Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for man.
Colossians 3:23
There was no feeling like the joyful abandon of play as a child. I could spend hours outside with my friends and siblings lost in time until the dinner bell brought us home.
Brenda Ueland in her book If You Want to Write, describes a class of children painting with that kind of abandon:
“Now these children worked for five or six hours at a stretch…with the blissful, radiant power of a Michelangelo or Blake…It is the way you are to feel when you are writing – happy, truthful and free, with that wonderful contented absorption of a child stringing beads in kindergarten.”
An author that I know started writing “Playtime” on her calendar instead of “Work”. It helps to come with a sense of expectation to the desk instead of dread. When I lose myself in the writing I do my best work.
Brenda Ueland also advises writers to guard against writing to impress others, instead to be bold and confident in who they are: “…writing is not a performance but a generosity.” Children do this naturally in play.
May I bring a child-like abandon to my writing today.
How are you looking at writing today?
Time to work? Or time to play?
Laurie and Betsy, writingsisters.com
I often quote from Ueland’s book in my writing workshops – in particular, that she learned to feel, in writing, not like Lord Byron on a mountain top, but like a child in kindergarten, happily stringing beads
I love that quote too. Sometimes we can stifle our creativity by taking ourselves too seriously.
Aww….my eyes got teary at the joy in the face of the child in your picture. You? Loved it!
That’s me in joyful abandon! (Betsy). I think Laurie is behind me – I sure equally happy in the moment. I love that “arms wide open” feeling.
Oh my gosh, how do I need this today, as I go back in for another rewrite, feeling the weight of the responsibility on it on my shoulders. I am writing “playtime” on my calendar from now on!
So good! Playtime has a nice ring to it.
I love the quote about being bold and confident in who we are instead of trying to impress. You have reminded me of Emerson’s essay on Self-Reliance, the part where he says not to be timid to express our own original thoughts. I also admire the analogy of children playing- how well I recall that abandon, and hope to express that in my writing. Thanks for this thought-provoking post.
Shalom, Olive
Thanks, Olive. We can make things so complicated. I love remembering that feeling of play and losing myself in it. The best writing is like that. I appreciate your comment. Blessings.
Definitiely a time to play–even the painful stuff! It is the healing balm to my heart.
I can often sense that “playtime” feeling in your photos. It’s the best.
Thanks!
I LOVE this–so well put, Sisters. Writing is definitely “play” for me–except when I’m editing long pieces; that I’m afraid, is Work. God bless you both today–love, sis Caddo
Hi Sis Caddo, Yes, Writing has its work time too doesn’t it. Playtime’s over and we have to clean our room!
You know, writing can be fun, losing oneself in thoughts. Escaping into an imaginary world and forgetting the things around you.
I love that about writing and about reading too. Thanks for commenting.
I have found that when I am true, instead of trying to impress, my writing finds home in more hearts, as if the reader can sense the truth in it.
Thanks for this post!
Trying to impress takes much more effort I think. Why do we do it???
In my case, it’s fear of rejection. How silly. I should have learned by now that rejection comes, no matter!
Oh yes, there’s always rejection!
Playtime! Twill immediately adjust my schedule! Thank you dear sisters for another wonderful reminder.
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