What do you think? Do you ever feel like you can't, shouldn't, aren't important enough or any other line of hooey?
Go ahead, define yourself. Stand tall and say it aloud and for all of us here. "I am a writer."
Question 3: Try this instead Speaking of higher education, schooling, being taught the "right way"... she offers to try this instead. "Push yourself deeper into the world, explore more bravely or go more deeply and bravely inward." What might that look like for you in the next few months in regard to your writing?
Question 4: Rejection Ah, the dreaded rejection letters! She takes a throw it all out there and see what sticks approach.
What have you experienced with rejection that influences your journey as a writer?
Have you gotten rejections and what was your response?
She says "You hit it to me, I'm going to hit it straight back out into the universe." How can you reframe your thinking about rejections to positively influence you?
SHe says, "The rewards had to come from the joy of puzzling out the work itself." If you choose to focus on that for NaNo, how might your experience be different?
Question 5: Stop Whining "Stop whining and get back to work." Werner Herzog
She gives us reasons to stop whining: * It's annoying and boring. We all have reasons to whine. * "It's hard." as a whine is stupid since yeah it's hard or everyone would do it and it wouldn't be special * No one listens anyway. * You scare away your inspiration. When you complain about how hard it is, your idea/inspiration/muse just might think "Sorry for bothering you" and take themselves elsewhere.
She wraps this up with the idea of instead saying "I enjoy my creativity!" which according to her is the last truly subversive creative idea and totally gangster attitude.
So, we are about to embark on NaNo- a truly challenging endeavor. How might you use this in the months ahead? When you feel like whining or complaining or giving up- what could you do differently?
Section 3 is all about permission.
Question 1: Rules
How do you feel about rules? Do you follow them? Break them? Think they are always right or question them instinctively?
Seems like the point in this book is to question them, to live your life according to your own rules, and to not wait around for permission... oh wait, she gives you permission right off the bat.
I recently read the book Spilling Ink, a guide for young writers and one of my favorite parts is the recurring sections "Writing Rules to Ignore or adore" where they look at the rules and discuss both the merits of it and the reasons to break them
Question 2: Permission
"You do not need anybody's permission to live a creative life... creativity is the hallmark of our species. We have the senses for it; we have the curiosity for it; we have the opposable thumbs for it; we have the rhythm for it; we have the language and the excitement and the innate connection to divinity for it."
She also talks about David Whyte's "arrogance of belonging" which allows you to step outside of yourself and engage more fully with life, saying I am here."
What do you think? Do you ever feel like you can't, shouldn't, aren't important enough or any other line of hooey?
Go ahead, define yourself. Stand tall and say it aloud and for all of us here. "I am a writer."
Question 3: Try this instead
Speaking of higher education, schooling, being taught the "right way"... she offers to try this instead.
"Push yourself deeper into the world, explore more bravely or go more deeply and bravely inward."
What might that look like for you in the next few months in regard to your writing?
Question 4: Rejection
Ah, the dreaded rejection letters! She takes a throw it all out there and see what sticks approach.
What have you experienced with rejection that influences your journey as a writer?
Have you gotten rejections and what was your response?
She says "You hit it to me, I'm going to hit it straight back out into the universe."
How can you reframe your thinking about rejections to positively influence you?
SHe says, "The rewards had to come from the joy of puzzling out the work itself." If you choose to focus on that for NaNo, how might your experience be different?
Question 5: Stop Whining
"Stop whining and get back to work." Werner Herzog
She gives us reasons to stop whining:
* It's annoying and boring. We all have reasons to whine.
* "It's hard." as a whine is stupid since yeah it's hard or everyone would do it and it wouldn't be special
* No one listens anyway.
* You scare away your inspiration. When you complain about how hard it is, your idea/inspiration/muse just might think "Sorry for bothering you" and take themselves elsewhere.
She wraps this up with the idea of instead saying "I enjoy my creativity!" which according to her is the last truly subversive creative idea and totally gangster attitude.
So, we are about to embark on NaNo- a truly challenging endeavor. How might you use this in the months ahead? When you feel like whining or complaining or giving up- what could you do differently?