So my assignment from writing class was to slow it down. I’m still downloading a lot of information from my years spent in a fundamentalist, Protestant (Patriarchal/Quiverfull) cult. A LOT of information. I had blocked it all, yes. The torrent of memories is overwhelming. I write for 10,000-word stretches at a time and am not tired when I’m finished. I dream about it, I think about it, pondering, turning over things in my mind slowly. But I rush to write.
Not anymore. The request for this “downloading” time is for me to slow it down. No hurrying, just let it get recorded, in the roughest form (I write in the present tense) and worry about what actually needs to be in the piece later. It’s described as taking a cookie cutter and finding the best vignettes that correspond to the theme.
I’m fine with slowing it down. I’m not sure I’m fine with the memories. Most of these have to do with a year spent in Indianapolis and then coming home and spending years of my life determined to never go back for extended stays to Indianapolis or anyplace else away from my home in Oregon.
So that’s what’s going on here. I will keep sharing as things come up, but just so you know there is progress, it’s just taking the time. It’s going SLOW.
{ 3 comments }
How I needed this today, my friend.
Slow down, rest, think, process, write, but don’t stress. I’ll try my best! 
Slowing down is a great concept, however, my falling down is having things run through my head a million miles an hour, and I feel if I don’t keep up, I will loose it all. But slowing down is fundamental. Good luck!
Krista, nice to have a fellow traveler to join me!
Ashley, I hear that! I think girls have thinking about too much all the time as their default mode of operation. I am learning to control how much I think about at the same time and that is NOT EASY!
Good luck to you too!
Comments on this entry are closed.