Three Ways to “Live First, Then Write” Within Your Limitations

“Live First, Then Write” is common writing advice, but what does that mean for those living with a chronic illness? NaNo Guest Jessica Natasha Lawrencegives her thoughts and reminds us of the strength of everyday moments.

Asa person with a chronic illness, it’s often hard for me to hear theadvice to “live first, then write.” It makes me worry that Iwon’t be able to master my craft or create authentic stories unlessI find a way to have exciting experiences that I don’t have theenergy for.

Butwhat if “live first, then write” doesn’t mean “make a bucketlist and check off as many items as possible before you start yourstory”? Here are three things I’ve learned about how to applythis advice when you’re worried it doesn’t apply to you:

1. RememberYour Unique Experiences

Itmay be harder for me to know how it feels to be a busy collegestudent with a job outside the home, or what it’s like to travelthe world, but I can accurately portray life with a chronic healthcondition in a way that makes other people feel seen and understood.

Yourlimitations give you an opportunity to write about things that can behard to understand if you’re not living through them. You don’thave to hope someone else will write a character you can relateto—you can provide accurate representation and regain a sense ofagency by controlling how your story is told.

2. ReconsiderYour Definition of Living

Lifeis not only about what you do and where you go, but about what youthink and feel in ordinary moments. When you’re captivated by anovel, engrossed in a film, or delighted by a song, you are living,even if you’re too tired to leave bed.

Ifyou feel like there are few events in your life you can drawinspiration from, you can draw inspiration from your emotions andyour reactions to other people’s art. The long nights you spendreading and imagining your favorite characters in new situations arevalid ways of living deeply and preparing to write.

3. ReachOut to Others

Sometimesthe living you must do before you write is the quiet work ofconsidering someone else’s perspective. When you’re open tohearing someone’s thoughts and their pain without judgment, you’llrealize how beautifully complex people can be, and this will bereflected in your writing.

Thethings you’ll learn through ordinary, empathetic conversations willgreatly enrich your stories, and these conversations can be had onthe couch, with internet friends and people who understand that youcan’t always leave the house.

So,yes, live first and then write, but don’t let anyone tell you thatyour life is not full enough or good enough for your writing to meananything. There is more life available to you than you realize whenyou’re in bed with a book and your own thoughts, or when you openthe computer to say hi to someone for the first time.

Jessica Natasha Lawrence writes about chronic illness, realistichope, and the beauty and trials of ordinary life. She can be found onInstagram,Twitter,and Medium.

Photo by Sixteen Miles Out on Unsplash