Jason Howell asked Joey W. Hill:

Hi Joey. I'm asking this question of several writers, some friends, some strangers... Do you consider your writing process a "spiritual" practice? If yes, what makes it so? If no, why not? What, in your mind, either qualifies or disqualifies writing as a spiritual practice? Please feel free to either share concrete personal views on this, or approach it as a concept apart from you. Or both. Thanks.

Joey W. Hill Jason, thanks for the thought-provoking question. Yes, I do. I've talked in the past about "the groove", this moment during the writing process when things take off. During that time, I'm not aware of anything but the characters and story. I'm not even very conscious of "writing". The story is flowing onto the page, and I'm in the boat riding along with it. It's a very balanced feeling, one where I'm not analyzing, judging or worrying about anything, internal or external. All of the debris that goes along with day-to-day self-awareness vanishes and, when I come out of it, it's in a relaxed state similar to a good meditation. Which I rarely have because my brain can never slow down that much (laughter).

During that "groove" period, I don't feel like I'm creating what's being written, as much as it's being revealed to me from some giant river of collective consciousness where all creative efforts exist.

As far as whether that "qualifies" it as a spiritual practice, I can't extrapolate that to the world at large, but I can say that it is for me personally. It brings my life a great deal of meaning to see those stories form in that way. Hope that answer is what you're seeking!

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