Jessica Davidson's Blog, page 43

Why I Gave Up the Dream of Getting Published

They always say you should never give up on your dreams, but what if your dream isn’t worth fighting for? What if it turns out to be a nightmare? I’ve been writing and sending my work out for years, trying to get the publishing industry interested in what I’m doing. But the publishing industry has… Continue reading Why I Gave Up the Dream of Getting Published

Buddhist Writing Prompt: Practice the Four Methods

Practice the four methods gives you four practical ways of being in the world that encourage you to face difficult emotions and situations rather than avoid them. These methods should form the foundation of your mind training practice. The original lojong slogan is: Four practices are the best of methods, and these are: Do good… Continue reading Buddhist Writing Prompt: Practice the Four Methods

The Tax Credit Office and the Sword of Damocles

The title of this post sounds like a bad thriller, but anyway…last time I promised to tell the story of how the tax credit office almost killed my novel, The Shining Ones, but first, some context: A few years ago I was made redundant in the Tory public sector cuts and, what with one thing… Continue reading The Tax Credit Office and the Sword of Damocles

Buddhist Writing Prompt: Your true Self has the answer

Your true Self has the answer is about seeing how everything is interconnected and interdependent, and using this to wake up to your Buddha mind. In fact, underneath all the confusion, your ordinary day-to-day mind is Buddha mind. The original lojong slogan is: Seeing confusion as the four kayas is unsurpassable shunyata protection, which needs… Continue reading Buddhist Writing Prompt: Your true Self has the answer

The book that wouldn’t die: A History of The Shining Ones

I’m amazed to announce The Shining Ones is finished – well, apart from a final polish edit and proof. No matter how many times I tried to kill this book, it wouldn’t die, which is appropriate because it features characters who are reborn from long ago – but that’s a spoiler so forget I said… Continue reading The book that wouldn’t die: A History of The Shining Ones

Buddhist Writing Prompt: Be grateful to everyone

Be grateful to everyone is about recognising that you’re dependent on everybody else for your existence. That’s not easy to accept, especially in relation to someone or something you don’t like. But mind training is about befriending those parts of yourself and others that you reject. The original lojong slogan is the same as my… Continue reading Buddhist Writing Prompt: Be grateful to everyone

Backwards in the Dark: Reconnecting with my Writing

I’m at that tricky, frustrating, and frankly boring phase of the writing process with The Shining Ones – editing. So I wanted to get back in touch with my ‘real’ writing – see if I can remember why I started down this path in the first place. And this is the perfect time – what… Continue reading Backwards in the Dark: Reconnecting with my Writing

Buddhist Writing Prompt: Take responsibility

Take responsibility is about not blaming others when things don’t go the way you hoped. Instead of looking for somebody else to blame, you can turn it around and take responsibility for your part in the drama. The original lojong slogan is: Drive all blames into one. This doesn’t mean you blame yourself or make… Continue reading Buddhist Writing Prompt: Take responsibility

Natalie Goldberg on the Loneliness of Writing

Sometimes I wonder why I continue to write, especially when it seems to take me away from other people. The more I dig into myself, the wider the chasm between us. Do words make any difference? Can they bridge the gap? Is that even possible? Here’s a reminder from Natalie Goldberg that loneliness isn’t necessarily… Continue reading Natalie Goldberg on the Loneliness of Writing

Buddhist Writing Prompt: Turn obstacles into the Path

Turn obstacles into the path is about working with whatever happens, no matter how difficult, rather than waiting for your life to be perfect. If you only meditate or write when you feel good, you’ll get stuck when you have a bad day. The original lojong slogan is: When the world is filled with evil,… Continue reading Buddhist Writing Prompt: Turn obstacles into the Path