Too dependent on your rituals?

Over-ritualizing

I have written previously about how rituals help in the writing process. Rituals can help us enter a space that separates what was “non-writing” from “writing.” Our rituals can ground us, helps us to be psychologically and/or physically prepared for the hard work that is writing. Rituals help us to shape our environment, for example, turning on a certain light that is conducive to writing. Most writers have rituals, and many attribute some of their rituals to their success.

However, for some writers, rituals can become a hindrance to the writing process. There are two fundamental ways that rituals can impede our writing: over-reliance on rituals and over-ritualizing. In two-park extended post, I explore how each of these problems can negatively affect your writing, and encourage each writer to assess whether they suffer from one of these impediments.

Over- reliance on rituals occurs when writers depend so heavily on their rituals that they can only write under specific circumstances and under specific conditions. The writer who can only write in one specific chair, or only during one time of the day can hinder his or her own writing by limiting the conditions under which he or she may write. For instance, a writer who can has convinced herself that she can only write in her comfy chair at home prevents herself from being able to productively attend writers conferences or retreats and use these to their fullest. Similarly, such a writer may limit herself from using free moments when she is does not have easy access to her comfy chair.

Yet what is most problematic about over-relying on different rituals, be they physical or mental, is the belief that your writing depends on anything other than your own creativity and hard work. Successful writers need to develop self confidence in their capacity to generate work (not to be confused with confidence in the quality of their work, which is another issue all together).

In order to overcome this problem, give yourself writing assignments where you engage in small bits of writing outside of your comfort zone. If you normally write during the evening, write for five minutes at lunchtime. What you write is not important; what is important is that you break your routine. If you only write with sharpened pencils on yellow pads of paper, try writing with a pen, or typing a computer, or even using a hand-held tape recorder. While these may never become your preferred method of writing, it is valuable to expand your behavioral repertoire to increase your confidence. An added bonus is that we tend to think differently when we use different tools, and may actually develop some new ways of approaching a topic or issue.

Too much ritual?

A couple of days ago I explored the potential consequences of relying too heavily on your rituals. Today, we explore over-ritualizing. Over-ritualizing is a related, yet slightly different problem. Over-ritualizing is the development of a long list of rituals that take up far too much time. One aspiring writing described her prewriting ritual as consisting of taking a walk, making tea, having a cigarette, and a litany of other activities that she needs to prepare her to write. Once she ultimately sits down to write, she barely has enough time to produce any work!

While over-ritualizers may also overly depend on ritual, as discussed below, some merely use these activities as a way of avoiding writing. This can be something of a defense mechanism to shield one from the fear of failing. The logic goes something like this: “If I only had more time, I would be able to write. But since I don’t have enough time, and I am not writing, I have not really failed as a writer. I merely do not have enough time!” For many, it is easier to engage in long and exhaustive rituals than to risk failure. Over-ritualizers may need to do a combination of behavioral and psychological tasks to get themselves writing.

First, time your rituals. Next consciously cut the duration of your rituals in half. Try this for a while and see if it helps. If you find yourself looking for other means of procrastinating, you will then have to identify the underlying beliefs that lead to this procrastination. For example, you may find yourself judging and criticizing your writing, and find it preferable to avoid writing than face your inner critic. Albert Ellis, the father of Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy, has written many good self help books that can help you identify and challenge self defeating  cognitions/ internal messages that block your writing. Overcoming Procrastination and How to Control Your Anxiety Before it Controls are excellent books by Ellis. Both of my books on writing also have chapters to help you with these problems. If you can’t do it through self-help; seek the help and support you need!

Please do not think I am saying that rituals are not helpful to the writing process. They most certainly can be. However, not all rituals are always helpful to all writers. I merely wish to alert you to a couple of the potential pitfalls of rituals, and to help you view them as not inherently helpful or harmful, but part of our toolboxes that must be assessed. Writers must continuously evaluate their methods and practices; this is especially true when we are not being as productive as we wish, or are going through a particular dry time.

Passion revisited

In a response to a Guest Blog post on Passion by Greg Lamphear (well over a year ago now), one of my readers asked:

"Is passion something that guides the process or is there a way to write passion into academic text? I would love to see an example."

I have sat with this question for a long, long time. In part, I have been trying to think of a neat, simple answer to the question; one does not exist. Perhaps there is not only one response, as there is a lot to unpack here, so let me start today, and continue over the next few weeks.

First, passion is what brings our scholarship to life (hopefully). We enter wanting to know, to learn, to explore; we enter our doctoral programs with passion, enthusiasm, and a great deal of energy. Yet, the process of doctoral education, and sometimes the climb through the ranks of tenure and promotion can make it hard to keep one's passion. Methods that may not be congruent with our topics. Chairs that push us in directions that we don't wish to go. Opportunities that sound too good to miss but lead us astray.

This can especially true for people with "outside the box" interests that may not be appealing to "R1" universities and programs that want to bring in big grant money and fit into "the research machine".  What people forget is that there are many kinds of universities, and many potential homes to wind up at.  Being who you are, and going to a place that is a good fit, is not a failure.  I am a big believer in following ones bliss; life is too short.

More later.

Happy Fathers Day

May all you fathers out there have joy and happiness today.

Titles.....

If idea generation is hard for you, try spending some times randomly writing titles of articles. For a few days, walk around with your scholarly notebook; everyone should have one (yes, paper, how old school!!). At random points throughout the day, try to write down titles of articles that you wish somebody would write (why pressure yourself at this point to feel like you have to be the one to do it).

There are also tools that poets and other creative writers use for idea generation; these apply to you to!

Here is one.

Again, over the course of a few days, any time you see some "text" (i.e. a sign, a billboard, a book title, ect) see if you can write a riff of that text applying it to your scholarship/research. Of course, what you write may not be coherent or well formed. However, word games such as this can help stimulate ideas when you feel stuck.

Project verses article

I frequently hear faculty talk about their "projects." Having a lot of projects is fine, but do you have one article at all times that you are focusing on? Having too many projects can be the same thing has having none. Try to always have one article that you are working several times a week; having that be your core task will help insure you are productive.

Maybe I need a blogging coach!!

Well, how many times have I wrote that I want to restart my blog and be consistent? I am starting to remind myself of my clients; all the self promises that seem to mean little and add up to shame, demoralization, and frustration. Well, perhaps the stakes for  a full professor writing a blog are a wee bit lower than a junior scholar needing to publish for tenure! And in truth, I am only a bit annoyed at myself. Still, my reflecting upon my lack of follow through with this "space" gives me some insight into what others experience. Let me promise nothing, but just share this!