MandallaSometimes poets need to practice a mindset that is calming and contemplative, sometimes one that is disruptive and mind-altering. There are many ways and modes of thinking, ways to calm over-thinking and ways to shock under-thinking. Practice a few and see if it changes your writing.

 

  1. Expand your reading to new subjects or genres.
  2. Think about words in a new way: as objects, interact with braille, learn about the process of creating books and experimental poetry-reading events.
  3. Work on a garden. Ross Gay talks about poets and gardens
  4. Participate in meditative arts: pottery, needlepoint, weaving, mandala coloring books.
  5. Start Yoga or Tai Chi; think through movement.
  6. Visit some Dharma Talks online or at your local Buddhist center; listen to any kind of re-centering lecture.
  7. Star a community activity, host a party or take a walk in the park where others are walking, volunteer in group activities or meetup projects, spend one of your visits just listening.
  8. Walk a dog. Think like a dog for fifteen minutes. Full on curiosity and enthusiasm!
  9. Cook something very slowly.
  10. Clean your dishes. Figure out how to enjoy cleaning your dishes.