If you were to ask
novelists why they write, most would readily assert that it’s not for the
money. The writers I know would make significantly more money toasting bagels
and steaming lattes. Penning a novel is a work of love, or in my case, a work
of loves. Karma’s a Killer, like the rest of my Downward
Dog Mysteries, combines three of my most ardent passions: German shepherds,
yoga, and cozy murder mysteries. Yoga, dogs, and murder—what could be more fun?
Still, slogging through
a first draft often feels less like making love, more like walking through
hardening cement. When things get tough, I remind myself of one of yoga’s most
important principles: persevering practice.
The most well-renowned
book of yoga teachings is an ancient text called the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali. According to this text, yoga postures are
only one form of persevering practice. Any practice—including yoga poses,
breath work, meditation, and for me, writing—helps us find inner peace. But in
order to be persevering, a practice must occur:
§ Over a long period of
time
§ Without interruption
§ With dedication and
enthusiasm
§ With an intention of
personal growth
§ Without attachment to
results.
Easy, right?
Writing, for me, is no
easier. My energy for writing ebbs and flows. Sometimes it’s part of my daily
routine; sometimes it falls off my radar for weeks at a time. Sometimes I race
to my computer with the joy of a six-year-old schoolgirl with a bright green
lollipop; other times I drag myself to the keyboard like a fifty-year-old en
route to her first colonoscopy.
And that whole idea of
not being attached to the results? Well, let’s just say I could write a second
series in the time I spend looking at my Amazon sales rankings.
Still, the persevering
practice analogy has meaning. I wrote the first two chapters of my first book, Murder
Strikes a Pose, over five years ago. Then I let the manuscript sit, untouched, for
almost two years. Until I worked on it daily, I made no progress. My most meaningful writing days are always the
ones in which I explore life’s deepest emotions and my own personal vulnerabilities.
And on the days I lack dedication and enthusiasm, my words end up as crumpled
pages at the bottom of my recycle bin.
As for attachment to
results, well, I have to let that go. Any writer attached to success lasts
about three minutes in this business before laughing maniacally, tossing her
computer out the window, and popping popcorn over the negative reviews crackling
in her fireplace.
So why do I continue? I
write because the practice offers me unexpected gifts: flashes of
self-understanding, moments of quiet calm, a connection to laughter and joy in
this oftentimes challenging life.
Like many authors, my
writing practice waxes and wanes, and my hope of reaching the New York Times Bestseller list often
seems unattainable. But writing taps into something special. Something I
haven’t found in the rest of my life. Simply put, writing feeds me.
So if you need me, I'll
be glued to my keyboard—persevering.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
A certified yoga therapist, Trcay Weber is the owner of the award-winning yoga studio, Whole Life Yoga in Seattle, and the creator and director of Whole Life Yoga’s teacher training program which, to date, has certified over 250 yoga teachers. She and her husband live in Seattle with their challenging yet amazing German shepherd Tasha.
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