Breathing the Page: Reading the Act of Writing

by Betsy Warland

The value of this exercise is that at any given time — and it is instructive to do it from time to time — it precisely delineates what aspects of our writing lives are working well and what aspects are frustrating us. Most important are the first and inner circles: “How do I feel when I am immersed in writing?” and “How do I feel about the act, or process, of writing?” This is the core: what we must protect and nourish above all else. We must not allow other closely related, sometimes disheartening, concerns such as “How do I feel about myself as a writer?” or “How do I feel about publishing my work?” to seep in and blur our feelings about how we feel when immersed in writing itself. Think of the Concentric Circles of Writing Life as a cross-section of a tree with the centre circle representing the heartwood, or perhaps as water rippling out from the centre when a stone is dropped into it. Working outward from the centre circle, respond in a few words to the questions below. It is most revealing if you respond quickly rather than pondering your reply. Circle 1 — How do I feel when I am immersed in writing? Circle 2 — How do I feel about the act, or process, of writing? Circle 3 — How do I feel about myself as a writer? Circle 4 — How do I feel about my skills as a writer? Circle 5 — How do I feel about my resources (equipment, place I write, time, editing help)? Circle 6 — How do I feel about how those closest to me respond to my writing; me as a writer? Circle 7 — How do ...