Writing is like breathing

Outdoor writing class organized by the author.

Emotional Nurturing

Intuitive writing - have you ever heard of it? Simply put, intuitive writing is using intuition to write. With traditional writing, the writer will build a pre-structured article and then apply writing techniques, select words to write the content as desired.

Intuitive writing, on the other hand, can come at any time without preparation or calculation. To allow intuition to guide the writing, we must first see writing as a nurturing process, not just when we sit in front of the computer or move the pen on a blank page to convey our thoughts and feelings into a text.

When we “inhale,” we broaden our horizons and take in new knowledge and experiences. These can be books, articles, conversations with friends, or even quiet moments alone. This is also a cumulative process, where each small piece contributes to the overall picture of life.

But just “inhaling” is not enough, writing is how we “exhale”, turning what we have learned into thoughts, stories. It is a creative process, where each word, each sentence carries within it a part of the writer.

Writing is not just a matter of recording what we have learned, but also a deep reflection of the soul and mind. The writer must consider the whole process from acquiring knowledge, experience, inspiration to writing as a cycle, like the cycle of the body.

To write, you must allow yourself time to balance your breathing, not just inhaling or exhaling, but a harmonious coordination of both. In other words, to delve deeply into writing, you must delve deeply into life, allowing yourself to enjoy life.

Writer Haruki Murakami is famous for his daily writing routine. He wakes up at 4am, writes for 5-6 hours, and then spends the rest of the day reading, jogging, and thinking. This process helps him maintain a balance between charging and writing, while also nurturing inspiration and ideas for his works.

Talking to yourself through writing

“The Parisian” (original title: “A Moveable Feast”) is a memoir by Ernest Hemingway, about the years he lived and worked in Paris in the 1920s. This was an important period in Hemingway's writing career, when he met and befriended many other famous writers and artists such as F. Scott Fitzgerald, Gertrude Stein, and Ezra Pound.

In addition to detailing his writing habits, Hemingway also emphasized the importance of living and experiencing life in order to write authentically and deeply. He often spent time observing and recording the small details of everyday life, from conversations in cafes to street scenes in Paris. These experiences became an endless source of inspiration for his works.

The book also discusses the difficulties and challenges Hemingway faced in his writing process, from finding inspiration to dealing with external pressures. However, he always persevered and constantly worked to perfect his writing skills. Hemingway believed that maintaining a regular writing routine and balancing “inhaling” and “breathing” were the keys to creating excellent works.

As a practitioner and teacher of intuitive writing, I have never called it a healing practice, although some students have told me that they have found healing through this practice. Some have rediscovered their love of painting and photography. Some have come to terms with their inner voices. Some have cried when they have touched the depths of their painful memories, and burst into joy when they have bravely faced locked dark rooms. Some have become confident, no longer afraid that what they write will displease others. Most of all, they have been able to connect with their past, present, and future.

Healing is simply understood as people facing, accepting and overcoming psychological shocks or life events, not letting themselves be affected or haunted by too much mental trauma. On the journey to explore the land of the soul through writing, old wounds gradually heal.

Start by learning how to properly nurture your soul. The journey of connecting with yourself through “writing like breathing” is the most effective healing method.

Source: https://baoquangnam.vn/viet-nhu-la-hit-tho-3157839.html