Bird by Bird 6

Broccoli

She tells her students, “listen to your broccoli, and your broccoli will tell you how to eat it.” She says when you’re stuck as a writer and do not know something it is best to quiet down and listen for a small voice inside. She says writers need the ability to listen to their intuitions of what is really going on and not to shy away from that because it is inconvenient for someone. Writers need to trust themselves, especially in their first draft. You have to hypnotize yourself into getting some work done and then un-hypnotize yourself enough to fix it. When writing you should try some new things out and if it doesn’t work then just try something else.

Effect on Writing

Do not be scared to fail. If you have an idea that you are not totally sold on, just try it out. If it does not work, then start with a new idea. As a writer, listen to your feelings to get the best work. When writing the first draft, trust yourself. If you do not trust your own work, then it wont be your best work.

Radio Station KFKD

The radio is a metaphor for all the things you think or the things that are in your head that gets in the way of your intuition. For her, the radio station is on in the background when she begins to write. She found that praying for a short period of time helps her. So writers should find a ritual that could help them. Breathing exercises help to calm people down. When she writes, she can not always focus the whole time. Her mind does wander, but she gets back on track eventually. Stories come to use like a river on the Gulf Stream.

Effect on Writing

Be relax. Don’t get too stressed where you cant produce any good ideas. Find something that helps you relax. It does not have to be a long thing. When writing, try to focus. When you find it hard to relax, do breathing exercises to try to get back on track of writing.

Jealousy

Radio Station KFKD broadcasts jealousy and it is the hardest thing on the station to shut down. During the process of writing, other people will surpass you, which will be hard to not feel some sort of jealousy. Some people who don’t work as hard or who are not as deserving will have more success and that will be even harder to not be jealous. Three things that help include: getting older, talking about it until the fever breaks, and using it as material. Don’t sweat the small things. Get someone who makes you laugh about jealousy.

Effect on Writing

Know that your work is good. Even if people around you have success, don’t just give up. Have good people around your for the hard times so that you can laugh about the stupid stuff that is making you stressed and feel jealous.