Just breathe (a writing exercise)

Dear writer,

Just breathe.

Take a pause. A breath. A moment for you.

You probably have a thousand questions swirling in your mind: Will you ever finish your book? Will it be a success? How will you market it? How will you answer all the demands of this very imposing world?

Breathe.

Let them go, for now. You’re a writer (more than likely). A creator.

Breathe.

Grab hold of a single image. Just one.

Breathe.

Give it some contrast. Make it light, and dark. Not good and bad, necessarily. Just two different things occupying the same image.

While you breathe.

Is it a cheerful flower by a scuffed window? A singing bird on the remains of a burnt house? A field of corn with industries billowing smoke in the background?

Breathe.

Do you have your image yet? Find it. Sit with it. Just one image. You can come back and do others later.

Another breath.

Grab your pen and paper, or your keyboard—whatever calls to you, right now.

Take another deep breath.

Visualize that image. Close your eyes, if it helps.

Breathe.

Hold on to just that image. Don’t think about anything else. Don’t!

Another breath. Make it a deep one.

Without stopping, pausing, or overthinking, write the story of that image. Let your words flow. Fall into it. Don’t overthink! It’s just a draft. The words are just for you.

Breathe.

Follow the story.

Breathe.

Visualise.

Breathe.

Write.

<3