why does the world exist?
Does the world exist to be loved by us? Or does the sun hurt our eyes to teach us to keep our filthy eyes off the sun?
(I’m just asking questions.)
Why do you think the world exists? Have you ever tried to write about it? If you’re feeling a bit blocked creatively, underwhelmed or overwhelmed by life and not sure where to start, maybe you need to try a bigger question:
WHY DOES THE WORLD EXIST?
If you’d like, you can put that exact question on a piece of paper and see what answer pops out. (You probably won’t get the answer right, but if you do, please email me about it.)
It’s fine to write about something small that’s right in front of you. The size of your coffee cup. The smell of your laundry. The pain of your ego. But you’re also allowed to write about something massive that’s right in front of you.
The whole world is with you. Right now. Why not write about it?
I think writing teaches us new ways to love the world and how to see it better. I write to make friends and to make money, but I could do those things a lot of other ways. The thing I can’t seem to get any other way is the ability to care this much without dying.
If we stare directly at the sun, we can fry our eyes and harm ourselves forever. But if we look at it through a solar telescope or a pinhole viewer, we can see every detail of its surface safely. Writing is a pinhole viewer for our hearts, a solar telescope for our souls, that lets us care about everything without burning out our empathy.
Too corny? That’s fine. I can take it because I also own a leather jacket. (We all contain multitudes and about 15% of mine are “cool.”)
Look with me. Care with me. Write with me.
(want something practical? try 55 ways to stop procrastination. wanna read another post with big feels, like this one? try this matters (writing in hard times.)
xo, megan
There’s no one way to write. There’s only your way. I hope some of my tactics and ideas can help you find it.
Want faster progress? Let’s see what an hour with me can do for you. Get treated with honesty and respect. Bring your work-in-progress, your goals, or your frustrated blank page. Sliding scale; no ongoing commitment; just an hour to work on your writing. See me in a private zoom to put my 20+ years of experience on your side.
Just a f*ckin’ friendly neighborhood writing coach.
curious/confused?: what does a writing coach do (and not do)
I coach folks on how to make creative work that comes easier and hits harder.
If you want a private coaching session but can’t afford it, email megan@howtowritesomething.com and ask for scholarship info.
THANK YOU to this month’s generously supportive patrons who are helping me build a digital library of free writing resources to support writers with different access needs! Three cheers for A.J., Dan, Jason, Jennifer, Jessica, Josh, Katherine, Kathleen, Marianna, Nell, Sarah, and some anonymous folks who’ve asked not to be named. Come on in, the Patreon’s fine.