The Renegade Writer Blog

Eve Adamson is the co-author of The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Zen Living, a book that I turn to whenever my work is driving me crazy. I interviewed Eve to get her take on the Zen of writing.

How does the practice of Zen relate to magazine writing, book authoring, or copywriting? I think many people see Zen as omm-ing in a corner and chanting in exotic languages, and it doesn’t seem to fit with the deadline-driven, stressful life of a freelance writer.

Actually, I consider a Zen attitude essential for my life as a freelancer. I don’t have a boss looking over my shoulder to impose deadlines. I have to make it happen myself, and if I let myself get too stressed or scattered, I would never be able to produce the volume of work that I do. But a Zen focus helps me work more efficiently and with less stress. I plan what I need to do each day, and then I use that job as a sort of meditation. When your work becomes a point of focus and you get completely immersed in it, you sort of (at the risk of sounding cheesy) “become one” with the task. Boredom, tedium, and stress become non-issues because you *are* the work. When I come out of this kind of “zone,” I’m often surprised, and usually pleased, at what I’ve written. In other words, a Zen approach to work is really just a matter of doing and becoming, without letting all the typical barriers and distractions interfere. It’s not that I don’t sometimes get bored or procrastinate or avoid work I consider tedious. I’m only human. But I really do believe a Zen attitude helps minimize these distractions, and without it, I wouldn’t be able to do what I do.

In your book, you talk a lot about being mindful. Do you have any tips for writers who feel scattered between different projects on how to shut out the mind-clutter and concentrate on the task at hand?

Sometimes it just happens, but most of the time, it requires some practice and effort. Of course, Zen *is* the practice, it *is* the effort. Sometimes, a pause and a focus on the breath can bring the mind back to the task, but mostly, it’s a reframing of attitude. Ask yourself, why are you scattered? Why aren’t you doing? What is getting in your way? Look at whatever that is. Do what you need to do with it, or put it aside. The more you do this with consciousness and intent, the easier it gets. You aren’t a slave to your mind. You are in the driver’s seat. Your mind is just along for the ride, and has no business driving.

One part of the book that resonated with me said that you shouldn’t care what other people think of you because you can’t know what they think and you can’t control what they think. How can writers let go of worrying about what editors, readers, and other writers think of them?

Ah, that’s a good one for a writer! A lot of people give up on this profession because they do care so much what other people think. A rejection letter practically kills them. But if you want to be a writer, you have to want that more than you care about what other people think. You can look at it like this: I write. I learn from writing. Others can teach me and I can teach myself by doing. I can do the best I can at any given moment. But each person is doing what they can do in their own moment, and that has nothing to do with my moment.

You have to just go on, moment by moment, word by word, assignment by assignment, doing your best through practice and effort. You can and certainly must watch and pay attention to what other people do as it relates to your work. And you have to do a good job. But to see the reactions of others as a reflection of you or a judgment of you is really just absurd.

The other part of this is ego. Writers tend to pour a lot of ego into what they write, as if what they write is the very essence of themselves. Of course, this isn’t true. You are writing words that may be work–like doing the dishes, doing an assignment because it’s your job–or it may be inspirational, even genius. But even the best piece of writing in the world is still just a finger pointing to a reflection of the moon in a puddle on the street. Pardon the extended metaphor, but my point is that writing isn’t *you,* and to think what you write is even anything special, although a natural thought for a writer or any human being, is something to notice and then release. Better to think, “It’s interesting how much ego I have tied up in these symbols on the page,” rather than, “If that editor doesn’t love my article/novel/poem, I must be bad at what I do.” You are just doing, you see. It doesn’t mean anything beyond what it is. And it certainly doesn’t mean anything what others think of it.

Earlier, I said that you can get immersed in your work and become the work. Yes. But this is totally different than putting your ego into the work and *being* the work. You have to be the work, without being the work. That really does make sense, in a Zen sort of way.

Can meditation help writers be more creative or succeed in their careers?

Absolutely. When you release your mind, all kinds of amazing things have the space to blossom in there. And creative people are often more successful in their careers. So are hard workers who don’t let a lot of stupid crap get in the way of what has to be done. I also think meditation adds a sense of humor and levity to the mind, and people who are less serious and invested in their own importance tend to be more creative and interesting, and that can boost success.

How can writers meditate at their desks?

Stop writing. Close your eyes. Open your palms. Breathe. Be there for awhile.

You discuss how your home can be conducive to Zen living. How can writers create an office or writing space that helps them live in the now?

I’m not practicing what I preach here, but a clean, clear desk is like a metaphor for a clear mind. Then again, each person works in their own way. In general though, a desk full of distractions will promote a distracted mind, in my opinion. Put in front of you what you need for what you are doing right now, then dive in.

You’ve written a ton of books, and I know many of our readers are interested in writing books as well. What are the top three tips you would give them?

1. Work on your writing and get good at it. Get training, if necessary. Hundreds of thousands of people want to write books, and don’t even know how to write a grammatically correct sentence. Editors aren’t there to fix up your writing. You need to be skilled, and that takes practice and effort. Do the work.

2. Tell people what you do. Meet people whenever you can. Query publishers. Write for magazines with subjects similar to the book you want to write. Get known. Don’t be a snob. You never know when you might meet somebody who needs someone like you to write a book. They might call you up, just because they loved your article in Podunk Weekly. Then again, if you just want to write a book for yourself and you don’t care about making a living at it, then write it. Don’t be one of those people who says, “I’m going to write a book someday.” What are you waiting for? What’s getting in your way? Whatever it is, it’s probably not real, so get over it. Do the work.

3. Don’t limit yourself. If someone gives you a writing project, unless you hate the subject, do it. Don’t turn it down out of fear. A writer with good research skills and self-confidence can write about anything. (But don’t misrepresent yourself, either. Never pretend you know things you don’t know yet.)

Is there anything else you’d like to add?

I think no matter what job you have, Zen can help you do it better, and no matter what skills and talent you have, Zen can help you improve those because it helps clear out all the obstacles. When what you do is nothing special and isn’t about you, and nothing is riding on it, and it isn’t really real, and it doesn’t matter what anybody else thinks about it, but yet you can become totally immersed in it until you become it, your work can become surprisingly fulfilling. At least, that’s the way it is for me. Seeing my work this way makes me happy. [lf]

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