I have learned a very interesting thing about myself this week – and this is probably a normal thing, too – poetry is a *wonderful* warmup for me. If I feel reluctant to write, and it seems like I always do, there is something less threatening to me about word play. Even freewriting intimidates me, but something about telling myself to “just” write a poem about whatever I think I might like to write about allows me to tap past the anxiety and inhibition. And once I get going with writing, like you say, it’s not as bad as I expect it to be. Sometimes it’s even hard to stop and get on with the other things I have to do for the day.

The poem I posted here earlier this week is my first attempt at poetry in *decades* and I absolutely loved writing it and I especially loved what the process revealed to me about myself and how I write. It’s funny because I thought I wanted to write novels exclusively, but I’ve been enjoying playing with short stories. Now poetry, too! Who knew?

I also go through the, “OMG, I can’t sit and write something because… because… I don’t know, just BECAUSE!” And then after freaking out for awhile, I finally do… and… it’s not as bad as I thought it would be. It’s a very strange thing!

However, as strange as it is, apparently it’s common. I can’t remember who exactly said this — I know it was someone I met through Jennifer Louden’s former Comfort Cafe site — but this woman had us all examine our creative processes, the steps we go through, etc. And it came out that just about everyone has this anxiety before they work creatively. I thought, “Oh, good, she’s going to tell us how to avoid that annoying step.” But instead she said the worst thing ever — THAT you CAN’T skip that step if it’s part of your process. That being anxious before you begin isn’t a problem, but part of how creating works for you.

So, first, I wanted to throw the phone across the room. (Heard this on a conference call.) But after some time, it turned out to be strangely comforting, because it allowed me to drop the whole story that I *shouldn’t* feel so anxious or the idea that I need to wait until I’m *not* anxious to begin.

Now, when I down to write, and that anxiety sneaks up on me, I say to myself, “Ok, there it is. Good! This means I’m almost there! Now start… since it’s not going away anyway!”

@Jimbo – I’m doing well! And I hope you are, too.