Anne Tyler Lord

The Writer’s Life: Affirmations

Two weeks ago, I began writing a series about Negative Thoughts and how to deal with them in the writing life. We all have times when we are overwhelmed with worry, fear, anxiety, anger, jealousy, rage, apathy or depression. In this series, I am sharing advice from the research I am doing for a non-fiction writing project.

I’m on a break this week from regular blog posts, but I thought I would share a few affirmations I came up with for myself after posting the article last week, Get in Your Right Mind.

Even though I have spent years of my life believing I couldn’t write well, I will now devote time each day to write, be patient with myself and keep trying to move my writing life forward.

When pain slows me down, I will remember that it is cyclical, and I will be able to write more when I feel better. Spending time taking care of my body is important. My pain has contributed to my decision to be a writer, and I am thankful.

When I am stuck in my writing projects, I don’t have to panic or believe that my blocks are terminal. It is okay to let storylines percolate while I refill my creative gas tank.

It is good to take breaks from writing, do art, go outside, play with the kids and live my life without feeling guilty when I am not writing. Life comes first, and it will enhance my life & creativity to spend more time in those activities.

Do you have any affirmations you would like to share?

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20 responses to “The Writer’s Life: Affirmations”

  1. The Writer’s Life: Get in Your Right Mind | Don't Fence Me In

    […] Continue the series on Negative Thoughts with the next post that includes examples of Affirmations I wrote for myself. […]

  2. Jodi MacArthur

    Wow. All I can think is EXACTLY Anne. Exactly. Wait for the cycle to pass, remember your ‘why’ then jump back on the horse. And refilling that creative tank is SO important. It’s all just part of the journey.

    I’m always amazed how you are able to voice and pen these thoughts and gems of wisdom so precisely. Wonderful.

    1. Anne Tyler Lord

      Hi Jodi!

      Thanks so much, It is so kind of you to say that, I don’t always feel like I write that way.

      Now I am off to fill the creative tank with some Harry Potter, a movie my kids picked to watch for my birthday (now whose birthday is it? ha!)

  3. Nishi

    An affirmation? This one is mine.

    “Do not let your fire go out, spark by irreplaceable spark. In the hopeless swamps of the not quite, the not yet, and the not at all, do not let the hero in your soul perish and leave only frustration for the life you deserved, but never have been able to reach. The world you desire can be won, it exists, it is real, it is possible, it is yours.”

    Ayn Rand, Atlas Shrugged

    1. Anne Tyler Lord

      Wow, that is the most amazing quote – what a great affirmation – and just beautiful to read and feel!

  4. Angie

    I am the worst offender of that last one – I get so wrapped up in writing that I let other things slip by. I have been making myself stay away from the computer entirely for at least one, if not both days on the weekends. I keep reminding myself, the words will still be there monday morning.

    Great post, Anne!

    1. Anne Tyler Lord

      Thanks Angie. That’s an admirable goal and I’m sure your weekends are now full of other meaningful things.

  5. Linda

    Happy Birthday a day early, Anne!

    And here’s an affirmation TO you –> You are a gifted and honest writer who writes about the things in life that are important. To touch at least one person with your words means you are successful. Your words have touched me. Thank you! Peace…

    1. Anne Tyler Lord

      Linda,

      Thanks so much for your touching words, that really means a lot to me! What a great birthday present!

  6. annie q. syed

    I love the last one, Anne. I just read this article (will retweet it to you now) that says in the end no matter what you accomplish you don’t want to be alone. And it is true that we must cultivate time to be with others, life, loved ones, and other things to fill the cup to create. Like yoga–if it is hurting you are not doing it right. It is a challenging craft but not to bring anxiety and pain. Also learning, practice makes better.

    Cheers and happy birthday month.

    annie

    1. Anne Tyler Lord

      thanks Annie, yes, that is beautiful, “in the end no matter what you accomplish you don’t want to be alone.” So true!

  7. Deanna Schrayer

    Anne, to be grateful for your pain is a heck of a positive affirmation. On my worst pain days I find that I feel so sorry for myself I can’t stand to be around me – I’m so whiney. I believe I’ll try your approach and find out if I can also see the positive side of it, maybe just write my way through it.

    I’ve been taking a lot of time for myself lately, just working on the novel and, as you mentioned, living – playing with the kids, gardening, sketching, just enjoying each minute I can. I haven’t, however, written these affirmations down, or constructed them for that matter. I like that idea. I believe I’ll work on that today.

    I will pop in on Twitter sometime soon though I’m not sure when. It won’t be long though because I’m missing our social time!

    Thanks so much Anne for all your thoughtful posts, and happy birthday (tomorrow)!

    1. Anne Tyler Lord

      Thanks Deanna!

      Good for you for taking a lot of time for yourself and enjoying the summer. I have been taking the kids out a lot, too.

      I know I never would have slowed down enough in life to focus enough on writing if it weren’t for my pain (and for that matter, having kids and staying home with them). I was too career oriented before all this. The pain also frustrates me to death some days, but sometimes, if I watch that frustration and be with it, I manage to see unresolved issues, negative feelings or other things I need to pay attention to. I don’t think the pain is necessarily a result of those things, in every case (chronic pain has a life of it’s own), but pain can materialize (in thoughts & feelings) things that are stored in my body.

      Other times I think pain just creates anxiety and stress because with pain, your life feels threatened (in your body’s way of thinking)- an emotional response to a physical condition. And, I just have to accept that and write anyway. That has been one of the hardest lessons for me, and I think it always will be.

      Take care and have a relaxing summer!

  8. Olivia Tejeda

    Anne, you’re a wonderful writer. It makes me sad to think you’ve believed otherwise, but I do understand the mindset, and I fight it myself.

    As for affirmations, my favorite is chocolate. When I get really desperate, I line up some M&Ms and try to make words out of the letters. The only word I’ve come up with is mmmmm. Sometimes it’s longer, sometimes shorter, but it’s always a perfect description for what M&Ms mean to me and that taught me something about finding the right words. It can’t be forced. It can be pushed and prodded and encouraged, but it can’t be forced.

    There are times when the words just don’t flow, but as you said we have to believe that our blocks are not terminal. The words will come in their time. Sometimes we have to be stern, sometimes gentle and nurturing. And sometimes we have to pour ourselves a handful of M&Ms just to see what it spells.

    1. Deanna Schrayer

      Love the M&Ms idea Olivia! Must do that now. 🙂

    2. Anne Tyler Lord

      Hi Olivia,

      Very good thoughts here. Thanks for sharing. That M & M thing is very funny – trying to make words out of it. I thought you were placing them in the shapes of letters, but just using the M’s is funny.

      I have been meaning to tell you about a book of Maisel’s I came across at the library that I didn’t know about. It is called “Sleep Thinking” about increasing creativity while you sleep. It reminded me of your post about sleeping on it. (I also know I owe you a post – coming soon)

  9. 2mara

    These are great, Anne. I am the worst when it comes to Negative thoughts… I am trying to get more into writing for me, and not worrying what anyone else will think of it.

    It’s the hardest thing I have ever done, but I am trying to focus more time on me these days. Hoping that will equal writing more.

    I love your posts. You are such a ray of sunshine 🙂
    ~2

    1. Anne Tyler Lord

      thanks Tomara, I do all of this just as much for myself – it helps to be in contact with these practices a lot to at least move things in the positive direction – some days it saves me from drowning

  10. Marisa Birns

    Yes to everything you’ve said here! As for your last point, one has to go “outside” and live life because there is where we writers will get our inspirations.

    So, no guilt, just anticipation and appreciation. 🙂

    1. Anne Tyler Lord

      Thanks Marisa,

      And I agree – I’m going outside right now!

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