"Calm And Happy, But Not Super Charged To Continue Writing"
Matthew Quick's response to a reader inquiry
In response to “The Subconscious Why,” Reader V writes:
“Matthew, do you find that as you pay more attention to and clarify your subconscious needs and callings, the energy behind doing all the writing dissipates somehow? A lot of times I write to indeed "discover" that part of myself. And, as I write, what I set out to discover becomes clearer and clearer. But then at one point, I'll say, "Ah, that's what it is!" And, suddenly, all the pent-up angst that drove the writing in the first places disappears. I then become calm and happy, but not super charged to continue writing. This is especially true with poetry. Have you experienced similar situations? Thanks!”
Matthew’s response:
Dear Reader V,
Thanks for writing.
“Calm and happy” is a beautiful place. If your writing is routinely taking you there, I’d say you are doing a lot right. Is there anything more important than discovering parts of who we are? The older I get, the more I believe that bringing forth our true selves just might be the whole point of life. So bravo.
Have I ever lost the forward thrust of a writing project?
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