The Writing Life
Writing was my refuge. I could slip in between every word and feel my body stretch itself without limits, rules or expectations. Especially as an imaginative, outspoken adolescent girl whose critical thinking skills were wildly untethered, my songs, poems, letters and stories sheltered me with their walls. The more than 300 journals in my garage and bookshelves may not have earned me a living but the self, living in between the words, has most certainly given me a life (along with my husband and adult children).
Forty years later, writing is more than a refuge for me; it’s the only work I do that when I am engaged, “enables flow, the state in which you get so completely immersed in your work that you lose track of time as the work becomes effortless,” (Csikszentmihalyi as quotes by Ahrens). Assessing my abilities to read, take notes and write essays is another matter entirely. Like Emily Dickinson, when I try to organize my thoughts, my little brain explodes. For this very reason, I chose to enter this doctoral program hoping for three Structures to bring into my refuge with me:
- Focus: Like Ahrens suggests, I need a, “reliable and simple structure to think in that compensates for the limitations of our brains.” Structured into my daily life are 90 minute writing blocks without technology or interruption. The last few years have proven difficult with this habit as my ability to concentrate has been challenged by parents aging and dying, children becoming adults, and my own inner voice seeking her safe place again. But truth be told, I am happiest and most alive in my relationship with God when my day includes these 90 minute writing blocks. As I read serious books, take intentional notes from my research, I will know how to live with more focus.
- Clarity: A well cultivated critical thinker, “raises vital questions and problems, formulating them clearly and precisely,” (Paul and Elder). Or as one well-known researcher says, “Clarity is a kindness.” When I examine my intentions for reading, taking notes and writing essays for our doctoral program, I believe this one is at the heart of my hopes as a communicator. How can I become more clear in what I communicate until I am clear about what I am thinking? My refuge needs some rearranging and I believe clarity will serve me well as this doctoral program progresses.
- Conversation: I wrote in my admission essay that I needed this program and I need more education–not just of my mind but my whole self. I write and speak as a form of worshiping God and loving people as I am so deeply curious about what motivates others as who they are at their core. Within the past 10 years, the world in which I lived and moved changed so drastically. People’s needs became specialized; I forgot how to understand people. Ahrens argues, “writing is, without dispute, the best facilitator for thinking, reading, learning, understanding and generating ideas we love and have;” however, I would suggest conversation with life-allowing, thoughtful servant leaders is an equally fair or even higher facilitator for good thinking and writing.
As companions on this doctoral journey with me, how can we help one another grow in quality of attention and conversation as time allows and God brings us together?
About the Author
Pam Lau
Pamela Havey Lau brings more than 25 years of experience in speaking, teaching, writing and mediating. She has led a variety of groups, both small and large, in seminars, trainings, conferences and teachings. Pam’s passion is to see each person communicate with their most authentic voice with a transparent faith in Jesus Christ. With more than 10, 000 hours of writing, researching, and teaching the heart and soul of Pam’s calling comes from decades of walking alongside those who have experienced healing through pain and peace through conflict. As a professor and author, Pam deeply understands the role of mentoring and building bridges from one generation to another. She has developed a wisdom in how to connect leaders with their teams. Her skill in facilitating conversations extends across differences in families, businesses, schools, universities, and nonprofits. Pam specializes in simplifying complex issues and as a business owner, has helped numerous CEOs and leaders communicate effectively. She is the author of Soul Strength (Random House) and A Friend in Me (David C. Cook) and is a frequent contributor to online and print publications. You can hear Pam’s podcast on Real Life with Pamela Lau on itunes. Currently, Pam is a mediator for families, churches, and nonprofits. You can contact Pam through her website: PamelaLau.com. Brad and Pam live in Newberg, Oregon; they have three adult daughters and one son-in-law. One small, vocal dog, Cali lives in the family home where she tries to be the boss! As a family they enjoy worshiping God, tennis, good food and spending time with family and friends.13 responses to “The Writing Life”
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Good God Almighty. I was transported by your words. So polished and refined. I am interested, what did you think of Ahren’s note taking process. What process did you use for writing your two books?
Russel, I wish I could tell you my process for writing my books. The honest truth would be they write me first and I have to figure out how to get them organized. I rely heavily upon teaching/speaking first so that as Ahren’s writes, I am experiencing success in feedback loops. It’s trial and error. Failure is my greatest teacher.
Russ, lol . . .I appreciate you. In terms of Ahren’s note taking process, I believe what was new to me was his example (and foundation of concept) of Luhman’s taking the final step of intentionally rewriting a new thought or concept in one’s owns words before the end of the day. In my own journals, I have quotes and thoughts from other authors, the Bible, sermons, TED talks everywhere. On a normal day, I use them for projects I will work on in the future. What would it be like to find the quote, new thought, idea and integrate immediately as a solid note? I am still deciding if that practice would serve me well or make me feel constrained.
Pam, I’m with you—determining whether some of these practices and tools will serve my purposes or clutter and constrain them. That’s the rub. I suppose trial and error and knowing when to quit is going to be important in this program.
It seems you are a clear, compelling and intentional writer. At one point you asked this question ” How can I become more clear in what I communicate until I am clear about what I am thinking?” I would think clear thinking leads to clear communication but you put it the other way around… and now you have me super curious, perplexed, and interested. Can you unpack that?
Tim, I believe Kim answered the question for us! Like you, I am always communicating something to one person or many. However, what I am confessing in my blog post is that within the last few years, I lost my “voice.”
To be honest, my writing is not always clear; it’s a constant battle for me.
Unsure of what I think on certain topics, systemic issues, human behaviors/perspectives, I reading the Bible differently and sitting more in silence during prayer. What I am saying is that “before” I had strong ideas of what I wanted to say, write or express. Now I am taking a more thorough observation of the landscape.
We so often think of conversation as the out-loud verbal interaction between people, but last evening I was reading Kate Turabian’s writing manual (a nail-biter, let me tell you) and she talks about conversation in a different way. In addition to choosing a topic and articulating a research question, we need to think about the significance of our research. She says, “When you can explain the significance of your research, you enter into a kind of conversation with your research community” . Then as we structure and fill in our arguments, we need to anticipate our “readers’ needs” . I actually kind of resonated with that challenge. Can I anticipate the needs and questions of my readers? Can I anticipate what holes they will poke in my argument? I’m eager to try!
Kim, Thank you for bringing Kate Turabian’s book into this conversation! You reminded me why I love research as much as I do; research is “me”search, right? We have questions that are begging to be answered and if we find an audience who will oblige us, it staves off the feeling of loneliness as a thinker. Research within community always helps me answer the question, “Why should I care?”
The question at the end . . . “As companions on this doctoral journey with me, how can we help one another grow in quality of attention and conversation as time allows and God brings us together?” It is my hope that as we journey together we also gain the courage to provide feedback in love to support one another. I know what I know, but working with others is a valuable tool for challenging myself and growing through my blindspots. This takes community. I look forward to this opportunity.
Cathy, I am looking forward to getting to hear about your research questions.
As someone who has had to choose (read: ‘force myself’) to journal as part of my spiritual practice, I am in awe of your capacity to write & reflect! I can ‘feel’ your comfort level in the world-of-words in your first paragraph, and I suspect you have a gift to write emotively and artistically. Those aren’t often the words used to describe writing in the academy! Do you think your doctoral writing will continue to be a refuge for you, or do you anticipate that it will be more like a necessary, good discipline? Or do you even think those two things (creative writing and academic writing) are somewhat at odds? Honestly, I feel like what I am trying to get at in my comment would best be asked over a good cup of coffee rather than in writing, so I affirm your last comment Pam!
Scott, with fear and trepidation, I enter the doctoral program feeling a bit like an imposter. Your question is one I asked myself (and Dr. Berger) when I applied. Like many in our program, I am a voracious reader–commentaries, fiction, non-fiction, poetry, classical literature. No matter what I read, I still think and write in images rather than linearly. The truth that keeps me walking forward in the academy is I believe Reading is listening and writing is thinking. However that translates in my inner world is yet to be seen but I am about to find out! And, yes, hop on down to Portland! We serve the best coffee!
Your comment, “How can I become more clear in what I communicate until I am clear about what I am thinking?” resonated deeply with me. I think, like you, I go back and forth and sideways on all the thoughts that flit through my mind! I think I have something figured out only to be challenged otherwise in my next conversation with someone! While I appreciate the spaciousness of most topics/issues (meaning there is almost always more than one “right” answer) it would be helpful to my audience (i.e. my dog) if I could sort out what I think before I start talking! On the flip side of that is I am an outward processor and I need conversation partners to help me figure out what I think! Does any of that make sense???
Kally, you make good sense! During my years of teaching writing to college students, I repeated myself over and over again how very few of us know what we want to say in a first draft so that’s why we revise. What worked beautifully for college essay writers was putting them in groups of four to read each other’s drafts, make comments, discuss and then revise. Perhaps our peer group considers something similar once a quarter as we build toward our final project. Iron sharpens iron and in our case, Chromium strengthens Chromium!